Hard Rock Guitar
Hard rock is built on loud guitars, heavy riffs and big choruses. It took shape in the late 1960s and became one of the most popular guitar-driven genres in history. If you play electric guitar, this is probably where you started.
On GuitarZone you'll find tabs and lessons from the biggest hard rock bands: Guns N' Roses, Van Halen, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Bon Jovi. Whether you're working on power chords, palm muting or your first solo, hard rock has songs at every level.
A
AC/DC 17
- 1 Back in Black TAB 1980
- 2 Demon Fire LESSON 2020
- 3 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap TAB 1976
- 4 Girls Got Rhythm LESSON 1979
- 5 Hells Bells TAB 1980
- 6 Highway To Hell TAB 1979
- 7 It's a Long Way to The Top TAB 1975
- 8 Moneytalks TAB 1990
- 9 Rock 'n' Roll Train LESSON 2010
- 10 Shoot to Thrill TAB 1980
- 11 Shot in the Dark TAB 2020
- 12 T.N.T. TAB 1975
- 13 Thunderstruck TAB 1990
- 14 Who Made Who LESSON 1986
- 15 Whole Lotta Rosie TAB 1977
- 16 You Shook Me All Night Long TAB 1980
- 17 You Shook Me Night Long TAB 1980
Aerosmith 19
- 1 Amazing TAB 1997
- 2 Angel LESSON 1987
- 3 Child TAB 1997
- 4 Crazy TAB 1993
- 5 Dream On TAB 1973
- 6 Dream On - Famous Riffs LESSON 1973
- 7 Dream On Pt.2 LESSON
- 8 I Don't Want to Miss a Thing COVER 1998
- 9 Kings And Queens TAB 1997
- 10 Love In An Elevator - Famous Riffs LESSON 1989
- 11 One Way Street Brad Whitford TAB 1974
- 12 One Way Street Joe Perry TAB 1974
- 13 Sweet Emotion TAB 1975
- 14 Sweet Emotion Pt.1 - Rhythm Guitar Parts LESSON 1975
- 15 Sweet Emotion Pt.2 - Solo LESSON 1997
- 16 Train Kept A-Rollin' TAB 1974
- 17 Walk This Way TAB 1975
- 18 Walk This Way Pt.1 - Rhythm Guitar Parts LESSON 1975
- 19 Walk This Way Pt.2 - Guitar Solos - Joe Perry LESSON 1975
Alice Cooper 4
B
Bad Company 2
Billy Idol 4
Billy Squier 2
Blue Oyster Cult 5
Bon Jovi 20
- 1 Always TAB 1994
- 2 Bad Medicine LESSON 1989
- 3 Bed of Roses LESSON 1992
- 4 Born To Be My Baby TAB 1988
- 5 Dry County TAB 1992
- 6 Have A Nice Day TAB 2005
- 7 I'd Die For You TAB 1984
- 8 I'll Be There For You TAB 1988
- 9 In These Arms TAB 1989
- 10 It's My Life COVER 2000
- 11 Keep The Faith TAB 1992
- 12 Livin' on a Prayer TAB 1986
- 13 Livin' on a Prayer Pt.1 - All Riffs LESSON 1986
- 14 Livin' on a Prayer Pt.2 - Solo LESSON 1986
- 15 Runaway TAB 1983
- 16 This Ain't A Love Song TAB 2005
- 17 Wanted Dead or Alive TAB 1986
- 18 Wanted Dead Or Alive Pt.1 - Intro & All Rhythms LESSON 1986
- 19 Wanted Dead Or Alive Pt.2 - Guitar Solo LESSON 1986
- 20 You Give Love a Bad Name TAB 1986
Boston 10
- 1 Amanda LESSON 1986
- 2 Foreplay/Long Time LESSON 1976
- 3 Foreplay/Long Time - Intro LESSON 1976
- 4 Foreplay/Long Time - Main Solo LESSON 1976
- 5 Foreplay/Long Time - Part 2 LESSON 1976
- 6 More Than A Feeling Pt.2 - All Electric Guitar Rhythm Parts LESSON 1976
- 7 Peace of Mind LESSON 1976
- 8 Peace Of Mind - Famous Riffs LESSON 1976
- 9 Rock & Roll Band LESSON 1976
- 10 Smokin' LESSON 1976
British Lion 1
Bruce Dickinson 2
Bryan Adams 4
C
Cinderella 5
D
Damn Yankees 1
Deep Purple 7
Def Leppard 16
- 1 Animal LESSON 1987
- 2 Bringin' On the Heartbreak LESSON 1981
- 3 Bringin' On The Heartbreak & solos TAB 1981
- 4 Foolin' LESSON 1983
- 5 Gods Of War LESSON 2015
- 6 Hysteria LESSON 1987
- 7 Love Bites LESSON 1987
- 8 Photograph - Chords/Riffs LESSON 1983
- 9 Photograph - Solos LESSON 1983
- 10 Photograph Pt.1 - Chords/Riffs LESSON 1983
- 11 Photograph Pt.2 - Solos LESSON 1983
- 12 Pour Some Sugar On Me TAB 1987
- 13 Rock of Ages LESSON 1983
- 14 Take What You Want TAB 1987
- 15 Too Late For Love LESSON 1983
- 16 Two Steps Behind LESSON 1993
Dokken 6
E
Europe 16
- 1 Aphasia TAB 1986
- 2 Bring It Home TAB 1986
- 3 Carrie TAB 1987
- 4 Cherokee TAB 1979
- 5 Coast To Coast TAB 1988
- 6 Danger On The Track TAB 1982
- 7 Heart of Stone TAB 1986
- 8 Hero TAB 1986
- 9 Hold Your Head Up TAB 1989
- 10 Ninja TAB 1986
- 11 Open Your Heart TAB 1985
- 12 Prisoners In Paradise TAB 1990
- 13 Superstitious TAB 1991
- 14 Superstitious Kee Marcello's solo TAB 1990
- 15 The Final Countdown TAB 1986
- 16 The Final Countdown - Chords/Rhythms LESSON 1986
Extreme 7
F
Film Soundtracks 1
Firehouse 2
Foo Fighters 6
Foreigner 3
G
Ghost 8
Great White 1
Greta Van Fleet 4
Guns N' Roses 48
- 1 14 Years TAB 1991
- 2 Anything Goes TAB 1987
- 3 Appetite For Destruction TAB 1987
- 4 Back Off Bitch TAB 1991
- 5 Bad Apples TAB 1991
- 6 Breakdown TAB 1991
- 7 Civil War TAB 1991
- 8 Coma TAB 1991
- 9 Dead Horse TAB 1991
- 10 Don’t Cry TAB 1991
- 11 Don't Cry (Rhythm Guitar) LESSON 1991
- 12 Don't Damn Me TAB 1991
- 13 Double Talkin' Jive TAB 1991
- 14 Dust N' Bones TAB 1991
- 15 Estranged TAB 1991
- 16 Get in the Ring TAB 1991
- 17 Hard Skool TAB 2021
- 18 It's So Easy TAB 1987
- 19 Knockin' on Heaven's Door TAB 1991
- 20 Knockin' on Heaven's Door (All Riffs) LESSON 1990
- 21 Knockin' on Heaven's Door (The Solos) LESSON 1991
- 22 Locomotive TAB 1991
- 23 Locomotive 3 TAB 1988
- 24 Mr. Brownstone TAB 1987
- 25 My Michelle TAB 1987
- 26 Nightrain TAB 1987
- 27 Nightrain (Outro Solo) LESSON 1988
- 28 November Rain TAB 1991
- 29 November Rain (1st and 2nd Solos) LESSON 1991
- 30 November Rain (Outro Solo) LESSON 1991
- 31 One in a Million TAB 1988
- 32 Ordinary Man TAB 1992
- 33 Out ta Get Me TAB 1987
- 34 Paradise City TAB 1987
- 35 Patience TAB 1988
- 36 Pretty Tied Up TAB 1991
- 37 Rocket Queen TAB 1987
- 38 Slash The Godfather TAB
- 39 Sweet Child o' Mine TAB 1987
- 40 Sweet Child O' Mine Instrumental LESSON 1987
- 41 The Garden TAB 1991
- 42 The General TAB 2023
- 43 Think About You TAB 1987
- 44 This I Love LESSON 2008
- 45 Welcome to the Jungle TAB 1987
- 46 Yesterdays TAB 1991
- 47 You Could Be Mine TAB 1991
- 48 You're Crazy TAB 1987
H
Halestorm 2
Heart 6
J
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts 2
K
Kiss 19
- 1 100,000 Years TAB 1974
- 2 Beth LESSON 1974
- 3 Black Diamond TAB 1974
- 4 Detroit Rock City TAB 1976
- 5 Detroit Rock City - Chords/Riffs LESSON 1976
- 6 God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II TAB 1991
- 7 Goin' Blind TAB 1974
- 8 Heaven's On Fire LESSON 1984
- 9 I Was Made For Lovin' You LESSON 1979
- 10 Lick It Up LESSON 1983
- 11 Love Gun TAB 1977
- 12 Rock and Roll All Nite - Chords LESSON 1975
- 13 Rock and Roll All Nite - Solo LESSON 1974
- 14 Rock and Roll All Nite Pt.1 - Chords LESSON
- 15 Rock and Roll All Nite Pt.2 - Solo LESSON 1975
- 16 Rock Bottom (Acoustic Intro) TAB 1974
- 17 Shock Me TAB 1974
- 18 Strutter TAB 1974
- 19 Top 5 Ace Frehley Riffs TAB
L
Lenny Kravitz 3
M
Michael Schenker Group 1
Molly Hatchet 1
Motley Crue 17
- 1 Dr. Feelgood TAB 1989
- 2 Dr. Feelgood Pt.1 - Intro, Main Riff & Verse LESSON 1989
- 3 Dr. Feelgood Pt.2 - Chorus & 1st Guitar Solo LESSON 1989
- 4 Dr. Feelgood Pt.3 - Main Guitar Solo LESSON 1989
- 5 Dr. Feelgood Pt.4 - Outro Section LESSON 1989
- 6 Girls, Girls, Girls LESSON 1987
- 7 Home Sweet Home - Solo LESSON 1985
- 8 Home Sweet Home Pt.2 - Solo LESSON 1989
- 9 Kickstart My Heart TAB 1989
- 10 Kickstart My Heart - Famous Riffs LESSON 1989
- 11 Live Wire LESSON 1983
- 12 Looks That Kill LESSON 1983
- 13 Same Ol' Situation " LESSON 1989
- 14 Smokin' In The Boys Room LESSON 1985
- 15 Take Me To The Top LESSON 1985
- 16 Too Young To Fall In Love LESSON 1981
- 17 Wild Side LESSON 1987
Mountain 2
N
Naruto Shippuden 1
P
Poison 8
- 1 Every Rose Has Its Thorn LESSON 1990
- 2 Fallen Angel LESSON 1988
- 3 Life Goes On LESSON 1990
- 4 Nothin But A Good Time Pt.1 - All Rhythm Guitar Parts LESSON 1988
- 5 Nothin But A Good Time Pt.2 - Guitar Solo & Outro Solo LESSON 1988
- 6 Nothin’ But a Good Time TAB 1988
- 7 Something To Believe In LESSON 1990
- 8 Talk Dirty To Me LESSON 1987
Praying Mantis 1
Q
Queens of the Stone Age 1
R
Ratt 5
Rick Derringer 1
S
Saigon Kick 1
Scorpions 25
- 1 Always Somewhere TAB 1997
- 2 Bad Boys Running Wild TAB 1988
- 3 Big City Nights TAB 1984
- 4 Blackout TAB 1982
- 5 Can't Live Without You TAB 1980
- 6 Coast To Coast TAB 1982
- 7 Fly People Fly TAB 1975
- 8 He`s A Woman She`s A Man TAB 1984
- 9 In Trance TAB 1975
- 10 Lady Starlight TAB 1984
- 11 Life Like A River TAB 1978
- 12 Life's Like A River TAB 1978
- 13 No One Like You LESSON 1982
- 14 Peacemaker TAB 1988
- 15 Rock You Like a Hurricane TAB 1984
- 16 Rock You Like a Hurricane - Chords & First Solo LESSON 1984
- 17 Rock You Like a Hurricane - Main Solo LESSON 1984
- 18 Sails Of Charon TAB 1977
- 19 Send Me an Angel COVER 1990
- 20 Still Loving You TAB 1984
- 21 Tease Me Please Me TAB 1992
- 22 The Sails Of Charon TAB 1977
- 23 We'll Burn The Sky second to (with tablatures and backing tracks TAB
- 24 When The Smoke Is Going Down TAB 1974
- 25 Wind Of Change TAB 1990
Skid Row 9
- 1 18 & Life TAB 1989
- 2 18 and Life LESSON 1989
- 3 I Remember You TAB 1989
- 4 I Remember You - All Electric Guitar Rhythms LESSON 1989
- 5 I Remember You - Famous Riffs LESSON 1989
- 6 In a Darkened Room LESSON 1991
- 7 Monkey Business LESSON 1989
- 8 Wasted Time TAB 1989
- 9 Youth Gone Wild TAB 1989
Slash 14
- 1 Anastasia TAB 1991
- 2 Anastasia - Acoustic Intro LESSON 1992
- 3 Anastasia - First Solo LESSON 1988
- 4 Anastasia Pt. 2 LESSON 2022
- 5 Anastasia Pt.3 - First Solo LESSON 1992
- 6 Anastasia Pt.4 - Outro Solo LESSON 2022
- 7 Godfather Theme Solo - Guns N' Roses Live in Tokyo 1992 LESSON 1992
- 8 Killing Floor TAB 1992
- 9 The Godfather Theme COVER 1992
- 10 The River Is Rising LESSON 2012
- 11 World on Fire - All Rhythms Pt.2 LESSON
- 12 World on Fire - Main Solo LESSON 2012
- 13 World On Fire - Outro Solo LESSON 2014
- 14 World on Fire Intro LESSON 2010
Steppenwolf 2
T
The Cult 3
The Kinks 2
Thin Lizzy 2
Twisted Sister 3
U
UFO 4
Ugly Kid Joe 1
V
Van Halen 48
- 1 316 LESSON 1986
- 2 5150 LESSON 1986
- 3 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love LESSON 1978
- 4 Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love TAB 1978
- 5 Amsterdam LESSON 1979
- 6 Atomic Punk LESSON 1978
- 7 Beautiful Girls LESSON 1979
- 8 Best of Both Worlds LESSON 1986
- 9 Bottoms Up! LESSON 1979
- 10 Can't Stop Lovin' You LESSON 1995
- 11 Cathedral LESSON 1982
- 12 D.O.A. LESSON 1979
- 13 Dance the Night Away LESSON 1979
- 14 Dreams LESSON 1986
- 15 Drop Dead Legs LESSON 1984
- 16 Eruption TAB 1978
- 17 Everybody Wants Some!! LESSON 1980
- 18 Feel Your Love Tonight LESSON 1978
- 19 Girl Gone Bad LESSON 1984
- 20 Hear About It Later LESSON 1981
- 21 Hot for Teacher TAB 1984
- 22 House of Pain LESSON 1984
- 23 I'll Wait LESSON 1984
- 24 I'm The One LESSON 1979
- 25 Jamie's Cryin' LESSON 1978
- 26 Judgement Day LESSON
- 27 Jump TAB 1984
- 28 Light Up the Sky LESSON 1979
- 29 Little Dreamer LESSON 1978
- 30 Little Guitars LESSON 1982
- 31 Mean Street LESSON 1981
- 32 On Fire LESSON 1978
- 33 Panama TAB 1984
- 34 Poundcake LESSON 1991
- 35 Pretty Woman LESSON 1979
- 36 Right Now LESSON 1991
- 37 Right Now - Famous Riffs LESSON 1986
- 38 Romeo Delight LESSON 1980
- 39 Runaround LESSON
- 40 Runaround - Famous Riffs LESSON
- 41 Runnin' with the Devil TAB 1978
- 42 Somebody Get Me a Doctor LESSON 1979
- 43 Spanish Fly LESSON 1979
- 44 Take Your Whiskey Home LESSON 1980
- 45 Top Jimmy LESSON 1984
- 46 Unchained TAB 1981
- 47 Women in Love... LESSON 1979
- 48 You Really Got Me TAB 1978
Velvet Revolver 4
Vinnie Moore 1
W
Whitesnake 13
- 1 Here I Go Again TAB 1982
- 2 Here I Go Again - Chords/Rhythms LESSON 1982
- 3 Is This Love LESSON 1987
- 4 Still Of The Night - Guitar Solo Section LESSON 1987
- 5 Still Of The Night - Interlude & String Section LESSON 1987
- 6 Still Of The Night - Intro, Verse & Main Riff LESSON 1987
- 7 Still Of The Night - Octave Riff, Pre-Chorus & Chorus LESSON 1987
- 8 Still Of The Night - Outro Section LESSON 1987
- 9 Still Of The Night Pt.1 - Intro, Verse & Main Riff LESSON 1987
- 10 Still Of The Night Pt.2 - Octave Riff, Pre-Chorus & Chorus LESSON 1978
- 11 Still Of The Night Pt.3 - Interlude & String Section LESSON 1978
- 12 Still Of The Night Pt.4 - Guitar Solo Section LESSON 1987
- 13 Still Of The Night Pt.5 - Outro Section LESSON 1978
#
38 Special 1
What Defines Hard Rock Guitar?
Hard rock guitar revolves around distorted power chords, pentatonic-based solos and driving rhythms. Most hard rock sits in E Standard tuning, though many bands (especially from the 70s) tune down a half step to Eb Standard for a slightly heavier, looser feel. The typical signal chain is a humbucker-loaded guitar into a cranked Marshall or similar high-gain amp.
The genre spans decades. Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple laid the foundation in the early 70s. Van Halen reinvented lead guitar with tapping in the late 70s. Guns N' Roses and Def Leppard dominated the 80s. And bands like Foo Fighters kept the sound alive into the 2000s and beyond.
If you're looking to build a practice routine around hard rock, start with open power chord riffs like Back in Black, then move to faster rhythm work like Sweet Child O' Mine. When you're ready for lead, the Eruption solo is the ultimate benchmark.
Explore hard rock songs from the 70s, from the 80s, or browse by tuning to find songs that match your setup.