20 Easy Beginner Guitar Riffs - How Many Can You Play?

The best famous guitar riffs every guitar player should know, acoustic or electric these sound cool on both. FREE Tablature link for each...

Best Beginner Easy Guitar Riffs To Learn Beginner Players

Do you know why learning some of the best easy beginner guitar riffs is such a clever move?

People recognise what you're playing straight away.

And because it can sometimes be a grind learning to play guitar, there's nothing more satisfying and rewarding than playing something on guitar when one of your friends or family say they recognise it.

Good news:

After hours of brainstorming we've compiled a list of what we consider to be the 20 best easy guitar riffs every guitar player should learn to play.

easy beginner guitar riffs lesson free tab

Not just for beginners but also for people who have been playing for years, the must-know riffs coming up will make you sound colossally cool.

Question is: how many can you play?


Best Way to Practice Beginner Guitar Riffs - 3 Tips

Practice Tip #1. Choosing acoustic or electric 

It doesn't matter if you own an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar - you're ready to rock these riffs. If you have both guitar types, a great tip is to start off practicing the riff on your acoustic. Why? You'll find it a bit trickier in general.

But you want to be able to play the riff in the shortest time possible, so why am I suggesting that? Simple answer: you'll develop better technique and strength quicker.

Once you have the notes, rhythm and phrasing memorised on your acoustic, plug you electric in, turn up your amp, and let rip.

Practice Tip #2. Always use good technique

When learning to play riffs you must always remember good technique is vital. Never rush into learning a riff as fast as you can regardless of how in time, clean or flowing the notes are.

Key techniques to always use include:

  • Use alternate picking (down to up picks) and avoid the amateurish habit of playing just down picks on everything.
  • Keep your fretting fingers spread out across the fretboard and keep them close to the strings, aka economy of movement.
  • Don't rush! Use a metronome to help you develop the sound and feel of the riff properly

Further reading: 19 Killer Guitar Practice Tips

Practice Tip #3. Divide and conquer

Cut the riff up into sections. Never try to learn a riff all the way through in one fell swoop.

As a beginner you're still working on developing correct playing technique and finger strength. With this in mind, repeat each section of the riff over and over until it starts to feel easier and sound better. 

The last piece of the playing puzzle falls into place when you finally connect all the sections then continue to practice the whole riff with the recording. You'll soon be making your friends jealous of how good you sound.

With that, here are the best easy beginner guitar riffs for you to get your teeth into.


Top 20 Easy Beginner Guitar Riffs

1. Satisfaction - Rolling Stones

 

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3. Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

Song key: D 

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4. You Really Got Me - The Kinks


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7. Shine on You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd


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8. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple


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10. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream


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11. You Really Got Me - Van Halen


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12. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor


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14. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana


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18. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin


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20. Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jets


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Summing It Up

Which of these beginner guitar riffs have you tried out? And which would you recommend other beginners learn. Tell us your thoughts and say hi in the comments section below!