37 Easy Metal Songs For Guitar [With Tabs]
For many people, an interest in metal music is what sparks a desire to learn the guitar. There’s something undeniably appealing to the sound of heavily distorted guitars.
Unfortunately, many songs within the genre require quite a bit of technique, which could prove to be difficult for beginners. The following songs (many of which are classics in the genre) are a great starting place for building metal chops.
But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available:
Free eBook: Discover how real independent musicians like you are making $4,077 - $22,573+ monthly via Youtube, let me know where to send the details:
Contents
“Enter Sandman” by Metallica
Metallica’s catalog of songs is filled with classics, but none has the wide appeal that Enter Sandman has. This song is what really allowed Metallica to capitalize on a mainstream audience.
In fact, the entire world is familiar with this track from Metallica’s self-titled album (known as the “black album”). Love it or hate it, Enter Sandman definitely has some fun riffs throughout the track.
That is one of the biggest reasons why this is a prime choice for someone starting out on metal guitar. Chances are likely that you’re familiar with this song, which will help you learn the song much faster.
“Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath’s song, Paranoid, is one of the foundational metal songs that you need to add to your repertoire. This is one of the true classics, and just about everybody loves it.
For the most part, the song is fairly easy, relying mostly on power chords to get the job done. There’s quite a bit of palm muting in this song as well, which is a staple technique in metal music.
If you’ve never played lead guitar, Paranoid also provides a great entry into this as well. The guitar solo isn’t terribly complex compared to other songs found in the genre.
Of course, you might not get the same sound as Iommi does. However, much of that has been attributed to his prosthetic fingertips.
“Symphony Of Destruction” by Megadeth
Whenever Metallica is mentioned, Megadeth usually isn't too far behind in the same conversation. Dave Mustaine’s personal history with Metallica has been one of the most famous stories within the metal genre.
With songs like Symphony Of Destruction, Megadeth proved they had songs of equal caliber to match Metallica’s energy. This song has quite a catchy hook for a metal song, putting some pop songs to shame.
The guitar parts in this song rely mostly on simple rhythmic riffing. Attempting the lead will take a little more effort, however.
“Bottom” by TOOL
TOOL is one of those bands that is insanely popular despite not having much mainstream exposure. However, those that take the time to discover TOOL’s catalog quickly become addicted to the band’s unique sound.
In some ways, TOOL mixes progressive rock and metal elements, sometimes adding a bit of art rock aesthetics. Every member in the group is a master in their own domain, which only helps.
The song, Bottom, from the album, Undertow, is a great choice for a beginner wanting to learn TOOL songs. It relies quite a bit on power chords based on the drop D tuning.
You will have to spend a little time getting the short bursts of tremolo picking down during the main riff. However, it’s so infectious that you won’t have trouble motivating yourself to learn to play it cleanly.
This song is especially great because of the Henry Rollins feature, and the music around it. If you’ve never heard this song before, this section alone is worth checking out.
“Breaking The Law” by Judas Priest
Judas Priest was one of the many bands at the forefront of pushing the metal sound into the mainstream. This band had a distinct mixture of fun, lightning riffs, with a metal aesthetic that is commonplace today.
One of the band’s biggest hits is, undoubtedly, Breaking The Law. Even if you’ve only had minimal exposure to metal, you are probably familiar with this song’s classic chorus.
Breaking The Law has a lot of riffing throughout the song. This will teach you to be consistent in your playing.
“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne
Crazy Train is another very popular choice that many beginner guitarists start with when learning metal songs. After all, it does have one of the greatest intros ever written for a song.
The best part about the song is definitely the opening guitar line. Aside from the opening bass riff, this guitar line is the song’s identifying tag.
Many guitarists stop learning the song after they’ve mastered the opening riff. Sure, the rest of the song isn’t as epic, but there are some great riffs and chord combinations here.
“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin
You’re probably wondering just what in the heck Led Zeppelin is doing on this list. This band isn’t generally considered metal, so what gives?
The truth is that, at one point in time, Led Zeppelin was one of the heaviest bands around. Much of what the band did musically has found its way into common metal songwriting techniques.
Take the song, Whole Lotta Love, for instance. This track has quite a bit of palm muting bookended by an iconic riff.
Led Zeppelin really did pave the way for rock music being built from guitar riffs. Plus, their name literally implies that their sound is heavy.
“The Trooper” by Iron Maiden
Speaking of riffs, one of the most iconic riff-heavy metal tracks is Iron Maiden’s The Trooper. The guitar part features a descending melody broken into 4 different segments, which is quite catchy.
Of course, this guitar part is then harmonized, with another guitar playing a simple melody over top. It’s one of the earliest examples of highly orchestrated guitar parts playing metal music.
The Trooper found quite a bit of popularity in the early 2000s, thanks to the video game, Guitar Hero. This track was featured more toward the difficult levels, though it’s a blast to play on the real guitar.
If you’re in a metal band with other guitarists, The Trooper is an excellent song for everyone to learn. Everyone will have endless fun adding their guitar parts to the song’s layers.
“Am I Evil?” by Diamond Head
Diamond Head’s track, Am I Evil? is a classic from the early 1980s. It’s perhaps most famous for the fact that Metallica has covered it.
This song is incredibly easy for any beginner with power chord knowledge. The beginning of the track features a signature march that can be heard throughout all metal genres.
In that regard, Diamond Head’s classic track is quite influential.
“The Wicker Man” by Iron Maiden
Looking for an easy riffer to add to your collection of metal songs? You’ll definitely want to consider taking a look at Iron Maiden’s The Wicker Man.
For the most part, you’ll only need to know your power chords, as the main riff is built from them. Some light palm muting is thrown into the riff for that classic metal sound.
“Rammstein” by Rammstein
There are only a few bands that could get away with naming a song the same name as their band. Rammstein, everyone’s favorite German metal group, is one of the select few, and for good reason.
This song has some fairly easy moments, particularly the intro, which features a riff incorporating some power chords.
“Seek And Destroy” by Metallica
Metallica’s early catalog is a great preview of how the band’s sound would gradually evolve over time. The Kill ‘Em All album is quite raw, though it shows plenty of promise to be fulfilled in coming years.
Seek And Destroy comes from this album, and is probably the best-known track out of the bunch. Which is a little surprising considering it wasn’t an official single, although it was the band’s first recorded song.
This track has a signature opening lick that is relatively easy but does have some string skipping. Aside from that, it’s simple metal riffing with a solo that is a little more difficult.
“Shepherd Of Fire” by Avenged Sevenfold
Whether you consider Avenged Sevenfold to be a metal band can be open for debate. However, their track, Shepherd Of Fire, certainly is composed similarly to some of the most iconic metal songs.
The intro in this song is pretty simple, relying mostly on sustained notes. From there, some riffs built around basic power chords are featured.
With that being said, the solo is going to take quite a bit more work to get under your belt. However, that should be expected with just about any song you learn, regardless of the genre.
“N.I.B.” by Black Sabbath
N.I.B. is another classic Black Sabbath song that every aspiring metal guitarist should have in their repertoire. This song is famous because of its iconic bass solo intro, as well as the “oh yeah” between each riff.
Like most Black Sabbath songs, you’ll primarily be using basic power chords for the duration of N.I.B. Plus, there isn’t a whole lot of moving around on the neck, making it optimal for beginners.
“Aerials” by System Of A Down
Compared to other metal bands, System Of A Down has one of the most unique sounds. Much of this is due to Serj’s distinct vocal character, but the music itself is quite unique, too.
Admittedly, many System Of A Down tracks can be a little tricky to play. Aerials makes for a great entry to adding some of this band’s songs into your repertoire.
The main riff primarily relies on playing single notes on the lower 3 strings in succession. This can be a little tricky for an absolute beginner but helps one to learn foundational metal techniques.
“Lateralus” by TOOL
The entire Lateralus album is one that any metal fan should listen to at least once. It is one of TOOL’s crowning achievements and has hints of the sound the band really embodies today.
While every song from this album is great, the song, Lateralus, is quite epic, partly because of the guitar parts. What’s great about this song is its utilization of drop D power chords, so just about anyone can play it.
“War Pigs” by Black Sabbath
Out of any metal band, Black Sabbath should really be the beginner’s starting point. After all, the band really was the sort of parent responsible for the entire metal genre itself.
While many metal songs rely on dark imagery, War Pigs takes on more of a political slant. Despite the time period in which it was written, much of the lyrics are still quite relevant in today’s society.
“Raining Blood” by Slayer
Few songs have the reputation that Slayer’s Raining Blood has within the metal music community. For starters, it’s quite a dark tune and its instrumentation is quite intense.
Raining Blood is a great choice for beginners as the song’s opening riff is fairly easy. The rest of the song will be a challenge, but you’ll grow immensely by learning to play these classic parts!
“Bat Country” by Avenged Sevenfold
Even if you didn’t listen to Avenged Sevenfold, you likely have some idea of the song’s inspiration. Of course, many might still be too young to fully understand the Hunter S. Thompson reference.
Still, Bat Country is perhaps the band’s most well-known hit and it has been featured in multiple video games. This is a fairly easy song, though your tremolo picking will be given a bit of a workout.
“Sweet Leaf” by Black Sabbath
By now, you shouldn’t be surprised to see yet another Black Sabbath song mentioned in this article. To give you a spoiler, it won’t be the last one you see mentioned, either!
Let’s face it, Black Sabbath’s catalog is filled to the brim with staple classics. Sweet Leaf is among these, and can still be heard on the radio today.
“Sober” by TOOL
Before TOOL became the band they were today, their sound was exceptionally rough around the edges. Many consider their evolution similar to the evolution of maturity a human goes through during life.
The song, Sober, was the first TOOL song that was really given mainstream attention. Compared to other TOOL songs, it is a bit more pop-oriented, despite having heavy metal sound aesthetics.
“Sonne” by Rammstein
Rammstein’s song, Sonne, starts out with a reminiscence of industrial electronic music, before launching into a heavy, pummeling sound. Interestingly enough, the song’s original intent was to be used for a boxer’s introduction music.
Sonne is definitely a song worthy of any beginner’s efforts. Simple power chords are primarily used throughout the entirety of the song.
Just be sure to find the right distortion crunch when playing this song. Otherwise, you might not have quite as heavy a sound as this song manages to produce.
“Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
Iron Man is perhaps Black Sabbath’s most recognizable song to those that don’t listen to metal. The iconic intro, complete with the modulated robot vocals, is usually what people recognize the most.
You’ll have a lot of fun learning this, primarily because of its relative ease. The beginning does utilize an interesting bend taking place behind the guitar’s nut.
“Stinkfist” by TOOL
If you’ve taken the time to discover TOOL’s catalog, you are probably quite familiar with the album, Ænema. This album has some of the band’s most sprawling and intense songs, including the opener, Stinkfist.
The guitar part on Stinkfist isn't like your typical garden variety guitar work. Rather, this part relies on simplicity to deliver its punishing depth.
For the most part, Stinkfist is a song that any beginner should be capable of playing. Much of the song features repeated musicality, though you will want to make sure your bending technique is down.
“Duality” by Slipknot
Looking for something easy, yet challenging due to its speed? Slipknot’s track, Duality, might just be what you need in your repertoire.
Overall, this track is quite heavy, although you might not think that if you realized how the guitar is played. This song’s fast riffs consist primarily of single notes, with some easy power chords thrown in for heavy effect.
“One” by Metallica
The track, One, by Metallica, remains one of the greatest metal epics of the last 50 years. This has everything from gentle dynamics to riffs that could burn anyone’s barn to the ground.
For those that didn’t know, this song is actually based on a Dalton Trumbo novel called, Johnny Got His Gun. It’s quite a moving story about somebody who is realizing the extent of damage they took in a war.
Considering the intensity of the novel itself, Metallica did a great job translating it to musical form. Plus, it’s full of iconic guitar parts that every metal guitarist should have in their bag of licks.
“Tears Don’t Fall” by Bullet For My Valentine
Bullet For My Valentine’s song, Tears Don’t Fall, starts out similarly to the emo and pop punk of its day. The guitar part utilizes a delay effect to help fill the musical spaces, utilizing simple power chords elsewhere.
It was tracks like these that helped the band gain a massive following early in their career. Tears Don’t Fall managed to chart quite well despite coming from the group’s debut full-length album.
“Bloodline” by Slayer
Slayer is generally considered one of the heaviest metal bands in the industry. This is a title that the band has held for decades.
Their song, Bloodline, proved they were still worthy of that title at the turn of the century. This might not have the blistery speed of their past, but it’s plenty heavy for any metal enthusiast.
“Walk” by Pantera
Another band generally considered to be one of the most brutal is Pantera. Most people are familiar with this band as the famed guitarist, Dimebag Darrel, was a founding member.
One of Panera’s most famous songs is Walk, which is somewhat easy in terms of its main riff. However, do be forewarned that the riff is played in 12/8 time, which could throw you for a loop.
This is one of those songs that is a real crowd-pleaser depending on the audience. Those that know this song will absolutely lose their wigs if you do perform this on stage.
“Raise Your Horns” by Amon Amarth
It took nearly a decade for Amon Amarth to become noticed in the mainstream lens. Since then, Amon Amarth has been capitalizing on their Viking-influenced sound, which many fans can’t get enough of.
A fan favorite tends to be the song, Raise Your Horns, which is a nod to every metal fan. Any beginner will have fun with this, though you will need to get your palm muting technique down.
“Roots Bloody Roots” by Sepultura
It’s always a blessing when a band’s biggest hit happens to be easy enough for any common guitarist to play. That is certainly the case with Sepultura's Roots Bloody Roots.
You’ll be using simple power chords throughout the majority of this song, making it low-hanging fruit for experienced guitarists. If you want to please a crowd, consider learning this for yourself.
“Angels Don’t Kill” by Children Of Bodom
For years, Children Of Bodom has had a reputation for having some of the best guitar work in the industry. And, for the most part, a lot of their material might not be the most appropriate for a complete beginner.
The song, Angels Don’t Kill, however, is worth checking out if you’re just getting into metal. You’ll love the song’s intro, which has a sound similar to what you might hear in a 1980s Halloween flick.
“My Plague” by Slipknot
On the surface, Slipknot’s song, My Plague, would seem like a difficult song to master. Like many of the band’s songs, much of this is all in the illusion of speed.
If you deconstruct the song at slower speeds, you’ll find that this song is actually built from simplicity.
“Holy Diver” by Dio
Dio might not have been quite as popular as Ozzy, but his influence as a vocalist cannot be denied. Many of his tracks have become staples within the metal genre, itself.
By far his biggest hit is the song, Holy Diver. This is a song that just about every metalhead knows and will throw the horns up for.
What’s even better is that the majority of this classic is quite easy enough for a beginner to play. You won’t have any problems pleasing an audience of metal fans with this track.
In some senses, many people consider Holy Diver to be the national anthem of metal.
“Omerta” by Lamb Of God
The early 2000s in metal were marked by a few bands etching their way to the top of peoples’ attention. Lamb Of God was one of these bands, as they were propelled by their hit album, Ashes Of The Wake.
On this album is the track, Omerta, which is essentially a vow of silence amongst Mafioso families. It’s tracks like these that helped Lamb Of God to be considered one of the greatest modern metal groups today.
“Your Betrayal” by Bullet For My Valentine
The song, Your Betrayal, has a definite march behind its intro, combining both heavy guitars and pounding drums. If you need to make a grand entrance at the beginning of a performance, this song is a worthy candidate.
Instrumentally, the picking is perhaps the most difficult aspect of the song. There’s also an opportunity to learn tapping techniques throughout, which is another staple metal technique.
“Sad But True” by Metallica
Many people consider Metallica’s self-titled album the moment when the band sold out for a more commercialized sound. However, much of this argument is based on the fact that it is also their most accessible record.
Still, it can’t be denied that the band’s career was never quite the same after the record. Metallica would never have the grip on the world they once did, despite being colossal giants in the music industry.
However, one must remember that mainstream attention usually only shines a spotlight for a brief period in history. Eventually, things shift and people find a taste for other types of sounds happening at the same moment in time.
Many people jokingly consider the song, Sad But True, an admittance to “selling out”. Regardless of how you might feel, it’s still a worthwhile song to learn, especially if you’re a beginner.
Because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t hurt to have a few Metallica songs up your sleeve. Plus, you can only benefit from learning everything you possibly can.
Easy Metal Songs For Guitar, Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are quite a few metal songs that are fairly easy to play. However, each song does present its own challenges, but that’s all a part of the fun.
If you take the time to learn all of these songs, you’ll have developed quite a bit of technique. You can use these skills to learn more difficult songs or start writing some of your own epic riffs.
P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!
![7 Most Expensive Guitars Ever [One Over $6,000,000]](https://musicindustryhowtoimages.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/07044638/Wolf-768x400.jpg)
