Test Your Skills: The Ultimate List of Hardest Guitar Songs

So, you think you’ve mastered the guitar? You can shred some solos and nail complex riffs? Think again. For those guitarists who are truly seeking the ultimate challenge, we’ve compiled an extended list of some of the Hardest Guitar Songs ever conceived. Prepare to push your skills to the absolute limit, and maybe even beyond. This isn’t your average practice session material; this is the Mount Everest of guitar playing. Good luck, you’ll need it.

Here is a breakdown of some of the most technically demanding and challenging guitar songs to add to your repertoire, if you dare:

Extreme Technicality & Speed:

• Frantic Disembowelment – Cannibal Corpse: Known for their brutal death metal, Cannibal Corpse pushes guitar playing to its absolute extreme. “Frantic Disembowelment” is a whirlwind of blast beats and incredibly fast, dissonant riffs that will test even the most seasoned extreme metal guitarists.
• Get Out Of My Yard by Paul Gilbert: Paul Gilbert is renowned for his incredible speed and precision. “Get Out Of My Yard” is a masterclass in shred guitar, packed with rapid-fire alternate picking and complex legato runs that demand flawless technique.
• Jordan – Buckethead: Buckethead’s discography is full of challenging material, but “Jordan” stands out for its sheer speed and unorthodox techniques. Expect lightning-fast arpeggios, sweep picking, and tapping sequences that require immense dexterity and stamina.
• Perpetual Burn – Jason Becker: A testament to Jason Becker’s genius, “Perpetual Burn” is a neoclassical shred masterpiece. It’s filled with incredibly intricate melodies, sweep picking arpeggios, and complex tapping that showcase Becker’s phenomenal talent and innovative techniques.
• Speed Metal Symphony – Cacophony: Cacophony, featuring Jason Becker and Marty Friedman, was the epitome of shred guitar in the late 80s. “Speed Metal Symphony” is a showcase of their combined virtuosity, with dueling guitar solos, breakneck tempos, and harmonically rich passages.
• Technical Difficulties – Racer X: Paul Gilbert’s band Racer X is known for its technically demanding songs, and “Technical Difficulties” lives up to its name. This instrumental track is a relentless assault of fast riffs, intricate solos, and unison lines that demand extreme precision and coordination.
• Arpeggios From Hell – Yngwie Malmsteen: Yngwie Malmsteen is the king of neoclassical shred, and “Arpeggios From Hell” is arguably his most infamous and technically challenging piece. It’s a furious barrage of sweep-picked arpeggios played at blistering speeds, requiring incredible accuracy and stamina.
• Speed Kills – Michael Angelo: Michael Angelo Batio is known for his ambidextrous guitar playing and incredible speed. “Speed Kills” is a demonstration of his unparalleled technique, featuring incredibly fast and clean playing, complex arpeggios, and tapping sequences.
• Vengeance – Yngwie Malmsteen: Another Yngwie classic, “Vengeance” is a neoclassical metal tour-de-force. It’s packed with fast scales, arpeggios, sweep picking, and intricate legato phrases that are hallmarks of Malmsteen’s signature style, making it a true test of shred guitar prowess.

Complex Rhythms & Phrasing:

• Closed Eye Visuals – Meshuggah: Meshuggah is the masters of djent and complex rhythms. “Closed Eye Visuals” is a prime example of their polyrhythmic and dissonant style. Navigating the shifting time signatures and unconventional phrasing is a serious rhythmic challenge.
• Divinations – Mastodon: Mastodon is known for their progressive and technically intricate metal. “Divinations” features complex, intertwining guitar parts, odd time signatures, and unconventional song structures that demand a high level of rhythmic and melodic understanding.
• On Impulse – Animals as Leaders: Animals as Leaders are pioneers of instrumental progressive metal, and “On Impulse” showcases their complex and innovative approach. Tosin Abasi’s eight-string guitar work features intricate tapping, unconventional rhythms, and harmonically rich passages.
• Waves by Guthrie Govan: Guthrie Govan is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and technically gifted guitarists alive. “Waves” is a showcase of his incredible control and phrasing, featuring a blend of legato, tapping, and hybrid picking techniques applied to a beautifully melodic composition.
• Breaking All Illusions by Dream Theater: Dream Theater are progressive metal giants, and “Breaking All Illusions” is an epic track that showcases their instrumental prowess. John Petrucci’s guitar work is incredibly demanding, featuring complex riffs, fast solos, and intricate unison lines within a lengthy and dynamic song structure.
• The Dance Of Eternity – Dream Theater: “The Dance Of Eternity” is notorious for its extreme rhythmic complexity and rapid-fire changes in time signature. This instrumental section from “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory” is a true test of rhythmic precision and coordination, even for seasoned progressive musicians.
• Pull Me Under – Dream Theater: Another Dream Theater classic, “Pull Me Under” is challenging not just for its iconic riffs and solos, but also for its progressive structure and dynamic shifts. John Petrucci’s solo in this song is a masterclass in melodic phrasing and technical execution.
• YYZ – Rush: Rush is legendary for their musicianship, and “YYZ” is an instrumental track that perfectly encapsulates their technical brilliance. Alex Lifeson’s guitar work features intricate riffs, unconventional chord voicings, and a memorable solo that demands precision and control.

Classical & Flamenco Influences:

• Mediterranean Sundance by AL Di Meola: A fusion masterpiece, “Mediterranean Sundance” (often performed with Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin) combines flamenco and jazz elements. Al Di Meola’s incredibly fast and articulate playing, along with the complex interplay between guitars, makes this a formidable challenge.
• Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega: A classical guitar standard, “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” utilizes the tremolo technique to create a mesmerizing and flowing melody. Maintaining a consistent and even tremolo while executing the melodic and harmonic content is a significant challenge in classical guitar.
• Classical Gas – Mason Williams: “Classical Gas” is a deceptively complex piece that blends classical guitar techniques with popular music sensibilities. Its intricate fingerstyle arrangement, melodic phrasing, and dynamic variations make it a rewarding but challenging piece to master.
• Danse rythmique by Ida Presti: Ida Presti was a legendary classical guitarist known for her exceptional technique. “Danse rythmique” is a vibrant and rhythmically complex piece that showcases Presti’s mastery of the instrument, demanding both technical precision and musicality.
• Folios by Tōru Takemitsu: Tōru Takemitsu was a renowned Japanese composer who wrote extensively for classical guitar. “Folios” is a set of five pieces that explore a range of textures and techniques, demanding a nuanced approach to dynamics, articulation, and timbre.
• Gris y mar by María Luisa Anido: María Luisa Anido was an Argentinian classical guitarist and composer. “Gris y mar” is a beautiful and evocative piece that requires a delicate touch and expressive phrasing to capture its subtle nuances and emotional depth.
• La Catedral – Agustin Barrios Mangore: Agustin Barrios Mangore was a Paraguayan classical guitarist and composer. “La Catedral” is one of his most famous works, a three-movement piece inspired by the sounds of a cathedral. Its intricate arpeggios, scales, and tremolo sections demand advanced classical guitar technique.
• Sonata Giocosa by Joaquín Rodrigo: Joaquín Rodrigo is best known for “Concierto de Aranjuez,” but his “Sonata Giocosa” is another significant work for classical guitar. This three-movement sonata is full of Spanish flair and requires a strong command of classical guitar technique and musical interpretation.

Blues & Rock Virtuosity:

• Neon by John Mayer: John Mayer is known for blending blues and pop sensibilities with impressive guitar skills. “Neon” is a fingerstyle acoustic piece that requires independence of fingers, complex chord voicings, and a strong rhythmic groove.
• Juice – Steve Vai: Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist known for his innovative techniques and flamboyant style. “Juice” is a high-energy instrumental track that showcases his signature whammy bar acrobatics, sweep picking, tapping, and over-the-top phrasing.
• Play With Me – Extreme: Extreme, featuring Nuno Bettencourt, is known for their technically impressive rock and funk fusion. “Play With Me” is a high-energy track with fast tempos, complex riffs, and Nuno’s signature percussive and tapping techniques.
• For The Love Of God – Steve Vai: “For The Love Of God” is arguably Steve Vai’s most famous instrumental track. It’s a melodic and technically dazzling piece that showcases his legato phrasing, whammy bar techniques, and expressive vibrato.
• Flight Of The Bumblebee – Nikolai Rimsky (Korsakov): While originally an orchestral piece, “Flight Of The Bumblebee” has been adapted for guitar and is a pure test of speed and dexterity. Playing this piece on guitar at tempo requires incredible alternate picking speed and accuracy.
• Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Freebird”‘s extended guitar solo section is legendary and for good reason. It features harmonized guitars, fast licks, and dynamic shifts that demand both technical skill and musicality to pull off convincingly.
• Fury Of The Storm – DragonForce: DragonForce is known for their incredibly fast and over-the-top power metal. “Fury Of The Storm” is a relentless barrage of speed metal riffs, shredding solos, and high-energy playing that requires extreme stamina and technique.
• Ghost Of Perdition – Opeth: Opeth blends progressive metal with death metal influences, and “Ghost Of Perdition” is an epic track that showcases their dynamic and intricate songwriting. The song features both heavy riffs and delicate acoustic passages, requiring versatility and control.
• Guitar Boogie – Arthur Smith: A classic instrumental, “Guitar Boogie” is a fast-paced and energetic piece that requires strong fingerpicking and rhythmic accuracy. It’s a foundational piece for many guitarists exploring country and rockabilly styles.
• Ice 9 – Joe Satriani: Joe Satriani is a master of instrumental rock, and “Ice 9” is a high-energy track that showcases his signature legato phrasing, tapping techniques, and melodic soloing. It’s a challenging and rewarding piece for aspiring rock guitarists.
• Phunkdified – Justin King: Justin King is known for his percussive acoustic guitar style. “Phunkdified” blends percussive techniques, fingerstyle playing, and funky rhythms into a unique and challenging acoustic piece.
• Pride And Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s blues playing is legendary for its intensity and virtuosity. “Pride and Joy” is a classic SRV track that showcases his aggressive attack, fast blues licks, and powerful vibrato, demanding both technical skill and blues feel.
• Satch Boogie – Joe Satriani: Another Satriani classic, “Satch Boogie” is a high-energy and fun instrumental track that features a wide range of techniques, including tapping, sweep picking, and legato, all delivered with Satriani’s signature melodic sensibility.
• The Animal by Steve Vai: “The Animal” is a wild and untamed instrumental track from Steve Vai. It’s a showcase of his experimental techniques, including tapping, whammy bar abuse, and unconventional phrasing, pushing the boundaries of guitar playing.
• Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne: “Bark at the Moon” features a blistering guitar solo by Jake E. Lee. This solo is known for its speed, melodic phrasing, and incorporation of tapping and whammy bar techniques, making it a challenging and exciting solo to learn.
• Mr. Crowley – Ozzy Osbourne: “Mr. Crowley” features a legendary and atmospheric guitar solo by Randy Rhoads. Rhoads’ neoclassical-influenced solo is known for its melodic content, technical precision, and incorporation of classical scales and arpeggios, making it a benchmark for rock guitarists.
• Afterlife – Avenged Sevenfold: Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold are known for their technically demanding guitar work. “Afterlife” features fast-paced riffs, harmonized guitar lines, and a shredding solo section that requires tight coordination and technical proficiency.
• Altitudes – Jason Becker: “Altitudes” is another Jason Becker masterpiece from his early work. It showcases his incredible melodic sensibility and technical prowess, featuring sweep picking, tapping, and incredibly fluid legato phrasing.
• Birds Of Fire – Mahavishnu Orchestra: Mahavishnu Orchestra, led by John McLaughlin, fused jazz, rock, and Indian classical music. “Birds Of Fire” is a high-energy instrumental track that showcases McLaughlin’s incredibly fast and improvisational playing, incorporating complex scales and modes.
• Blackened – Metallica: “Blackened” from Metallica’s “…And Justice for All” album is known for its incredibly fast and aggressive thrash metal riffs. The song’s relentless tempo, down-picked riffs, and complex song structure make it a true test of thrash metal guitar endurance and technique.
• Django – Joe Pass feat. Grant Green: “Django” featuring Joe Pass and Grant Green is a jazz guitar duet showcasing incredible improvisation and chord melody playing. Mastering the jazz vocabulary, chord voicings, and improvisational skills demonstrated by Pass and Green is a lifelong pursuit.
• Extreme Unction – Necrophagist: Necrophagist is known for their incredibly technical and complex death metal. “Extreme Unction” is a whirlwind of sweep picking, tapping, and incredibly fast and intricate riffs that push the boundaries of death metal guitar playing.
• Symbiotic in Theory – Necrophagist: Another Necrophagist track, “Symbiotic in Theory”, continues the band’s tradition of ultra-technical death metal. Expect more mind-bendingly fast and complex riffs, sweep picking, and tapping sequences that demand an almost superhuman level of dexterity.
• Master Of Puppets – Metallica: “Master Of Puppets” is a thrash metal anthem and a challenging song for guitarists. Its iconic riffs, fast tempos, and Kirk Hammett’s memorable solos require down-picking stamina, precision, and a strong sense of rhythm.
• Mombasa – Tommy Emmanuel: Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian acoustic guitar virtuoso known for his percussive fingerstyle playing. “Mombasa” is a showcase of his incredible technique, featuring complex bass lines, melodic fingerpicking, and percussive elements all played simultaneously on acoustic guitar.
• Phunkdified – Justin King: (Already listed – kept for completeness in original list order) Justin King is known for his percussive acoustic guitar style. “Phunkdified” blends percussive techniques, fingerstyle playing, and funky rhythms into a unique and challenging acoustic piece.
• Round Midnight – Wes Montgomery: Wes Montgomery is a jazz guitar legend known for his unique thumb-picking style and octave melodies. “Round Midnight” is a jazz standard that, when played in Montgomery’s style, requires mastery of jazz harmony, improvisation, and his signature thumb technique.
• Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth: “Symphony of Destruction” by Megadeth features intricate and fast thrash metal riffs crafted by Dave Mustaine. The song’s complex rhythms, fast tempos, and memorable solos make it a challenging but rewarding piece for thrash metal guitarists.
• Passionflower – Jon Gomm: Jon Gomm is a modern acoustic guitar innovator known for his percussive and tapping techniques. “Passionflower” is a showcase of his unique style, blending percussive hits, tapping harmonics, and intricate fingerstyle melodies into a single acoustic guitar arrangement.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg, but it provides a solid starting point for guitarists looking to truly challenge themselves. Remember, the goal isn’t just to play these songs perfectly, but to learn and grow as a guitarist in the process. So, pick your poison, start practicing, and prepare to embark on a journey of extreme guitar mastery.