20 Best Guitar Riffs for Beginners (2026 List)

A kid in their bedroom learns the first three notes of "Smoke on the Water," and suddenly, a world of rock and roll opens up. That's the power of a great guitar riff. It's the hook that grabs you and makes you want to play all day.

Forget boring scales and frustrating chords for a moment. Learning the best guitar riffs for beginners is the fastest way to feel like a rockstar and stay motivated on your guitar journey.

This guide gives you 25 iconic yet simple riffs you can start learning today. We'll provide easy-to-read tabs and practical tips to make them sound huge, even on a small practice amp.

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TL;DR: The Easiest Guitar Riffs to Learn Now

• "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes: The ultimate one-finger riff. It uses a single string and a simple rhythm that's instantly recognizable.
• "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple: The first riff most guitarists learn. It uses two strings and a simple box pattern that teaches finger independence.
• "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath: A slow, heavy, and powerful riff. It's perfect for learning basic string slides and getting a feel for rock timing.
• "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones: A classic three-note riff that introduces you to using a fuzz or distortion effect to get that signature gritty tone.

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The Best Guitar Riffs for Beginners: Our Top 25 List

Ready to make some noise? Here are 25 of the best and easiest guitar riffs to get you started. They are grouped by difficulty, starting with the absolute easiest one-string wonders and moving up to riffs that introduce new techniques.

Level 1: One-String Wonders

These riffs are perfect for day one. You only need one finger on one string to play them. This helps you focus on your picking hand rhythm and getting a clean note without worrying about complex fingerings.

1. "Seven Nation Army" – The White Stripes

This is it: the king of modern beginner riffs. It's played entirely on the A string, and the rhythm is unforgettable. It proves you don't need a lot of notes to write one of the most famous riffs of the 21st century.

Why it's great: It builds confidence instantly. You can learn it in under five minutes.
The Tab:

A|--7--7--10--7--5--3--2--|
E|----------------------|

Playing Tip: Use your index or middle finger and slide cleanly between the notes. Try to let each note ring out before moving to the next.

2. "Peter Gunn Theme" – Henry Mancini

This classic TV theme is pure cool. It's a simple, repeating line on the low E string that teaches you how to create a groovy, menacing vibe. It's a foundational riff for surf rock and spy movie soundtracks.

Why it's great: It teaches rhythmic precision. The pauses between the notes are just as important as the notes themselves.
The Tab:

E|--0--0--2--0--3--0--5--4--|
A|------------------------|

Playing Tip: Use all down-picking to give it an aggressive, punchy sound. Keep your picking hand moving steadily, even during the rests.

3. "Another One Bites the Dust" – Queen

While originally a bass line, this riff sounds fantastic on guitar. It's another low E string masterpiece that gets you into a funk groove. John Deacon wrote some of the most iconic bass lines of all time, and this one is a perfect starting point.

Why it's great: It’s all about timing and space. It shows how leaving gaps can make a riff even catchier.
The Tab:

E|--3--3--3--1--0----0-0-0-0-0--|
A|----------------------------|

Playing Tip: Try muting the strings with the palm of your picking hand right after playing the first few notes to get that tight, funky "chug."

Level 2: Simple Two-String Riffs

Now we're adding a second string. This requires you to move your picking hand up and down, a key skill for any guitarist. These riffs are still very easy but sound much fuller.

4. "Smoke on the Water" – Deep Purple

This is the "Stairway to Heaven" of beginner riffs; it's a rite of passage. Ritchie Blackmore created a timeless monster using just two notes played at the same time on two different strings.

Why it's great: It introduces "double stops" (playing two notes at once) and teaches you a simple, movable shape on the fretboard. It’s also a cornerstone of hard rock. Many players look to perfect their tone with the right guitar amp settings for rock to nail this sound.
The Tab:

D|--0--3--5----0--3--6--5--|
G|--0--3--5----0--3--6--5--|

Playing Tip: Use your index and middle finger, or just barre one finger across both the D and G strings. Don't press too hard. Let the amp's distortion do the work.

5. "Satisfaction" – The Rolling Stones

Keith Richards supposedly wrote this riff in his sleep. It's a simple three-note pattern that changed rock and roll forever. It was one of the first major hits to use a fuzz pedal, giving it that iconic buzzsaw sound.

Why it's great: It's repetitive and catchy, which helps build muscle memory. It's also a great introduction to tone-shaping with effects pedals.
The Tab:

E|------------------|
B|--2--2--2--4--5---|

Playing Tip: The riff is on the B string. Play it with a bit of attitude. If you have a distortion or fuzz pedal, now is the time to stomp on it. A simple pedal like the

can get you close to this classic sound.

6. "Iron Man" – Black Sabbath

The riff that launched a thousand metal bands. Tony Iommi's slow, menacing line is incredibly powerful yet simple to play. It uses the low E and A strings.

Why it's great: It teaches you basic string slides and vibrato. The slow tempo allows you to focus on making each note sound huge.
The Tab:

E|--------------------------------|
A|--5-s-7--7----10--9--10--9--10--7-|

Playing Tip: The "s" means slide. For the main part of the riff, use your index and ring fingers. If you want to try the bend from the song's intro, use two or three fingers to push the string for more power.

7. "Sunshine of Your Love" – Cream

Eric Clapton's legendary riff is a blues-rock staple. It's a repeating pattern that walks down the blues scale. It sounds complicated, but it's just a simple shape that you move around the neck.

Why it's great: It's a perfect introduction to the blues scale, which is the foundation for countless rock and blues songs. This riff is a gateway to learning some of the most iconic guitar solos of all time.
The Tab:

D|--12--12--10--12----------|
A|------------------12--11--|

Playing Tip: Start the pattern with your ring finger on the 12th fret of the D string. This puts your hand in the perfect position to play the rest of the notes without much movement.

Level 3: Introducing Power Chords and Basic Techniques

These riffs introduce power chords, the backbone of rock and punk music. A power chord is a simple two-note chord that's easy to play and sounds massive with distortion. We'll also touch on techniques like palm muting.

8. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" – Nirvana

The riff that defined a generation. Kurt Cobain's quiet-loud dynamic is legendary. The main riff uses four simple power chords.

Why it's great: It teaches power chords and strumming dynamics. The contrast between the clean verse and distorted chorus is a lesson in itself. The song's structure is also a great study in songwriting. Some artists, like the members of the band DeBarge, have a net worth built on similarly catchy hooks.
The Tab (Power Chords):

   F5    Bb5   Ab5   Db5
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|-------3-----1-----6---|
D|--3----3-----1-----6---|
A|--3----1-----x-----4---|
E|--1----------4---------|

Playing Tip: For the clean parts, just pick the individual notes of the chords. For the chorus, hit the full power chords with aggressive downstrokes.

9. "Back in Black" – AC/DC

Angus Young is the king of open-position rock riffs. This one uses a combination of open strings and simple fretted notes, plus a few easy chords. It's pure rock and roll energy.

Why it's great: It combines single-note lines with chords, teaching you how to switch between the two smoothly. This is a fundamental skill.
The Tab (Intro Riff):

e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|--0-2-2-0-----------------|
D|--0-2-2-0--2--------------|
A|-----------2--4-4-5-4-0---|
E|-----------0--------------|

Playing Tip: Let the open strings ring out. This riff has a certain swagger to it, so don't play it too stiffly.

10. "Breaking the Law" – Judas Priest

A heavy metal anthem built on a simple, driving riff on the A and D strings. It's fast, aggressive, and incredibly fun to play.

Why it's great: It's a fantastic exercise for your picking hand. Using all downstrokes gives it the required power and aggression.
The Tab:

A|--0-2-3--0-2-3--0-2-3-2-0---|
D|--------------------------4-|

Playing Tip: Keep your picking wrist loose. You want to attack the strings but not tense up your arm.

11. "You Really Got Me" – The Kinks

One of the first hard rock riffs ever. Dave Davies got the fuzzy, distorted tone by slashing his amplifier's speaker cone with a razor blade. Luckily, you can just use a pedal. The riff itself is a simple sliding power chord pattern.

Why it's great: It teaches you how to slide power chords, a key technique in rock and punk. It’s also just two chords, making it very easy to memorize.
The Tab (Power Chords):

   F5 -> G5   F5 -> G5   (slide up)
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|-----------------------|
D|--3-s-5----3-s-5-------|
A|--3-s-5----3-s-5-------|
E|--1-s-3----1-s-3-------|

Playing Tip: The slide is everything. Make it fast and aggressive. Don't lift your fingers off the strings as you move from the first chord to the second.

12. "Beat It" – Michael Jackson

Yes, that iconic intro was played by the legendary Eddie Van Halen, but the main riff underneath the verse is a super simple and heavy line played by Steve Lukather. It's a dark, syncopated riff on the low E string.

Why it's great: It teaches syncopation, which means playing notes off the main beat. This is crucial for developing a good sense of rhythm.
The Tab:

E|--0-0-0-2-3--0-0-0-2-3--0-0-2-3--|
A|--------------------------------|

Playing Tip: This riff was originally played in Drop D tuning, but you can easily play it on the standard-tuned E string as tabbed above. Focus on the rhythm and the small pauses.

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Why You MUST Learn Riffs First

Learning guitar can be tough. In fact, a staggering 90% of people who start learning guitar quit within the first year, according to a widely cited 2023 survey. The biggest reason? They get bored with tedious exercises and don't feel like they're actually making music.

This is where riffs come in.

Learning Method	Beginner Friendliness	Motivation Boost
Learning Riffs	★★★★★	High: Instant gratification, sounds like a real song.
Learning Full Songs	★★★☆☆	Medium: Can be overwhelming with many parts.
Learning Scales	★☆☆☆☆	Low: Feels like homework, abstract and boring.
Learning Chords	★★★☆☆	Medium: Useful, but changing chords is difficult.

Learning riffs provides the perfect balance. You learn a small, manageable piece of a real song, which gives you a huge sense of accomplishment and keeps you picking up the guitar every day.

The growth of online learning platforms like Fender Play, which saw a 500% increase in users, shows that more people are looking for accessible, song-based lessons. These simple electric guitar lines are the DNA of popular music. Once you learn a few, you start to see the patterns that connect thousands of songs.

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More Great Riffs to Build Your Skills

Let's continue our list, moving into riffs that are still easy but add a little more complexity.

13. "Come As You Are" – Nirvana

Another Nirvana classic with a watery, chorus-drenched tone. The riff is played on the two lowest strings and has a very hypnotic, repeating pattern.

Why it's great: It's a perfect exercise for alternating between two strings while maintaining a consistent rhythm.
The Tab:

E|----------------------------|
A|--0-0-1-2--2-1-0-0----------|

Playing Tip: Let the notes ring into each other as much as possible to create that signature droning sound.

14. "Day Tripper" – The Beatles

A clever and bouncy riff from John Lennon. It's instantly recognizable and a lot of fun to play. It requires a bit more finger stretching than the previous riffs, but it's a great workout.

Why it's great: It forces you to stretch your fingers and builds dexterity. It also shows how a simple idea can be moved around to create a full song section.
The Tab:

E|----------------------------|
A|-----------0-2-0-4-0--------|
D|--0-3-4---------------------|

Playing Tip: Use your index finger for the notes on the 2nd fret, your middle for the 3rd, and your ring or pinky for the 4th.

15. "Wild Thing" – The Troggs

This riff is all about attitude and simplicity. It uses just three basic chords (A, D, E) and a rhythm that's impossible not to stomp your foot to.

Why it's great: It's one of the first riffs where you'll likely learn full, open chords. It's a bridge from single-note lines to playing "real" rhythm guitar.
The Chords:
A - D - E - D
Playing Tip: Don't worry about playing the chords perfectly at first. Just hit the strings with confidence and focus on the raw, energetic rhythm.

16. "Enter Sandman" – Metallica

The clean intro riff is haunting and beautiful. It uses open strings and simple fretted notes to create a dark atmosphere before the heavy distorted riff kicks in. We're focusing on the easy clean part here.

Why it's great: It's a great exercise in clean playing and finger accuracy. It teaches you to let specific notes ring out while keeping others quiet.
The Tab (Clean Intro):

E|--0------------------0----|
A|----5---------7------5----|
D|------6---------6---------|

Playing Tip: Play this part softly with your fingers or a light pick. The key is control and a delicate touch.

17. "Eye of the Tiger" – Survivor

The ultimate workout montage song. This chugging, palm-muted riff is pure 80s rock power. It's a simple power chord progression that's all about a tight, percussive rhythm.

Why it's great: It's the perfect introduction to palm muting. This technique is essential for rock and metal.
The Tab (Power Chords):

   C5    Bb5   Ab5
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|--5--5--3--3--1--1-----|
D|--5--5--3--3--1--1-----|
A|--3--3--1--1--x--x-----|
E|----------------4--4---|

Playing Tip: To palm mute, rest the fleshy part of your picking hand lightly on the strings right near the bridge. You want to dampen the notes to get a "chugga-chugga" sound, not mute them completely.

18. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" – The Rolling Stones

We listed this earlier, but it's so important it's worth re-emphasizing. It's the riff that showed the world you only need three notes to make a global smash hit.

Why it's great: It proves that simplicity is key. It's a lesson in how a simple musical idea can be incredibly effective.

19. "Wipe Out" – The Surfaris

While known for its insane drum solo, the guitar riff is a classic piece of surf rock. It uses a simple three-chord progression (in this case, C, F, G) with a driving, fast-paced strumming pattern.

Why it's great: It's a fantastic workout for your strumming arm and helps you build stamina and rhythmic consistency.
The Chords:
C - C - F - F - G - G - F - F
Playing Tip: Use constant down-up strumming to keep the rhythm driving forward. It's a fast one!

20. "La Bamba" – Ritchie Valens

This classic rock and roll tune is built around the same three chords as "Wild Thing" and "Wipe Out" (in the key of C, it's C, F, and G). The riff is the melodic line that follows the vocal melody.

Why it's great: It teaches you how to play a melody that works over a standard chord progression. It connects the dots between lead and rhythm playing.
The Tab (Main Melody):

B|--5-5-5--3-1-1---1-1-3-3--1--------|
G|----------------------------2-0----|

Playing Tip: Try to sing the melody as you play it. This helps internalize the rhythm and phrasing.

21. "Paranoid" – Black Sabbath

Another Tony Iommi masterclass in simplicity. This is a fast, driving riff played mostly on the low E string, perfect for headbanging.

Why it's great: It's an excellent exercise for building speed and alternate picking.
The Tab:

E|--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--10--12-12-12--|

Playing Tip: Use your pinky or ring finger for the 12th fret and your index for the 10th. Keep your fretting hand in one position and let your fingers do the work.

22. "TNT" – AC/DC

Oi! Oi! Oi! This is caveman rock at its finest, and that's a compliment. It's just a few simple power chords, but the attitude and delivery are everything.

Why it's great: It teaches the power of space. The pauses between the chord stabs are what make the riff so heavy.
The Tab (Power Chords):

   E5    G5    A5
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|-------------2---------|
D|--2-----5----2---------|
A|--2-----5----0---------|
E|--0-----3--------------|

Playing Tip: Hit the chords hard and then immediately mute them with your fretting hand by lifting your fingers slightly off the strings.

23. "Walk This Way" – Aerosmith

This funk-rock masterpiece has one of the grooviest intros ever. It's a bit more complex rhythmically, but the notes themselves are not hard to play.

Why it's great: It's a deep dive into syncopation and funky rhythms. Nailing this will seriously improve your internal clock. It has one of the best bass intros as well, making it a full-band classic.
The Tab (Intro):

e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|--2--4--2--5--2--4--2-----|
D|--------------------------|

Playing Tip: Listen to the original recording a lot to absorb the funky, off-kilter feel. It's less about the notes and more about the swagger.

24. "All the Small Things" – Blink-182

This pop-punk anthem features a super catchy, arpeggiated riff that's played on the top three strings. Arpeggiated means playing the notes of a chord one by one instead of all at once.

Why it's great: It's a fantastic introduction to arpeggios and is a great exercise for picking accuracy.
The Tab:

e|--------------------------------|
B|-----3-------3-------3-------3--|
G|---0---0---0---0---2---2---2---2--|

Playing Tip: Let the notes ring together as much as possible to create a shimmering, full sound.

25. "Crazy Train" – Ozzy Osbourne

The main riff is a chugging monster on the low E string. Randy Rhoads was a guitar god, but he knew how to write a simple, effective riff that even beginners can tackle. We are just focusing on the main verse riff here, not the lightning-fast solos.

Why it's great: It's a perfect exercise for palm-muted alternate picking on a single string, a foundational technique for metal music. Aspiring shredders often move from this to trying the best guitar solos for beginners to build their skills.
The Tab:

E|--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--5-5-5-5--4-4-4-4-|
A|------------------------------------|

Playing Tip: Keep the rhythm tight and consistent. All the notes should be the same volume.

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Gear You Need (and What You Don't)

You don't need a thousand-dollar guitar to learn these riffs. The global guitar market is expected to reach $26.218 billion by 2035, largely because high-quality, affordable instruments are more accessible than ever. The fact that women now account for 50% of all new players also shows how the instrument's appeal has broadened.

Here's a simple setup that will work for all the riffs on this list:

• A Beginner Electric Guitar: Look for something with a comfortable neck. Squier (by Fender) and Epiphone (by Gibson) make excellent starter guitars. A model like the

is a perfect all-in-one solution.

A Small Practice Amp: You don't need a giant stack. A small 10-15 watt amp is plenty loud for your bedroom. Many, like the Fender Mustang LT25 or Boss Katana, have built-in effects like distortion and chorus, letting you get the right tones without buying extra pedals.

A Pick: Start with a medium-thickness pick (around .73mm). It's a good all-rounder for both riffs and chords.

A Tuner: A simple clip-on tuner is essential. An out-of-tune guitar will make even the best player sound bad.

That's it. Don't get bogged down with gear. The most important thing is to start playing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest guitar riff to learn?

The easiest and most common first riff for guitarists is "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes. It is played entirely on one string and requires only one finger, making it incredibly accessible for absolute beginners. "Smoke on the Water" is a very close second.

Should I learn riffs or chords first?

You should learn them at the same time, but focus on riffs first for motivation. Riffs give you instant, recognizable musical results, which helps you stick with the instrument. Chords are essential for playing full songs, but mastering the changes between them takes time and can be frustrating initially.

Do I need an electric guitar to play these riffs?

Most of these famous riffs were written for electric guitar and sound best with some distortion. However, you can absolutely learn and practice all of them on an acoustic guitar. They just won't have that classic rock "crunch." If you enjoy acoustic, you might want to explore the best acoustic guitar intros of all time next.

How long should I practice each day?

Consistency is more important than duration. Practicing for a focused 15-20 minutes every day is far more effective than a three-hour session once a week. This builds muscle memory and keeps you from burning out. As the global market for guitar instruction grows to over $1.25 billion, it's clear that structured, regular practice is what students are seeking.

My fingers hurt! Is this normal?

Yes, it's completely normal. You're building calluses on your fingertips, and the soreness should fade after a week or two of consistent practice. A little tenderness is part of the process, though you should never push through sharp pain. Also, make sure your guitar is set up properly, as strings that are too high off the fretboard (high "action") can make finger pain worse. Pushing past this initial stage is worth it; the amazing careers of lifetime players like Carole King, whose net worth are proof of that.