If your ready to learn 6 iconic riffs then your in the right place. Today is a guitar lesson with some really cool acoustic guitar riffs for beginners. You could also play them on an electric guitar.
What acoustic guitar riffs for beginners do I have in Mind? Born Under a Bad Sign Riff Chords and progression. Pretty Woman iconic guitar riff. And Damn right I got the Blues Riff. The Joker, Ghost Rider in the sky, Mary Had a Little Lamb. Tennesse Flat Top Box. 7 Video tutorials to make it as easy for beginners to learn to play the riffs.
If this sounds like fun then check it out…
The first Riff is Born Under a Bad sign. This great Albert King Song has that great riff that runs through the song. The song is in the key of C#. The Chords are C# F# G#.
The easiest way to play them are with power chords. And this is how to place your fingers to play the power chords. If you need help reading chord charts take a look at this quick reference how to read guitar chords.
How to Play the C#5
Start by placing your first finger on the 4th fret of the A string. Then your 3rd finger is on the D string at the 6th fret.
How to Play the F#5
Your first finger is at the 2nd fret on the E string. The 6th string. Then your third finger is on the 4th fret on the A string. Which is the 5th string.
How to Play the G#5
Playing the G#5 your first finger is at the 4th fret of the E string. And then your third finger is on the 6th fret of the A string.
Notice on the three chords that your using the same fingers and they are in the same shape. These are easy chords to play.
Related Article: What is A Power Chord.
Start the Riff on the E String
Start the Riff on 2nd fret of the 6th string. Pick the 6th string and then place your finger on the 4th fret of the 6th string. 6th And pick the 6th string. Then on the A string. Which is the 5th string fret the second fret and pick the A string.
Then fret the 4th frets of the 5th string and pick the A string. Then place your finger at the 2nd fret of the D string and pick the D string. Next go back up to the 4th fret on the A string. End by fretting the 4th fret on the A string and pick the A string.
Then the second part of this is: Fret at the 2nd fret of the 6th string. Pick the 6th string, then fret the 4th fret on the 6th string, pick the E string. Next fret the 2nd fret on the A string. Pick the A string and go up to the 6th string and pick the E string open. End on the 4th fret of the A string. And pick the 5th string.
Related Article: Blues Rhythm Guitar Lesson.
Play two times through
Play this two times through. Then your going to fret the 2nd fret and 4th frets on the E string. First play the E string and then pick the E string again after fretting the 2nd fret.
Then fret the 2nd fret of the A string. And pick the 5th string. Then fret the 2nd fret of the A string and fret the 4th fret on the A string. Picking the A string. Your going to play that 2 times through.
Then your going to do a run on the E string. Picking the E string when you get to the 2nd fret. Then pick two times at the 3rd fret of the E and again when you fret the 4th fret. After that play the G# power chord.
To play the G# power chord its pretty easy. Place your first finger on the 4th fret on the E string. Then place your third finger on the 6th fret on the A string. Keeping this finger position you strum that two times them move to the F# and play that for two strums. End on the C# Power chord. Playing it one time. See the chord diagram previously shown to get the finger position of the chords. Then it goes back to the beginning of the riff.
Related Article: What Guitars are Good for the Blues.
Born Under a Bad Sign Tab
Look at this lesson inspired by Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign Guitar Lesson.
Related Article: How do You Play Tennessee Flat Top Box.
Another Acoustic Guitar Riffs for Beginners
A great guitar lesson that has a really cool riff in it. This Is a Buddy Guy guitar lesson inspired by the song Damn Right I Got the Blues. I did a Blues guitar riff guitar lesson. As you know Buddy Guy plays a Fender Stratocaster. But I break it down on an acoustic guitar. And it is step by step. So that if you are a beginner guitar player, you will be able to learn this great riff. If your ready to learn it Click the link to get the complete guitar lesson Buddy Guy Riff.
Pretty Woman Iconic Guitar Riff
Who hasn’t heard the iconic riff from the Roy Orbison song Pretty woman. Well now it’s time to learn how to play it. I’m going to teach you how. So let’s get to it.
The riff starts on the 6th string. Your going to pick the open E string two times. And then fret the 4th fret on the E string. Then pick the E string. After that you are going to fret the 2nd fret on the A string. And pick the A string, which is the 5th string. Then pick the open D string. Which is the 4th string.
In the song you pause after that and then you are going to play that again and pause.
Next your going to play the open E string two times. Then h fret the 4th fret of the E string. And pick the 6th string. Then fret the 2nd fret on the A string. And pick the 5th string. Next pick the open D string. Which is the 4th string. Just like before. Then you fret the 4th fret of the D string and the 2nd fret on the D string. And end with an open D string.
For a more detailed tutorial check out this video Pretty woman guitar riff. And after that you can learn the whole song Pretty Woman Chords: The Ultimate Resource,
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The Joker
Another Iconic Riff is off of the song the Joker. The Chords in the song are F, Bb, Then a C chord. The Riff starts on the first fret of the 6th string. The F note. After placing your first finger on the first fret of the E string. Pick the E string two times. Then Fret with your third finger the the third fret of the 6th string. And pick the E string one time.
After that pick the open A string. Which is the 5th string. Then Use your first finger at the first fret of the A string. And pick the A string two times. Place your third finger at the third fret of the A string and pick the A string one time. Then pick the open D string. Which it the 4th string. Then go back to the third fret of the A string and pick it one time.
The you fret the third fret of the E string. The 6th string, and pick the E string. Then play an open A string. Use your first finger at the first fret of the A string and pick it 4 times. Alternate the picking. Back and forth. After that play the open A string again. Then fret that third fret of the E string and pick the E string. And then go back to the F. Which is the first fret on the 6th string. Fret that and pick the 6th string. If that’s clear as mud take a look at the video tutorial of The Joker.
Ghost Riders in the sky
Here is a fancy riff that sounds great on an acoustic guitar. It’s really pretty easy a great riff for beginners and beyond. So to start this riff with the open E string. The 6th string.
Then pick the A string open use alternate picking. This will make this easier to play and sound great. To alternate pick you are instead of picking in one direction you are picking up and down. This makes picking easier. But if you are not used to picking like that you can pick in one direction. To learn how to alternate pick Check out this Tutorial Alternate picking guitar exercise.
Then your going to fret the 2nd fret of the A string and pick the A string. After that fret the 3rd fret, still on the A string. Picking the 3rd fret 4 times.
Pick the open A string. Then go back to the 3rd fret on the E string and fret that and pick the E string 4 times. Alternate picking. Then play the open E string. After fretting the third fret again pick the E string.
Then it starts at the beginning, Pick the open 6 string, and then pick the open A string for 4 times. Remember to Alternate pick. And then fret the 2nd fret and pick the string. Then fret the third fret of the A string and pick it 4 times.
Pick an open D string and then fret the 2nd fret of the D string and pick it 4 times. Play the open D string, and fret the 2nd fret on the D string and play the D string.
Next fret at the 2nd fret of the D string. Pick it 2 times and then go to the G string and play at the second fret on the G string. Picking it 3 times. Then play the open G string, fret the 2nd fret of the G and pull off the G string. Fret the second fret of the D string. And pick the D string. Then fret at the 2nd fret on the D string, and pick it 4 times. Play the open D string and fret the 3rd fret on the A string. Then Play an open A string.
Picking the open E string, and open A string, Alternate the picking up and down with 4 picks. Fret the 3rd fret on the A string and play picking it 2 times. Play the open A string, picking it 2 times. After that fret the 3rd fret on the E string. The 6th string, and end on the riff by picking the A string. Click the link to watch the video tutorial Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Ghost Ryders in the Sky Tab for the Lesson
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Stevie Ray Vaughn Another guitar player that changed the course of music history. Kind of like Eddie Van Halen, Which If you want to see what a rock god is take a look at that post. Here is the guitar riff inspired from Mary Had a Little Lamb.
The Chords are E7 A7 and B7 (Strumming the chords 1 2 3 )
First we are going to start on the 2nd fret of the A string.
Play the open A string. The 5th string. Then place your finger at the 2nd fret, on the A string. Picking the A string. Next play the open D string, the 4th string. And play the open A string again (5th string). Then fret the 2nd fret on the A string. Pick the A string. fret the 3rd fret on the E string. Which is the 6th string. Playing the E string. Then fret the 2nd fret on the D string. I use my second finger for the A and D strings. And reach up with my third finger to play the E string at the third fret.
Then play the D string at the second fret.
After that your going to play the E7. Place your first finger on the first fret of the G string (3rd string). Your second finger is on the D string at the second fret. And then your pinkie is on the third fret on the B string (2nd string). The open E string is part of the chord when you strum.
When you strum you are going to strum down. Then strum up and palm mute the strings to pause the sound. And then strum Down two times. and In between the two down strums palm mute the strings. Then play the open E string. The 6th string. And Strum down again.
This may take some practice if you are note used to muting the strings. Like all things guitar go slow. Break it down and practice that one little part that you find hard to do. Practice until you can do it and then go to the next part of the song.
Second Part of the Riff
Then hammer on the 2nd fret on the A string and then play the open A string. Use your third finger to reach up to the 3rd fret on the E string. Fret the 3rd fret and pick the E string (6th string).
Then Play the Chord E7 again. Strumming it down, up, down, down.
Okay then the next Lick is at 2nd fret and 4th fret on the A string. Use you first finger at the second fret of the 5th string. Pick the 5th string. Then hammer on the 4th fret on the A string. Next move up a string to the D string (4th string). And fret at the 2nd fret on the D string. Picking the D string 2 times. Stretch with your pinkie to the 5th fret on the D string. Fret there and pick the D string 2 times. Go up a string so that now you are on the G string (3rd string), and fret at the second fret. Then you are going to hammer on and pull off the 3rd fret on the G string. Then play the open A string (5th string).
When you hammer on and pull off you end up with 3 notes. In this case you are holding the note at the 2nd fret on the G string. Pick the string (1 note). Hammer on the 3rd fret (2nd Note) and pulling off the D string (3rd note).
Then you play the A7 chord. Place your first fingers on the second fret across strings 4, 3, 2, 1. Like a bar. And your 3rd finger is going to fret the high E string at the 3rd fret, (Strum 3 beats). I simply strum down.
Then start at the beginning again and play the E7. You are going to repeat the beginning part of the riff and then strum the E7 chord.
Related Article: What is a Guitar Tab.
Walk Up to the B7 Chord
Next you are going to hammer on the A string at the second fret. Then play an open A string. and walk up to the B7 chord. Pick the A string open and then pick the 1st & 2nd frets on the A string. And the play B7 chord. When you walk up to the B7 chord, be sure to use your first finger to fret the first and second fret on the A string. Because you go right into the B7.
To play the B7 chord you are going to place your first finger on the 4th string at the 1st fret. The D string. Next place your second finger on the 5th string at the second fret. (A string). Your third finger is on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret. (G string). Then your Pinkie is on the 1st string at the second fret. (E string). Strum the first 5 strings only.
After strumming the B7 use your pinkie and play the 3rd fret on the E string, and then the open A string. When playing the E string pull down on it a little bit.
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Last Part of the Riff
Next is another lick it looks like this: Place your first finger at the 3rd fret on the high E string. The fist string. And pick the first string, after that pick the open E string. Then fret the 2nd fret on the B string and pick the B string. Fret the 2nd fret on G string, and play the 3rd string. Slide from 2 to 4, on the G string.
Use your second finger on the 2nd fret of the G string to slide up to the 4th fret. Once you get to the 4th fret. Place your 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Pick the B string. Pick the G string again and slide back to the second fret, and play the open G string. Ending at the second fret on the D string. And pick the open D string, and the second fret on the D string.
Related Article: Easy Blues Composition Video Lesson.
Mary Had a Little Lamb Tab
Related Article: Top 5 Budget Electric Guitars.
Tennessee Flat Top Box
Another great Riff that you can play on an acoustic guitar. Here is the complete lesson how do you play Tennessee Flat Top Box. You can get the tab there. If you want to just learn the riff then take a look at this video below. From YourGuitarGUide YouTube Channel. If you like it consider Subscribing and click the like button. Thanks!
Related Questions
Acoustic Guitar Riff Tab
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Don’t Miss Out on These 15 Easy Country Songs
If you want to learn some more guitar and songs. Well check out these songs. They sound great on acoustic guitar, but you can use an electric guitar if you want. Right here 15 Beginner Country Songs.
