Top 20 Hardest Rock Songs to Play on the Guitar
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 гру 2022
- Good luck learning these rock songs in an afternoon! For this list, we’ll be ranking the most challenging songs for guitarists to master. Our countdown includes “Wings of the Storm”, “Master of Puppets”, “Perpetual Burn”, “Cliffs of Dover”, “Through the Fire and Flames”, and more! Can you play any of these all the way through? Did they come easy to you, or was it a lot of work? Let us know in the comments!
Watch more great music videos here:
Top 20 Most Important Moments in Music History: • Top 20 Most Important ...
Top 20 Most Infamous Rip Off Songs Ever: • Top 20 Most Infamous R...
Top 10 Best Songs of 2020: • Top 10 Best Songs of 2020
Become a channel member to get access to special perks:
/ @watchmojo
Challenge friends and family on our multiplayer Trivia!
www.watchmojo.com/play/id/58271
Have your idea become a video!
wmojo.com/suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/watchmojo-subscribe
Visit our shop for awesome merch!
shop.watchmojo.com/
Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news on Fi
#Rock
#Songs
#Music
#HardestSongs
#HardestRockSongs
#Guitar
#GuitarSolo
#Hardest
#GuitarRiff - Розваги
Can you play any of these all the way through? Did they come easy to you, or was it a lot of work? Let us know in the comments!
For more music content, click here: ua-cam.com/video/yxURjzEUcrI/v-deo.html
I can play the intro to La Villa Strangiato. Does that count?😆
I can play Master of Puppets as well as Tornado of Souls in their entirety.
I can play master of the puppets and wings of the storm. I looked at the tabs for the rest, they are not that hard.
Soon, I shall examine this list... ;)
I was wondering when you would show up
And I can't wait lol
Looking forward to it, Tyler
I thought so
Check out Top 10
The fact that Buckethead is not on this list is ludicrous.
True
I was waiting for Soothsayer lol
@@marcoantonioramirezleon5616 Or Jordan.
And la villa is
And yet they put Eruption, Masters of Puppets, and Sultans of Swing lol…
Jason Becker being featured on the list twice is even more impressive when you remember that he was still a teen when he recorded both of those songs.
I was about to comment this! he's insane and unique!
I'm here for the comments from guitarists. The guitar player in my old band was quite technically proficient and he told me about some simple sounding licks that were actually ridiculously difficult to nail every time.
After numerous attempts over the years, and several different learning methods, I was forced to admit that I couldn't play a note if my life depended on it.
Good comment, this is true, sometimes the slower stuff is tough because every note is heard and the timing needs to be perfect
Tosin Abasi is an absolute beast!!! I’m so glad Animals as Leaders made this list…especially higher up. 🤘🏼
I saw AAL in concert this year so I can confirm it🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
Eruption is what my dad showed me when I was first starting guitar. I watched the whole 14 minute long guitar solo and I was in awe because I had never heard anything like that before. And from that day on, he’s been my biggest influence for the guitar.
Wish my Dad encouraged me and such. Yeah that’s def a good one to get you practicing 4 hours a day.
@@christiangasior4244 True. And I’m sorry to hear about that, man.
The hardest thing for any guitarist to play is whatever style they haven't learned to play. In my day tapping like EVH was the hardest thing to do, until I learned it, then I wondered why I always thought it so hard. Now I can play EVH songs with ease but if you were to ask me to play Chet Atkins I would be lost. Not because Chet is harder to play than EVH but because I have never played Chet Atkins style. It's all unknown...until it is known.
Atkins was fantastic. I'd also give a shout out to a man whose fingers should be preserved for future generations, Country guitar slinger Brad Paisley.
@@mikeshaffer4912 Indeed, he could play Chet AND Eddie. Should also mention Jerry Reed, Glen Campbell and Roy Clark 👍
you forgot “Fracture” by King Crimson. anyone who has been unfortunate enough to try and attempt that song would know how practically impossible it is.
I second this.
Even Mr. Fripp himself has said it's impossible for him to play it like it is.
Imo
I’ve looked at part of the transcription that had up to the 1st 121 measures. It’s damn near impossible to play. But it has patterns that you can learn. But it’s still above my technique and I’ll probably never able to play it
May not be the most popular guitarist of all time but Jerry Cantrell is responsible for some of the greatest riffs, lyrics, melodies, vocal harmonies, and honestly one of the greatest bands ever Alice In Chains
He is a great player and writer. I’ll take someone who can write over mindless shredding.
Very happy Alex is here, he’s too often overlooked ❤
La Villa is a good choice, too. Though I'd been thinking of the solo on Freewill as a worthy entry for his talents as well.
Pleasantly surprised by this list, tons of great material from excellent bands and musicians.
You can hear the influence of these songs on video games of many kinds, truly amazing!
Wow im impressed & this is the First Mojo video i ever gave Thumbs up to.
Awesome that you Put Michael Angel, Jason Becker & Paul Gilbert on this list & Yes i even Like the Guitar playing
in sultans of swing such a Great piece of music.
Man, I remember seeing Dream Theater live with a friend of mine. I was one of the only two black people at the show but I've never felt so comfortable at a show. They put on a GREAT live show and the spinning keyboard setup Jordan Rudess has was awesome. Nobody ever really sat down either, the music was too good.
I saw them live also once, still amazed.
Thank you so much for this video🥰... I was always tryng to watch and learn some oldies Guitarist riff or lick... But i dont know how find so far🥲...
I've list out 10 songs from this video to practice or learn🥳
Suggest u to Make another video like this... Guitar or Keyboard/synth.... Again Thank you💌
I'm glad that you included The Mahavishnu Orchestra on the list (highly ignored by the mainstream audience). I strongly recommend the studio version for those interested, it blows one's mind away.
Same, but I feel like the noonward race is an odd choice because songs such as the meeting of the spirits, thousand Island park, or birds of fire are more guitar centric.
Any intermediate guitar player can play Eruption with a bit of practice, but I get why it's on this list. It's an iconic solo. Although I question it's spot at number 10 on the list. I'd also say that 'Dance Of Eternity' is just as hard as 'Through The Fire And Flames' and arguably even more difficult than Tornado Of Souls.
Thank you for the update, WatchMojo..!! They're great songs to listen to..!!
Sultans is definitely a difficult song. However if we are speaking about difficulty in terms of playing a song 100% correct, Money For Nothing is miles ahead in difficulty. The amount of nuances that Knopfler plays in that song makes it 1000 times harder than it sounds.
Tip for anyone trying to play cliffs of dover: practice your hybrid picking and a compressor is going to be your best friend if you really want to get something similar to his tone.
Take a listen to Jason Becker's second album Perspective. It's amazing. My favorite song is the opener Primal. Where along with his amazing guitar work he also uses some tribal percussion instruments.
Rodrigo y Gabriella are incredible. The fusion and the speed is so good.
wouldn't say it's more impressive than nitro, but I guess the technique is the main thing making it difficult.
@@IsaacRossMusic1 try playing what Gabriella is playing
@@michaelswick4251 It's still a complex piece of music don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to shit on the piece at all. Infact, flamenco guitar techniques are very hard to master, I've tried myself. I just think that there are solos of greater difficulty further up the list.
Rodrigo and Gabriela is only garbage made for the unwary. Pure circus and four-hand game, but individually is garbage. What disappointment is this "expert" channel 👎😁
@@JC-vj4ln what?
Yeah I remember seeing Dragon Force in concert and those absolutely Blown Away
I have to say it, I’m impressed, not only you guys picked the best songs (except for Sultan Of Swings), but most of them are in the correct order. Really good video.
To be fair, sultans was made to be impossible, but only if you’re using a pick
I agree but they should’ve put some Shawn Lane here
Dream theater - the test that stumped them all.... Dangerous intro 🔥🔥
Ok this was a great list. This is what the hardest songs to play on guitar list should have been! Good job watchmojo!! The only thing I would have included is a Jason Richardson track track from either of his albums.
Seeing La Villa Strangiato by Rush on this list was perfect. If Eric Johnson wasn't here then the list would've been wrong. Technical Difficulties should have been higher.
However...no Steve Howe? No Steve Morse? A bit disappointed.
Steve Howe is crazy. All finger picking
I saw Steve Howe live this week
with YES...
Can't wait for the Become the Knight reaction video
I got to see “eruption” live before EVH was asked to join the metal Valhalla. I was blown away by how controlled the chaos is and how amazing it was. I turned 5 again seeing it live because it blew my mind again.
Much better than The previous top hardest songs on guitar video.
Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson.
Zap is even harder, nobody can run like him though..
Music Is Win, welcome back
I'm disappointed that Spinal Tap's "Lick My Love Pump" wasn't included...:-0
that because there not a real band
Just for the fact it goes to 11.
@@jimbo9208 he was joking plus Lick my Love pump is a piano piece in the key of Dm which as we all know is the saddest of all keys.
@@farfromperfek Unintentionally I guess I was being irreverent.Then again..
AWESOME
I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years and most of these I can play bits and pieces of.
Megadeth, Metallica been playing those for years. Dire Straits I know the riff, but I can never make it sound exactly the same though. DragonForce, I learned the intro just to tick off my cousin who thought he was a guitar player because he could play it on guitar hero.
I’m not crazy enough to attempt anything by Malmsteen or Vai or Dream Theater. And from a couple of the other selections, probably not even the guts to try those. Lol.
Great list though!
Sean: Jeff Beck?
great video
Last track of the album is Sailing Ships... (Slip of the tongue)
If you think 4 necks isn’t enough, Michelangelo Badio has a motorized version that moves the bottom necks up and down! Rob Scallon visited him and got to try it out.
All those hard working guitarists should deserve an award!🎸🏆
I love the thumbnail, rip EVH
I am somewhat satisfied with this list… but yeah, there’s really more that are truly deserving.
I’m a guitarist. Played for over 30 years. Mojo did their homework! Great list. Only exception is Master of Puppets. Shouldn’t be on this list but I’m sure they did it for the views. Metallica has much more difficult and better songs IMO.
Trapped Under Ice and Call of Ktulu, to name but a few.
Seeing Jason Becker multiple times on this list (and especially Perpetual Burn) makes me so happy.
This top needs some songs from Unprocessed and Polyphia tbh, "Dead Rose" and "Playing God" has some of the hardest riff i've ever attempted lol
Actually a better list for once. Not great by any means but better than the previous ones.
Marty Friedman is a legend, and I'm so glad that Kiko Loureiro carries on his legacy so perfectly.
Ok as someone who has been playing guitar for over 20 years, in my experience and opinion songs aren't difficult to play, they're difficult to learn. Once u learn a song and practice enough it becomes muscle memory. When talking about not just learning the notes but learning them at the correct tempo, sometimes the seemingly easiest songs are the hardest to play correctly especially if they're slower because you feel like u wanna do more or go faster than the song calls for. The hardest songs to learn are songs like LA Villa Strangiato from Rush that are long and full of sections of solos, leads and not a lot of repetition. But then again it's also like asking what's the hardest thing to draw. Realistic portraits are hard but some people specialize in them and for them it isn't hard. Some people practice nothing but lead guitar, scales, triads and arpeggios and playing Yngwie Malmsteen stuff comes easily to them. I could play Eruption by the time iw as 13 because I spent a year practicing nothing but that. It's all subjective.
You should give Dokken's "Tooth and Nail" a try, and see if you can replicate it
Up font I play acoustic. Having said that I learned "how to play" by trying to emulate those on electric. At first I was frustrated by the fact I couldn't get the same sound out of my poor Yamaha. Then it hit me like a box of rocks. Learn your instrument... know your instrument... and play with feeling. It's only six strings but once you know. You know. My inspiration was Brian May and there was no way in hell I could duplicate that. But I did learn one lesson from him you play from the heart.
The opening of flying in a blue dream was a conversation picked up on a wah pedal.
Dragonforce through the fire and flames, on Guitar Hero, was one song I could play in that video game so with some training I should be able to master the song and even beat Dragonforce on speed alone
wow. ill give ya credit for wings of the storm (whitesnake)
I don't play guitar so I only have my ears to go by and most of this sounds like a blur of technique. One of the things I love about Megadeth--it's hard and heavy but usually also catchy. And there must be something by Randy Rhoads that's difficult.
Crazy Train is what I think a hardest rock song to play on the guitar
Also, Eruption by Eddie Van Halen is definitely the hardest one
@@pabloruiz6224 the 2nd solo in Mr Crowley is harder than literally anything in Crazy Train
@@zer0_iz_d34d Wait, it is? I thought that Crazy Train is the hardest rock song for Randy to play his guitar solo.
@@pabloruiz6224 Mr Crowley and most the stuff in Diary of a Madman was harder than Crazy Train, and that’s just his Ozzy work. His stuff in Quiet Riot was on a whole other level
@@zer0_iz_d34d Oh 😬
Guthrie Govan, Tim Henson, Buckethead, Muhammed Suiçmez
Awesome
Queen white man is one I'd love to learn, but the pickups for it makes the timing and playing of it much harder
The thing is that Brian May uses very intricate layering, patterns and timing combinations even in a single passage and that's why some of his songs and solos are among the most complex and difficult to play and even impossible to replicate without studio work, I agree.
The main riff is the opening for Tie Your Mother Down.
Just now seeing this a year later but there are 3 guitarist that I hope will someday get the Recognition They Deserve 1st Anything from Aldo Nova His first album in 82 with the Track Fantasy every Song is a Masterpiece and every Album after a True Testiment Subject Aldo Nova Should never been Forgotten, 2nd Rick Springfield Way before the 80's He Totally Reworked Eleanor Rigby from the Beatles and Took his Australian Band ZOOT to Number One With This Heavy Riffed Version, Rick's Guitar Playing is So Underrated, 3rd Andy Taylor from Duran Duran, I was Blown away with his First Solo Effort Called THUNDER ⚡ Every Song ROCK'S I would love to hear Andy Taylor and Steve Vai Play Together.
Glad I grew up in the 90s! Otherwise I wouldn't have been influenced by such iconic music!
I’ll add a surprise in here…Roy Clark….go look at his videos in UA-cam, and I betcha not many people can do his stuff either. He played acoustic and electric, banjo, mandolin and more.
I think its a good list. Jason Becker and Yngwie Malmsteen are among my favorite players. I personally would also add Buckethead, Guthrie Govan, Symphony X, Necrophagist, Spawn of Possession, Christian Muenzner, Eternity's End and Bumblefoot. (especially his songs Guitars Suck, Guitars still suck and Chopin Fantasie)
Great picks
I'm the One is a harder VH song than Eruption. Because Ed's not exactly playing in time- its more of a groove. There are a lot of really talented musicians that have trouble with this one, even if they play it note for note. Most just can't play it in the pocket like Ed could.
Saw the #1 recently live and I can only say: if you think the album version is good, just wait until you see it live.
Dragonforce's Through the Fires and Flames really go on the top
Agree, the #1 hardest rock song of all time.
Ive seen the tabs. If i remember correctly the album version has 3 guitars overlapping
My favorite Malmsteen piece is Trilogy: Opus 5.
This is another video that should have gotten should had honorable mentions
¿Buckethead & Polyphia?
I would've put You Enjoy Myself, Fly Famous Mockingbird, All Things Reconsidered or Fluffhead from Phish / Trey Anastasio on the list. Seasoned guitar players who are Phish fans all generally agree the hardest Phish song to play on the guitar is one of them. Or if you only want to focus on one part of a song, the breakdown in Guyute always blows me away.
Love to see some djent recognition on here
ayye another djentleman!
Fun list!
Like some others commenting, I'd add 'Fracture' to the list.
Pronunciation alert: Mahavishnu & Hanuman. 😉
Ewan dobson should be high up on this list. Also jeff loomis - the ultimatum. Arch enemy picked up loomis few years back. Both should be high on this list. Buckethead too
Just literally anything from Shawn Lane. Seriously makes #1 seem like a joke
Putting aside the tech ability of individual guitarists,( but as a whole band), old school Zappa/Mother's & M. Orchestra is from another planet. Later on in time it HAS to be Metallica they have an enormous catalog of complex songs & today I'd pick Meshugga as the best..Tomas the drummer is like a alien machine check them out... ALSO why isn't Tool on this list
Frank Zappa's Willie the Pimp (and the rest of the Hot Rats album) has a special place in my heart. I know every note yet can't play half of them. Music is the best.
Dweezil said that the transcriptions he triple checked couldn’t catch every nuance. Frank was a brilliant composer and fantastic guitarist.
A video of top most difficult instruments to play
The amount of 13 years olds I’ve seen on UA-cam playing eruption is enough to prove it isn’t hard.
@musiciswin needs to see this
What About Hurricane From The Scorpions or Bang Your Head from Quiet Riot ????
Those aren’t difficult to play.
Not even as fast as compared to other hardest rock songs by other rock and metal bands, such as Eruption by Van Halen and Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce.
@@playermade Rock You Like A Hurricane is the 1st song I learned on guitar lol
Both easy songs
WatchMojo: "Joe Satri-Annie"
Me: "Stop saying it like that!"
LOL, that drove me nuts, too. 😂
The pronunciation of some of these names is what kills me most. Meshoogah, Satriannie lol
how he pronounced la villa STRANGE ATO kills me lmao
You can NEVER go wrong with Dragonforce
Dragonforce definitely made a great song, Through The Fire and Flames, consider a hardest and fastest rock song. I really respect them, and other metal bands. Also, listening their songs as well.
Also, the fastest riff song.
Inhuman Rampage is such a good album. Although I consider The Flame of Youth to be the best song not Fire and Flames.
@@ashleybrown4754 That's been my go-to in that album. That, and Revolution Deathsquad
Raining Blood by Slayer is a beast to try to play,
I think this list is missing some Frank Zappa and some King Crimson definitely, at least FraKture should have been here and there are tons of other way more technically difficult Frank Zappa songs.
Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew are often very underappreciated and overlooked great guitarists.
On the other hand if this list is talking about guitar songs which are difficult to play I think Metallica and Van Halen don't quite fit this list and instead I would have put something like Rainbow's Gates Of Babylon or some other Ritchie Blackmore/Rainbow tune, some Jimi Hendrix or Tony Iommi definitely.
Highway Star?
@@liden77 That's a pretty good choice but I wouldn't say it is one of the most difficult to play compared to the others listed.
Mike where you at, I need a video on this asap
You guys need lo listen more music. Through the fire and flames pales on dificulty compared with Ynwie, Becker and lower steps in this top
It’s way harder to solo tastefully and yet in a lyrical and sophisticated manner than it is to just go for sheer speed like most shredders. We got off onto the right foot with Eddie who is pretty much the first legit rock shredder. Randy Rhoads wrote amazing solos and lead work in general. Other than that I would say 80’s metallica also had amazing, melodic soloing. Especially on Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets.
And thank God for Hetfield. No idea how he doesn’t have tons of nerve damage with the way he plays. It’s robotically perfect and he makes it look easy.
Dream Theater is an example of what happens when all your members are incredibly virtuosic but lack all taste.
Can’t wait for @musiciswin to make some content with this.
Shawn Lane and Alan Holdsworth R.I.P. deserve to be on this list.
Agree
Great list, well done……
But
Ummmmmmm, Tim Henson Polyphia
Good list, but if you’re only going to let Dragonforce be on the list once, they have harder songs to play than TTFAF
Nice shred anyway, but can you teach me how to play “This Charming Man?”
#18. Flying In A Blue Dream - Joe Satriani
Not a single Europe song.... Still I am not as greatly disappointed by this list than I expected to be xD
g.o.a.t by polyphia ?
ScuttlE buttin by SRV ?
Listen to Galneryus's Angel of Salvation. I think it compares to DragonForce
Through the Fire and Flames!
How about Hocus Pocus by Focus?
One would think Money for Nothing would be more difficult than Sultans of Swing, but I can't even play air guitar right, so actually I should probably just stay tf out of it. Fairly well, then.
Man I love Dream Theater
I was going to say Holdsworth is missing but he isn't really rock same with Shawn Lane but at least surely something from Michael Romeo/Symphony X should be on here.
Congrats @dragonforce for taking the top slot.