23 Best Guitar Hero 1 Songs

The Edgar Winter Group – Frankenstein

Frankenstein is one of those songs that are extremely well-known among even casual classic rock listeners. But, to be fair, it is a bit of an unusual choice to have featured in a game that centers around guitar parts. 

The reason for this is that Frankenstein is actually more notable for its use of a synthesizer. In fact, with this song, Edgar Winter essentially popularized playing the synthesizer in a standing position that mimics the guitar. 

Maybe the developers at Harmonix thought it would be cheeky fun to include it in a game that utilizes a controller in the same manner. Either way, this is guaranteed to be one of your favorites in the game. 

Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

There are very few tracks on the original Guitar Hero that could be deemed as “danceable”. The majority of the soundtrack leans toward headbanging rather than something that could make one move their entire body. 

But if you’re one that enjoys a rock song that will move your feet, take Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out for a spin. This song has an undeniably catchy sound that fits right in with that dance-pop indie-rock sound from the early 2000s. 

Queens Of The Stone Age – No One Knows

Queens Of The Stone Age hit an absolute grand slam with the release of the album, Songs For The Deaf. The album features a potent lineup and has some of Dave Grohl’s finest moments as a drummer.

No One Knows was one of the singles released to promote the album and displays some of the hallmark aspects of the band’s sound. This song is almost like a marriage between modern rock and 1960s pop music.

Pantera – Cowboys From Hell

It’s probably a little bit sacrilegious for most guitarists to actually attempt to play Cowboys From Hell in real life. Let’s face it, not everyone has the chops to pull off Dimebag Darrell’s demonic riffs.

Cowboys From Hell will throw you for a loop unless you’re already familiar with how the song goes. The track has a very unique rhythmic groove, which has become one of Pantera’s signature music traits. 

Motörhead – Ace Of Spades

Sometimes, nothing hits quite like a metal song that pushes the limit on speed while packing in a hint of grime. Motörhead’s iconic track, Ace Of Spades, could be thought of as the epitome of that very notion.

Ace Of Spades definitely rocks harder than most of the songs within the genre’s era. You should prepare yourself to run into some difficulties if you’re playing through this on the expert difficulty level.

David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust

As a songwriter, David Bowie had a style that almost could not be replicated. His early works often incorporated ridiculous chord progressions that would be unexpected to any listener.

During the early 1970s, Bowie’s work became accompanied by guitar riffs, which is evident in Ziggy Stardust. This track has some of the greatest guitar riffs to come out of that golden era of rock music.

Blue Öyster Cult – Godzilla

If you’re a fan of kaiju films such as Godzilla, you’ll love playing this Blue Öyster Cult song in Guitar Hero. This is one of Blue Öyster Cult’s most famous tracks, largely because of its unforgettable lyrics. 

There’s no doubt that you’ll have this one stuck in your head after playing through it. 

Bad Religion – Infected

There are a number of songs that you’ll encounter when you play Guitar Hero for the first time. These songs are the easiest to be found in the game, though each can be a little challenging if you aren’t prepared.

Bad Religion’s song, Infected, is one of these songs you’ll find in the game’s opening level. This is a pretty straightforward track that features long, sustained notes mixed with some heavy rhythmic chugging. 

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ’N Roll

One thing you’ll find in the Guitar Hero series is that the soundtracks often feature rock anthems. Joan Jett’s ode to the genre, I Love Rock ’N Roll, could be considered the start of this tradition.

You’ll encounter this song at the very beginning of the game due to its relative ease in difficulty. The guitar part mostly consists of simplistic rhythmic strums augmented by some semi-tricky riffs.

Ozzy Osbourne – Bark At The Moon

Judas Priest’s You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ wasn’t the only track from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to find its way to Guitar Hero. Ozzy Osbourne’s hit song, Bark At The Moon, is another V-Rock track that fits so perfectly in Guitar Hero.

While Ozzy was already technically featured in the game with a Black Sabbath song, his solo material definitely deserves its place. After all, Ozzy’s guitarists have all been named some of the greatest to have ever picked up the instrument.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground

Early Red Hot Chili Peppers often gets overlooked compared to the group’s later releases beyond the early 1990s. However, it’s these earlier releases that demonstrate the raw, funky energy that made the band so famous.

It’s actually quite surprising to see their cover of Stevie Wonder’s hit song, Higher Ground, on Guitar Hero. But you better be prepared, this song will stupefy you with its rhythmic difficulty if you aren’t ready for it. 

Top Guitar Hero 1 Songs, Final Thoughts

Even though it’s almost been 20 years since Guitar Hero’s release, the game remains an absolutely legendary title. Surprisingly enough, the game still holds up quite well today despite the massive growth in video game standards. 

Should you happen to come across an old copy with a controller, don’t sleep on the decision to purchase them. The game truly is a bundle of fun for anyone of almost any age who has an inclination toward music.