23 Best Guitar Hero 1 Songs

Nobody could have predicted the far-reaching success that Guitar Hero would achieve. The game prompted even non-gamers to purchase a gaming console to get in on the action.

If you’ve never played this classic, you’ll definitely want to seek out a copy for your own enjoyment. The following songs are some of the best cuts on the entire soundtrack and are sure to keep you coming back for more. 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Spanish Castle Magic

Considering that Jimi Hendrix single-handedly reinvented how the electric guitar would be played, it’s only right to include a track of his. Spanish Castle Magic might not be his most famous track, but it definitely highlights the things he is known for as a guitarist. 

Like many of his songs, Spanish Castle Magic’s guitar part variates between lead and rhythm parts. The verses especially rely on a distinct rhythmic strumming (which is arguably the easiest part of the song). 

You’ll encounter this song about midway through the game. Fortunately, your chops will likely be sharp enough by then to master this song without much of an issue.

Black Sabbath – Iron Man

Would any guitar-related game be complete without a Black Sabbath song included on the soundtrack? The developers at Harmonix thought not, including one of the group’s most iconic songs into the game. 

Iron Man is easily recognizable, even to those who do not regularly listen to Black Sabbath’s material. The intro is especially memorable, due in part to the robotic voice and signature guitar riff. 

Iron Man makes its appearance in the game toward the beginning during the game’s 2nd level. Once your chops are up to snuff, you’ll probably use this as a sort of warmup song.

Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water

If you’ve attempted to learn the real guitar, you know that Smoke On The Water has a riff that must be learned. In fact, many guitarists consider Smoke On The Water’s riff a sort of rite of passage. 

Guitar Hero’s developers were in on this knowledge when they included Smoke On The Water on the soundtrack. Ironically enough, the song actually appears at the beginning of the game.

You won’t be able to get by just playing a simplified version of the main riff. Unlike real life, you’ll actually be playing through the entire song here.

Cream – Crossroads

Cream is usually considered to be one of the first supergroups in the history of rock music. The band’s live recording of the Robert Johnson song, Crossroads, displays what the band is known for. 

Being in a trio is no small feat, but Cream managed to have a very full sound. That full sound definitely comes across in Crossroads, which is chock full of improvisation on every member’s part. 

Crossroads is one of those songs that you’d want to have in your repertoire if you actually played the guitar in real life. You’d be able to bust it out at an open jam and other people would likely be able to play along. 

Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated

If a video game is to cover rock music’s history in its entirety, it’s only fitting to include some punk music. While many bands are fitting of inclusion, putting a Ramones track in Guitar Hero makes quite a bit of sense.

The Ramones are undoubtedly one of the greatest American punk groups in the history of modern music. So many of their songs have become instant hits, with I Wanna Be Sedated being one of those tracks. 

Fortunately, this song is actually rather easy and appears at the beginning level of the game. I Wanna Be Sedated is more about hip aesthetics rather than flashy, difficult techniques that make you bust a sweat. 

Sum 41 – Fat Lip

For a somewhat simplistic musical subgenre, punk music has had quite an evolutionary journey in sound. Like every other popular genre, punk music began to get infused with pop music sensibilities in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

There are many noteworthy pop punk bands from the turn of the century, with Sum 41 being a prominent example. Their song, Fat Lip, became one of the biggest unexpected hits of 2001. 

Fat Lip appears in the 4th level of Guitar Hero, when things start to become slightly more difficult. It’s still relatively easy compared to many of the other songs that are on this mammoth soundtrack. 

Megadeth – Symphony Of Destruction

Megadeth is undoubtedly one of the biggest names of 1980s and 1990s metal. To the average person, however, the band doesn’t have as many well-known hits compared to its contemporaries. 

One song that anybody who was alive during the early 1990s probably remembers is Symphony Of Destruction. Upon its release, the track had a memorable music video that eventually became too risqué without proper editing. 

If you’re more accustomed to the later games released in the Guitar Hero chronology, you’re probably familiar with this song. The song made an appearance in Guitar Hero 5, along with 3rd game of the game series’s rival, Rock Band. 

Judas Priest – You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’

If you’re like me, you probably have fond memories of cruising around the streets of Vice City listening to V-Rock. One of the many excellent songs on that station’s playlist was You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’, by Judas Priest.

It’s only fitting that the song would find its way into the soundtrack for the original Guitar Hero game. After all, Judas Priest was one of the pioneer bands pushing the sound of British metal to mainstream audiences.

ZZ Top – Sharp Dressed Man 

If you’re looking for a fairly easy song that is more hip than difficult, ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man will fit the bill. You will want to make sure you have a pair of sunglasses handy when you attempt this track.

Of course, that’s not to say that this song is an absolute breeze. Despite appearing near the beginning of the game, it could throw you for a loop if you aren’t prepared.

Boston – More Than A Feeling

Despite the entirety of Boston’s catalog sounding similar, the debut album remains an all-time classic. This debut album produced nearly every Boston track that still receives radio play to this day.

More Than A Feeling is one of those tracks and is almost orchestral in its use of layered guitar parts. With this many iconic riffs in one song, it’s only fitting that it should be included in Guitar Hero.

This is a pretty easy song that you’ll have access to once you complete the game’s first level. It’s a song you’ll probably return to every now and again when you’re looking for something easy but enjoyable.

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood 

Stevie Ray Vaughan didn’t write Texas Flood, but he surely made the song extremely popular. Including it in the original Guitar Hero is a noteworthy choice by the game’s developers.

For starters, SRV essentially reinvented how the electric guitar would be played within the blues genre. His debut album (also called Texas Flood) is what knocked every music fan out of their rocking chairs. 

This song is definitely not the most difficult in the game but it will pose its own challenges if you’re not prepared. What else would you expect from a guitarist that possessed extreme expression combined with speed and perfect precision? 

Queen – Killer Queen

Queen is, by far, one of the greatest bands to have ever included a sense of dramatic flair into its sound. Many of the group’s biggest hits all of some sense of dramatics, which propel the songs’ energy to exceeding heights.

Queen’s first international hit was the song, Killer Queen. This track provides the slightest taste of what Queen would become to be known for in terms of their sound. 

Killer Queen has some unforgettable Brian May licks that are sure to get stuck in your head. The song is the definition of a bop.