How to Play the "Back in Black" Riff

"Back in Black" is one of AC/DC's most popular songs. It combines a catchy sequence of power chords with a very fun solo. The song follows the general AC/DC style of three chords repeated, and was the first song I ever learned how to play on guitar. This tutorial will instruct you how to play this timeless classic.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar
• Guitar picks
• Distortion/overdrive/metal pedal

1. Listen to the song a few times. Though easy to play, it always helps to know the song frontwards and backwards before playing.
2. The main riff to this song is structured in the A-B-A-C format, where a phrase is repeated twice, with a separate phrase after.
3. The A in the A-B-A-C involves playing an E-power chord, a D-power chord, and an A-power chord. That's it.
   
   The E gets played once, while the D and A are played three times each.
4. The B of the A-B-A-C involves playing a descending series of notes.
   
   E:-3--0----------
   B:------3--0-----
   G:-----------2br-
   
   The "br" refers to bending and releasing the note.
5. The C of the A-B-A-C starts with the second fret of the A string and walks the low-E string from the fourth to seventh frets.
   
   A:--2---2---2---2---
   E:----4---5---6---7-
6. Combine Steps #3, #4 and #5 and you will be able to play the major riff from one of AC/DC's best and most popular songs.