[2026] Practice Songs for Metal Beginners: Learn the Basics of Metal Guitar!
You’ve gotten into metal and picked up the guitar, but as you’d expect, so many songs demand advanced techniques—and you’re getting bored of running the same practice licks over and over.
If you’re a guitarist who wants to break out of the beginner stage, this article introduces classic tracks that are relatively easy to play while letting you savor the essence of metal! Even if fully nailing every part is tough, just learning the simple riffs can be really satisfying, and small breakthroughs often lead to big results.
From timeless staples and the hard rock that laid the foundation of metal to 2000s-and-beyond metalcore, make these iconic riffs your own!
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[2026] Practice Songs for Metal Beginners: Learn the Basics of Metal Guitar! (21–30)
Enter SandmanMetallica
This is one of Metallica’s popular songs and a staple at their live shows, but when it was first released, people asked, “Is this really metal?” and it sparked debate.
Back then, it was rare for a thrash metal band to play such a groovy riff.
Precisely because of that, you could say the riff went on to greatly influence modern genres like metalcore.
If you only ever play metal, you tend to struggle with this kind of sticky, laid-back phrasing, so give it a try and see how it feels to play.
Tornado Of SoulsMegadeth
Megadeth’s “Tornado of Souls” is memorable for its razor-sharp intro riff woven with harmonics.
But we should also touch on Marty Friedman’s guitar solo—familiar to Japanese living rooms—that almost feels like enka.
In metal guitar solos, it’s not just about speed; sorrowful melodies that blend bending and vibrato—the so-called “weeping phrases”—are also key.
In this solo, Marty delivers a truly heartrending performance, and there’s a lot to learn from its powerful expressiveness.
VengeanceYngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie Malmsteen, a leading figure in the genre known as “neoclassical metal,” which boldly incorporates classical elements into metal.
Among his songs, this one is highly recommended as a practice piece.
The intro phrase that weaves in the open 4th string is very useful, so it’s a technique you’ll want to master (note that it’s in half-step-down tuning!).
It’s also a treasure trove of classic classical phrases!
Basket CaseGreen Day
Not from metal but from punk: Green Day’s classic “Basket Case.” The reason I’m featuring this song is its riff built on downpicking at a BPM that’s perfect for beginners to practice.
Alternating between applying and releasing palm mutes while also singing the melody as you play the guitar is actually quite challenging.
It also packs in techniques often overlooked in metal—like syncopation and strumming/cutting—so it’s a song I really recommend learning note-for-note to build a solid foundation for metal guitar.
Raining BloodSLAYER
Slayer’s classic “Raining Blood” is a track whose ominous riff phrases have had a major influence on later death metal bands and more.
These anxiety-inducing phrases—fingerings that wouldn’t arise from typical pop-style melodic progressions—are characteristic of metal, so mastering them can offer valuable hints for composition.
The sudden tempo change followed by a high-speed riff is also well worth learning note-for-note.