Easy to Play Metal Songs for Beginners
Note that despite the riffing mostly isn't difficult in these songs, almost any guitar solo is really difficult. So ignore the solo parts you'll see in the tabs.
You don't have to wait a year in order to begin playing songs! Once you can play power chords and apply the picking patterns over them, you're armed and ready to go.
Below is the list of relatively easy to play rock/metal songs that came to my mind. They are supposed to be played with the distorted or overdriven electric guitar sound. Tips on tweaking the distortion effect are here -->.
Holiday - Green Day
A few power chords and very simple rhythm that do not require a speedy hand, make this song very easy to play.
If you'll find the song's INTRO difficult, just substitute it into the main riff, it sounds very similar anyway.
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
One of the most famous grunge song in the world is one of the easiest to play too (including the guitar solo). Actually I think it's the easiest guitar solo ever. Play the VERSE with a clean sound and fire up your distortion on the CHORUS.
Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
Nice and clean tab but I'd suggest you to replace their chorus with this one:
e)----------------------------------|----------| B)----------------------------------|----------| G)--5-------------------------------|-5--------| D)--5----6----5--x5-x5-x5-x5-x5-5---|-5---6----| A)--3----6----5--x5-x5-x5-x5-x5-5---|-3---6----| E)-------4----3--x3-x3-x3-x3-x3-3---|-----4----|It is more convenient to play and more powerful ;)
Iron Man - Black Sabbath
The song consists of the very simple riffs in moderate tempo.
Occasionally there's hammer on legato technique in the tab.
A video that demonstrates how to perform the hammer on guitar technique is here.
Hot - Avril Lavigne
The song is not difficult and fun to play. The INTERLUDE in the tab may seem slightly complicated, you can just play the
power chord progression instead.
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Here you'll need some more practice though, because in the main riff between the chords there are some fast palm muted notes that you'll need to pick accurately.
I noticed that when playing the chords if I skip playing the notes located on the B string the riff will still sound about the same but it becomes a lot handier to play.
Change - Deftones
This tune is really "hot". In order to play it you'll need to drop the low E string to the note of D. (You can always verify the D note by checking it with the open D string).
Toxicity - System of a Down
The tab and the song is very simple but the chorus requires pretty speedy hand, so it's not gonna be easy for every beginner.
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) - Metallica
It's not a difficult song to play if you skip the fast bridge riffs in the middle of it. You can also modify the chorus riff by replacing the line of quickly played muted notes with the sound of a power chord.
Here is another list of songs for beginners, this time for the clean electric and acoustic guitar. These songs are based on the open chords, and require some basic set of skills to perform strumming or finger style.