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13 Easy Guitar Riffs and Guitar Playing Secrets

 Let me ask you ...

Aren't you also fed up with playing all the boring chord progressions?

Good, that's just what I thought.

Don't get me wrong ...

Playing chords is essential and can be a lot of fun, but they are not the be all and end all.

To spice up your guitar playing, you NEED some killer easy guitar riffs.

A little-known secret is that in order to excel at playing guitar FAST ...

Is to be stimulated with new challenges continuously.

Also mixing up some styles is a great way to move up the ladder even that much faster.

We have composed this truly unique list for you to take advantage off.

Are you ready to learn 13 awesome easy guitar riffs that will make the crowd go "wow"?!

Bonus: Download a free PDF that will show you all the tablature that you need to get started right away. This will include all 13 tabs that will help bringing you to the next level.

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So, Show Me The Easy Guitar Riffs!

1.   Metallica - Enter Sandman

easy-guitar-riffs-metallica
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns

For all the metal heads out there, this one is for you. This song is almost starting to turn into a classic already as it is close to 26 years old. This badass song starts off slow with the easy acoustic guitar riff, but ends up in heavily distorted electric sounds, making it a perfect song to get a similar tone on both acoustic as electric a guitar. They add in some chords with a Wah pedal, so if you want to have a more in-depth experience of the song you must have a Wah. Of course, you can keep it also simple with the easy acoustic guitar tabs.

Best on: Acoustic or Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

2.  Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love

Photo by Ronald van Caem
Photo by Ronald van Caem

Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin is next up on our list of easy guitar songs. It's impossible to have a list of easy guitar riffs and not include Whole Lotta Love. This is one of the most badass guitar riffs, period. Fortunately, this riff is easier to learn than most beginner guitarists think it is. To nail the sound, you gotta have an Overdrive pedal in your arsenal, as it is played with some pretty "Rock-type" sounds.

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

3.   Jimi Hendrix - Manic Depression

easy-guitar-riffs-jimi-hendrix
Photo by Unknown

Jimi Hendrix has played tons of songs and riffs that are recognized by fanatics and others. There are few though, that are also really within reach of a beginner guitarist. Manic Depression is an awesome addition to the list of easy guitar riffs, as it is easy, distinguishable, rhythmic and of course a hell lot of fun to play!

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

4.   Roy Orbison - Oh Pretty Woman

Photo by Unknown
Reggie Lewis/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

This oldie and true classic, is probably stuck in your eardrum even though you haven't heard it maybe in a couple of years. This is a great riff to start out with as a beginner guitarist, as it is a super easy guitar riff which you can quickly start playing along with the track. Playing along with the track is a great practice method to learn and be more rhythmic.

Best on: Acoustic or Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

5.   Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train

Photo by Paul Natkin, Getty Images

Another easy guitar riff for all you headbangers. The one and only Randy Rhoads played this very slick riff and achieved legendary status even though his short lifespan. This song is really a jaw dropper for anyone, whether he likes it or not. Pick up that guitar and start ripping it!

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

6.   AC/DC - Thunderstruck

Photo by Bazillion Points Books

AC/DC is a true hit machine, scoring hit after hit and are idolized by nearly anyone who is into Hard Rock. This isn't without a reason, with their awesome tunes and razor sharp solos, it's always good times listening to these fellows. This song might be a bit on the tough side if you are still in your trial period of playing guitar, but is definitely doable within time. It's a very cool song to get your picking up to speed and have a lot of fun while doing it!

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

7.   The Beatles - Day Tripper

easy-guitar-riffs-the-beatles
Photo by Unknown

When you're starting out to play guitar, you've probably heard quite often that it is important to learn the chords. People tell you that is great for learning to be rhythmic. I couldn't agree more, but it isn't a lot of fun doing it. What if you could learn how to be more rhythmic AND learn an awesome easy guitar riff. Day Tripper by The Beatles has a great riff that is being played very rhythmic. It actually is in the same style as the Beat It guitar tab by the great Michael Jackson. So grab that guitar from your guitar case and start playing!

Best on: Acoustic or Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

8.   Ritchie Valens - La Bamba

Photo by Moviepix / Via Getty Images

Now, this is probably not the first songs you would have thought of when you are thinking of a list of easy guitar riffs. However, it has got a very catchy guitar riff and will, therefore, spike the motivation to keep picking up that guitar. Guitar effects pedals are used in this tune, but are definitely not a must have to play the riff. You can get a fairly similar sound with either an acoustic or electric guitar.

Best on: Acoustic or Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

9.   Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magic

easy-guitar-riffs-rhcp
Photo by Unknown

This song is quite a hidden gem. Although it is in the album "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" and has some pretty well-known songs on it, like "Under The Bridge" and "Give It Away", many people don't actually know the song. The main riff in the song is pretty damn awesome to play and listen to. The riff is based off of really easy power chords. Once you have gone up the ladder with your guitar skill, this band is overflowing with intermediate and advanced guitar riffs for you to discover on your guitar neck.

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

10. The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction

Photo by Terry O'Neil
Terry O'Neil

This is a really easy guitar intro, so if you're a Stones fan this is the place to start for you. This riff is very easy to play on one string, and you can basically cover the entire song with it, and as a beginner guitarist, that is EXACTLY what you want to hear! "WOW", your friends and family with this awesome hit and start practising it right NOW with the easy electric guitar tabs below!

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

11.  The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

easy-guitar-riffs-the-white-stripes
Photo by Unknown

This is THE easiest guitar riff on the list of easy guitar riffs. This riff is the first riff I learned and still is one of my go-to riffs I teach people that have never played guitar before, because it is such a simple guitar riff. In the link below you can find some very easy guitar tabs for beginners. Just like many other riffs in this list, you can keep it very simple, by just playing on one string and no chords. OR, you can add in some flavour by playing it one-on-one like the original and turning it into a difficult guitar riff.

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

12. Cream - Sunshine of Your Love

Photo: Redferns
Photo: by Redferns

This Classic Rock song shakes things up everywhere it goes. Sunshine of Your Love is one of those easy guitar riffs that is sometimes mistaken for its playability for beginners. This tune is often played during jam sessions, hence it is good to have it already under your belt. The legendary Jimi Hendrix was a big influence for Sunshine of Your Love and later also covered it. It might not look as easy, since it is played on different strings, but the tempo of the tune is quite low, making it very doable for beginners to play. Before attacking this song, make sure to stock up on your guitar accessories.

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

13. AC/DC - Back in Black

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Back in Black by AC/DC is last on our list of easy guitar riffs. This band is such a big influencer of guitarists all around the world and play so many cool riffs, it is listed two times in this article! Now, if you're just in your first week of playing guitar, this song might be just out of your league, although you can still give it a shot. To play this easy guitar riff you ought to crank up that Overdrive and hit it hard! Get started with this sweet guitar riff right away!

Best on: Electric

Get started with the tabs here!

That's it 13 Easy Guitar Riffs!

So there you have it, 13 easy guitar riffs that will get you started right away and WOW your friends and family.

Now you know exactly what are guitar riffs and how to play them!

Most of these guitar riffs are better on electric guitar, and guess what, you'll need some guitar effects and after that, you might need a pedal board.

Bonus: Download a free PDF that will show you all the tablature that you need to get started right away. This will include all 13 tabs that will help bringing you to the next level.

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