Want to start playing guitar right away? Learning iconic riffs is the perfect way to begin. This free lesson provides 20 easy-to-learn guitar tabs that sound amazing and will get you playing your favorite songs in no time!
What You’ll Learn in This Free Guitar Lesson:
- 20 Iconic Guitar Riffs: Carefully selected for their ease of play and awesome sound.
- Video Tutorials for Each Tab: Step-by-step video lessons to help you master every riff.
- Diverse Genres: Explore riffs from rock, pop, and more to broaden your musical horizons and develop essential lead guitar skills.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get started and make some noise! 🙂
Get instant access to world-class guitar tips and tutorials! Join over 100,000 guitar learners and have top-notch guidance delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to join our community!
Unlock Your Guitar Journey with Easy Guitar Tabs
Guitar Tabs For Beginners should be the perfect blend of simplicity and musical satisfaction. They need to be accessible enough for new players to learn quickly, but also sound rewarding and inspiring.
Finding guitar tabs that meet these criteria can be challenging. That’s why we’ve curated this list of 20 fantastic riffs, specifically chosen to make your learning journey enjoyable and successful. Let’s explore some awesome guitar tabs for beginners!
1. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson
This is undoubtedly one of the best guitar tabs for beginners. The riff is instantly recognizable, incredibly cool, and surprisingly easy to play. It utilizes the Minor Pentatonic scale, a fundamental scale for guitarists, and delivers a fantastic sound.
Before we look at the tab, take a listen to the original track to get the rhythm and feel:
[(Embed YouTube video of “Beat It” here if possible, or link to official audio)]
Here’s the guitar tab for the main riff:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|--5-5-5-3-5---5-5-5-3-5---5-3-3-3-1-3-------------|
E|--3-3-3-1-3---3-3-3-1-3---3-1-1-1-0-1-------------|And here’s a video to guide you through playing it:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Beat It” riff here)]
Tips for Mastering This Guitar Tab
- Start Slow and Steady: The key to learning any riff is to begin slowly. Focus on accuracy first, then gradually increase your speed. Practicing slowly and correctly builds essential muscle memory, which is crucial for smooth playing.
- String Skipping Challenge: The trickiest part of this riff is the jump from the A string to the G string, as you need to skip over the D string. Pay close attention to your string selection as you practice this transition. Visually guide your pick to ensure accuracy.
- Practice the String Jump Separately: Isolate the A string to G string transition and practice it repeatedly. This focused practice will help you become comfortable with the string skip.
- Pick Direction Matters: Observe your picking direction. When moving from the G string to the D string, an upward pick stroke might feel more natural as it aligns with the direction you need to move. Picking against the direction of travel can add unnecessary difficulty.
Want to delve deeper into lead guitar techniques? Check out our comprehensive guide:
How To Play Lead Guitar: The Ultimate Guide
2. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’ by Cream
This riff is a cornerstone of rock guitar and another excellent choice for guitar tabs for beginners. It’s a massive, iconic riff that’s surprisingly easy to play. Crank up your amp and unleash your inner Eric Clapton from ’67!
Let’s listen to the riff before we look at the tab:
[(Embed YouTube video of “Sunshine of Your Love” riff or link to official audio)]
We’ll focus on the unforgettable intro riff:
e|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------|
D|-------0-3-5---5-3-0---------------|
A|---0-3-----------------3-0---------|
E|-3-------------------------3-------|
Easy guitar riff Sunshine of your love Cream, guitar tabs for beginners
Watch this video tutorial where Jack explains how to play this classic riff:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Sunshine of Your Love” riff here)]
Tab Notes for ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’
- Slow Practice is Key (Again!): Yes, we’re repeating this because it’s fundamental! Practice slowly, prioritize accuracy, and gradually increase speed. This slow and correct approach is the most effective method for building muscle memory and solid technique.
- String Crossing Awareness: Pay attention to the moments where you cross strings. Ensure smooth transitions between strings for a fluid sound.
- Break it Down: Take the riff phrase by phrase. Master each small section before combining them.
3. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes
Here’s another killer riff from a legendary rock band. The White Stripes created a huge sound with just two members!
This is a personal favorite for guitar tabs for beginners because it sounds fantastic and is played entirely on a single string. Simple yet powerful!
We’ll focus on the main riff that kicks off the song. Here’s the guitar tab:
e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-7-7-7-10-7-5---7-7-7-10-7-5---3-3-5-3-2-------------------|
Simple guitar tab Seven Nation Army White Stripes, easy guitar tabs for beginners
In this video, I break down each part of the riff to help you learn it easily:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Seven Nation Army” riff here)]
Playing Tips for This Guitar Tab
The main challenge with this riff is choosing the best fingerings. I typically start with my index finger (1st finger) on the 7th fret, then stretch up to the 10th fret with my pinky finger. After that, I mainly use my index finger for the rest of the riff.
However, if you’re completely new to guitar, you can definitely play this riff using just one finger! Experiment with both methods and see which feels most comfortable and effective for you.
Get That Iconic Tone
Jack White famously used a Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal (among other gear) to create the signature sound of this song. If you want to replicate that fuzz tone, we’ve linked to a similar pedal below:
4. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Come As You Are’ by Nirvana
For guitar tabs for beginners with a moody vibe, it doesn’t get much better than this Nirvana classic. The main riff is incredibly cool and instantly recognizable.
Here’s the guitar tab for this iconic riff:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|--0-0-0-2-3-2-0---0-0-0-2-3-2-0-----------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
Best guitar tabs for beginners Nirvana Come As You Are easy riff, guitar tabs for beginners
Watch Jack demonstrate how to play it in this video:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Come As You Are” riff here)]
Playing Notes for This Guitar Tab
- The 2nd Fret to Open A String Challenge: The most challenging aspect of this riff is smoothly transitioning from the 2nd fret back to the open A string. Dedicate practice time specifically to this part to improve your fluidity.
Remember, with any riff, consistent practice on the parts you find difficult is crucial. Even if it seems challenging initially, focused practice builds the necessary muscle memory to overcome any hurdle.
5. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Day Tripper’ by The Beatles
Another top pick for guitar tabs for beginners! This Beatles classic features a truly awesome and instantly recognizable riff. Add some gain to your amp and hear how vibrant and exciting it sounds. Pure coolness!
This riff shares similarities with ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson, using the same scale and incorporating open strings.
Watch this video where Jack explains how to play this fantastic riff:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Day Tripper” riff here)]
Tips for Playing This Guitar Tab
As always: Practice it SLOWLY. Get it right. Gradually increase the speed. Practicing slowly and correctly is the most effective way to build muscle memory.
Two elements of this riff can be a bit tricky:
- String Accuracy: The first part involves moving between strings, demanding precise picking accuracy. When first learning this riff, play at a very SLOW tempo to ensure each note is clean and clear.
- The Stretch: The transition from the 2nd fret on the A string to the 4th fret on the D string can feel like a stretch. Take your time, relax your hand, and approach it with patience.
You might need to adjust your wrist position slightly, moving it forward or backward to make this riff comfortable. Ensure your forearm is free to move and not restricted by resting on your leg or tucked too tightly against your body. Remember, playing guitar chords and riffs involves your whole arm, not just your fretting hand fingers.
6. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton
This is a truly beautiful and melodic riff… It brings back memories of when I first started learning guitar.
This riff introduces a few different lead guitar techniques, making it excellent for developing beginner skills.
While slightly more challenging than some others, it’s still manageable as guitar tabs for beginners. The bends require a bit of control, but it’s a fantastic learning exercise, so stick with it!
Guitar tabs for beginners Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton easy riff, guitar tabs for beginners
Here’s a video walkthrough to guide you:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Wonderful Tonight” riff here)]
The main challenge with this riff is mastering the string bending technique. When bending the strings, focus on TARGETING the correct pitch. Concentrate and LISTEN carefully to ensure the bent notes are in tune and match the intended sound.
You can significantly improve your lead guitar skills by exploring our in-depth guide: How To Play Lead Guitar: The Ultimate Guide
7. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Iron Man’ by Black Sabbath
This next riff played a pivotal role in shaping the metal genre. If you’re ready to rock, this is the riff for you!
We’ll focus on the main intro riff, which comes in after the initial “robot” voice section, around 0:28. Here’s the guitar tab:
[(Insert guitar tab for “Iron Man” riff here)]
Jack provides a detailed explanation of this riff in this video:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Iron Man” riff here)]
Notes for This Tab
This riff can become quite challenging when you reach the 10th and 9th frets. The transitions are quick! This is excellent practice for developing your picking speed and accuracy.
Get That Classic Metal Tone
If you’re a dedicated Black Sabbath fan like us, you’re probably curious about how to achieve that iconic “Sabbath Fuzz” sound heard in their songs.
The Sabbra Cadabra pedal by Catalinbread is designed to emulate Tony Iommi’s classic tone beautifully, and we highly recommend it.
Check out how cool this pedal looks:
8. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This is a quintessential classic rock anthem. The original recording features multiple guitar parts, but we’ll focus on the easiest part of the intro riff, making it accessible as guitar tabs for beginners. (And yes, the bass player in the video is something else! 😄)
Here’s the tab for the simplified intro riff:
[(Insert guitar tab for “Sweet Home Alabama” riff here)]
Here’s some further guidance from Jack in this video:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Sweet Home Alabama” riff here)]
Notes for This Tab
This is slightly more advanced compared to other guitar tabs for beginners on this list because it’s beneficial to know the basic chords of the song before tackling the lead riff. Get comfortable with the chords first – strum them in time – and THEN incorporate the lead fills.
If chord diagrams are new to you, check out this essential lesson: How To Read Guitar Chordboxes
Dsus2 Chord
Guitar chord Dsus2, guitar tabs for beginners
Learn more easy ways to play the D chord in this lesson: 3 Easy Ways to Play the D Chord on Guitar
Cadd9 Chord
Explore various easy ways to play the C chord in this article: Easy Ways To Play The C Guitar Chord
G Major Chord
Guitar chord G major, guitar tabs for beginners
The G major chord is arguably the best guitar chord of all! We’ve dedicated an entire article to exploring easy ways to play it: 4 Easy Ways To Play The G Chord On Guitar
Mastering these chords is essential as they form the foundation of this entire song.
9. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Smoke On The Water’ by Deep Purple
This riff is pure rock and roll and wonderfully EASY, making it one of the absolute best guitar tabs for beginners. Let’s listen to this legendary riff:
[(Embed YouTube video of “Smoke on the Water” riff or link to official audio)]
This riff is incredibly simple and is played entirely on just one string!
[(Insert guitar tab for “Smoke on the Water” riff here)]
Although it’s quite straightforward, Jack offers further explanation in this video:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Smoke on the Water” riff here)]
10. Guitar Tabs for Beginners – ‘Enter Sandman’ by Metallica
Metal riffs are fantastic choices for guitar tabs for beginners, and this one is another timeless classic. (I vividly remember learning this riff in my bedroom and rocking out to it for hours!)
We’ll be focusing on the iconic intro riff:
[(Insert guitar tab for “Enter Sandman” riff here)]
Tab Notes
Be mindful of the string changes in this riff, and as always, start SLOW. Jack provides a more detailed breakdown of the riff in this video:
[(Embed YouTube video tutorial for “Enter Sandman” riff here)]
Continue exploring more awesome guitar tabs for beginners on page 2! Page 2
Get Your FREE Beginner Chord Guide!
Learn 12 ESSENTIAL beginner chords with our popular guide!
[(Button/Image for FREE Chord Guide download)]
✅ Stop struggling with chords. Start making music today.
✅ Learn beginner-friendly versions of EVERY essential chord.
This is our most popular guide, and it will dramatically improve your chord skills quickly! 😎 Get your FREE guide now!
Ready to take your guitar playing to the next level?
Get your own personalised guitar-learning plan! Click here for GuitarMetrics™
Explore World-Class Guitar Courses!
Learn from the world’s best guitar educators. Click here to discover our guitar courses
