[2026] Practice Songs for Metal Beginners: Learn the Basics of Metal Guitar!

Sweating BulletsMegadeth

Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Official Music Video)

Megadeth – Sweating Bullets – Guitar Tab | Lesson | Cover | Tutorial

Megadeth, who describe their musical style as “intellectual thrash metal,” captivate fans with their exceptional technical prowess.

This track, included on their 1992 masterpiece Countdown to Extinction—their most commercially successful album—and released as a single in February 1993, centers on the theme of inner psychological conflict.

Dave Mustaine’s spoken, conversational vocal delivery, as if addressing an alternate persona within himself, accentuates the song’s distinctive worldview.

Among their technically sophisticated catalog, this piece is built less on the ultra-fast, thrash-typical riffs and more on heavy, memorable ones, making it perfect for savoring the essence of metal on guitar.

It also serves as excellent practice material for getting used to a bouncing groove rather than a standard straight 8-beat.

Unholy ConfessionsAvenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy Confessions (Original First Cut Music Video)

Unholy Confessions – Avenged Sevenfold | Tabs | Guitar Lesson | Cover | Tutorial | All Guitar Parts

Avenged Sevenfold is a band that captivates fans with a diverse musical range, from early metalcore to traditional heavy metal.

This track from their August 2003 album Waking the Fallen blends the intensity typical of metalcore with catchy melodies.

The lyrics convey the anguished cries of young people who have discovered each other’s betrayal, delivered through sharp guitar riffs and screams.

Centered around a simple main riff that uses palm muting, the chugging main riff in this song is perfect for mastering essential metal guitar techniques.

Even if a perfect cover is tough, just learning the riff should give you a real sense of accomplishment.

And if your band has two guitarists, you should definitely try tackling the twin-lead-style intro part as well.

Monkey BusinessSkid Row

Skid Row – Monkey Business (Official Music Video)

Skid Row – Monkey Business (Guitar Cover)

With its surging, heavy guitar riff, this is one of Skid Row’s signature songs—powerful and cool.

Marking a sharp turn from their glitzy debut image, it may well symbolize their shift toward a more aggressive, hard-hitting metal sound.

The rebellious theme—flipping the bird at society’s hypocrisy and corruption—is embodied by Sebastian Bach’s ferocious shouts.

Released in June 1991, the track appears on the classic album “Slave to the Grind,” which debuted at No.

1 on the Billboard charts.

The main riff is simple and repetitive, making it perfect for those who want to master a quintessential riff before diving into more technical playing.

Nail this riff, and you’ll gain a huge sense of accomplishment and confidence.

Wash It All AwayFive Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch – Wash It All Away (Explicit)

Five Finger Death Punch – Wash It All Away (Guitar Cover + TAB by Godspeedy)

This is a song by Five Finger Death Punch that carries a powerful message, as if washing away all inner anger and conflict.

The heavy guitar riffs and aggressive rhythms really capture the essence of modern metal.

Released in September 2015, it’s a single from the album “Got Your Six,” which reached No.

2 on the Billboard 200 chart.

With its mid-tempo pace and relatively simple guitar riffs, it’s a perfect track for learning the basics of metal guitar.

Another appeal is the structure: it shifts from intense shouts to a catchy, melodious vocal in the chorus.

Start by learning the simple riff, and practice playing it while feeling the band’s groove throughout your body.

Is There Anybody Out There?Machine Head

MACHINE HEAD – Is There Anybody Out There? (OFFICIAL TRACK)

Machine Head – Is There Anybody Out There? (Full Guitar Cover)

A masterpiece packed to the brim with the allure of groove metal, where thunderous guitar riffs intertwine with powerful drum beats.

It’s a track by MACHINE HEAD that fuses the aggression of thrash metal with catchy melodies, delivering a scathing message to modern society.

Released as a standalone single in June 2016, it wasn’t included on any specific album, yet it can be considered one of the band’s signature songs.

The simple, memorable main riff is perfect for learning the basics of power chords and down-picking.

Immerse yourself in the lyrical worldview that voices a cry of the heart against social division and loneliness, and once you master this heavy riff, the sense of accomplishment will be immense!

Take This LifeIn Flames

In Flames – Take This Life (Official Music Video)

In Flames | Take This Life | (Guitar Cover) Nik Nocturnal + Tabs

In Flames, one of the most important bands in melodic death metal, has shifted toward alternative metal in recent years.

Among their songs, this one is perfect for incorporating their distinctive riffs into your guitar practice.

The guitar-only intro makes it easy to grasp: it’s a riff that brings the so-called “octave phrase” into metal at a fast tempo.

It’s an ideal track for repetitive practice of “playing different strings on the downstroke and the upstroke.”

PainkillerJudas Priest

Judas Priest – Painkiller (Live 2005)

Judas Priest’s Painkiller is famous for its intro drum solo, but its guitar riffs are also a treasure trove of killer phrases.

The same riff continues from the intro into the first verse, and this down-picked riff was innovative, leaving a huge impact on younger bands that followed.

As for the guitar solo, aside from the rapid-fire run at the beginning, I think it’s relatively easy to copy.