Best Beginner Riffs: Cool Guitar Songs to Get You Started
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Are you starting your guitar-playing journey? Are you lost for ideas? Look no further! It can be hard to know what songs and riffs to learn in those early days. Our pick of the best beginner riffs will help you on your way, without getting you kicked out of the guitar store.
Best Beginner Riffs: Cool Guitar Songs to Get You Started
Learning any instrument is a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! Especially the guitar. Did you know that even the easiest of riffs have become chart-topping hits? Moreover, entry-level riffs often teach the most important lessons for the foundations of your playing.
Here, we’re going to work our way up. Starting with some elementary skills, and eventually turning up the heat. Let’s look at the best beginner riffs.
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Kicking off this rundown of the best beginner riffs is an entry from the world’s best metal band, Metallica.
Nothing Else Matters features on Metallica’s legendary self-titled album, more commonly known as The Black Album. The most suitable thing about this beginner riff is that it only requires one hand to play!
The opening bars feature open E, G, B and high-E strings played in a 6/8 tempo. No amp? No problem! Therefore, you can jam out to this iconic piece of rock history anywhere.
Nothing Else Matters – Best Beginner Riffs
Fancy a bit of DIY? Why not install this set of James Hetfield EMG humbuckers for that authentic Metallica sound?
Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Secondly, for our best beginner riffs, we’re going to look at the quintessential single-string riff!
Having looked at a riff that only needs a few strings, how about this one that demands just the A string and a few frets?
Jack White‘s memorable rock intro spans the fretboard. Hence, at a beginner level, it gets you familiar with moving your fingers up and down the neck. Seven Nation Army is the perfect beginner riff for showcasing your new talent.
Seven Nation Army – Best Beginner Riffs
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Conversely, we’re going to step into the 1970s with our next best beginner riff. Teaching us another new skill!
Black Sabbath’s Paranoid is a great opportunity to start looking at power chords. Power chords use a route note, followed by a 5th. Therefore, an E power chord on the A string would comprise the 7th fret on the A string and the 9th fret on the D string.
Furthermore, we get the opportunity to chuck some hammer-ons in the mix too. Altogether, adding two new techniques with this best beginner riff.
Paranoid – Best Beginner Riffs
Check out this Tony Iommi Black Sabbath signature SG. A welcome addition to any guitarist’s collection, without breaking the bank.
Back in Black – AC/DC
With this example, we’re delving into another Gibson SG-orientated riff. However, this time we’re combining open chords with some cool little phrases.
So, what are we working with? Angus Young‘s combination of open chords and riffs, in Back in Black, makes for one of the best beginner riffs. Utilising just E, D and A major chords.
Following on from these are two straightforward riffs that use hammer-ons, bends, and pull-offs in the first. The second just covers four frets of the low E string. Take a look! 
Beat It- Michael Jackson: Best Beginner Riffs
Finally, we’re going to delve into an early 80s classic. But this time, in Eb tuning.
Beat It features some sensational guitarists, namely Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather. Again, we’re combining an open-string riff and some block chords.
This time, the difficulty is more intense in terms of the riff. However our chords are just simple E5, D5 and C5 power chords. Just like we looked out earlier. Grab a coffee and your axe, and watch this straightforward tutorial.
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Best Beginner Riffs: Ready to rock?
Overall, we’ve covered a lot in terms of beginner techniques. Going from open-stringed riffs, single string, hammer-ons, bends and chords! Of course, there are plenty more out there that you can challenge yourself with. What was your first riff when starting out?
More Beginner Techniques:
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