Blistering solos and wall-of-noise riffs make metal look off-limits for a new player. Most of it isn’t.
Strip a classic down and you’ll find a couple of power chords and a riff that loops. The trap is picking the wrong first song, because reaching for the hardest shred too soon will just leave you frustrated.
That’s why order matters here. Iron Man by Black Sabbath leans on one heavy riff, so it builds your timing before it tests your speed.
We lined up 20 songs you can grow into, most learnable in an afternoon, with a few solos waiting once you’re ready. Once you’ve got a couple down, branch out into other fun beginner guitar songs, but first let’s start with the easy metal songs.
Easy Heavy Metal Songs to Play on Guitar for Beginners
These songs all share the same beginner-friendly DNA: chunky power-chord riffs, steady rhythms, and melodies you can hear in your head, which makes them far easier to learn than they sound. Start with the early entries and work your way down as your fingers get stronger.
1. The Trooper - Iron Maiden
One of Iron Maiden’s most recognizable tracks and a pretty standard metal song to learn. The main riff isn’t hard to play, and there’s a solo that lets you show off once you’re ready.
It’s a melodic, galloping song, which makes it great for beginners, while the solo gives intermediate players something to chase. The guitar parts aren’t complex, and the whole thing is genuinely fun to play.
2. Back in Black - AC/DC
The guitar riffs here are simple and easy to play, and the solo isn’t too difficult either. The rhythm stays uncomplicated, so you can practice it on your own without a teacher looking over your shoulder.
It’s one of the best beginner metal-adjacent songs out there and a staple every new player should know.
3. Iron Man - Black Sabbath
This riff is iconic, and the good news is that the riffs and rhythms are easy to learn, so you should pick them up fast. The solo is trickier: it starts with power chords, then progressively gets more complicated until you’re playing some cool arpeggiated licks.
Learn the main riff first and treat the solo as a bonus once you’re comfortable.
4. Enter Sandman - Metallica
A perfect beginner metal song. The rhythm and riff patterns are both simple, and even the first few notes of the solo are easy to play.
If you start practicing this one, you’ll be well on your way to handling heavier Metallica material down the road.
5. Comfortable Liar - Chevelle
The rhythm pattern here’s straightforward, and the riff covers a comfortable range of notes, so you should be able to play the track without much trouble. Keep an eye on the riff toward the end of the song, which is a little trickier but completely manageable once you’ve drilled it a few times.
6. Raining Blood - Slayer
This song has a tricky rhythm pattern, so you may struggle with it at first, though most players get there. The riff is fairly repetitive, which means you’ll want it memorized rather than reading along.
The payoff is that it gets noticeably easier with each play-through, and nailing a thrash classic feels great.
7. Master of Puppets (Intro) - Metallica
You’ve to play the intro lick fast, and that’s what makes it challenging. The solo is difficult too, so don’t expect to land it overnight.
But it’s worth the effort, because once the intro is under your fingers the rest of the song falls into place much more easily.
8. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ - Judas Priest
The solo in this song is deceptively difficult, but if you’re patient and keep playing, you’ll get the hang of it.
It’s fine if it gets a little chaotic at first. Just play the easy parts cleanly.
If you stumble, pick the phrase back up and try it again a little differently until it clicks.
9. The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
This riff is big and rhythmically tricky, so take your time with it. Once you have the main groove down, the rest of the song feels easy.
It’s a bit like riding a bike: the first time is a challenge, but once it clicks it’s second nature.
10. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
The key to this song is the solo, as with many metal tracks. It’s a little trickier, so take your time and play the easy parts first.
Keeping your technique tight is what gets you a great sound here, so play it over and over and you’ll sound like a pro before long.
11. Cat Scratch Fever - Ted Nugent
Repeating the same chords over and over is a classic metal technique, and this song leans on it to build intensity. Once you have the main riff down, try adding extended, triplet-style flourishes for effect, just don’t overdo it.
Mixing in some less intense parts keeps the song dynamic.
12. Breaking the Law - Judas Priest
This classic is all about catchy riffs designed to repeat in your head over and over. The main riff is short, simple, and incredibly satisfying to play, which makes it one of the most rewarding early wins on this list.
If you only learn one Judas Priest song, make it this one.
13. Holy Diver - Dio
Holy Diver is one of the most famous heavy metal songs of all time. It might sound complex, but you’ll get the hang of it after listening and practicing a few times.
It’s a lot of fun to play and doubles as a good finger-strength exercise for newer players.
14. Wasted Years - Iron Maiden
Another excellent metal song for beginners. It’s basic and easy to learn, though it’ll take a few tries to get just right.
The interesting chord choices make it sound great even though it isn’t as complex as some other songs here, and the intro riff is a blast to play.
15. Sober - Tool
Sober is relatively simple to play but does reward practice. The main riff Tool uses throughout the song is easy to handle, while the chords are a bit trickier.
Practice the chords while watching a performance video to get more familiar with the changes and timing.
16. This Means War - Avenged Sevenfold
A good example of a slightly more advanced song to grow into. It can be harder to play, but Avenged Sevenfold’s writing sounds fantastic.
The chords are basic. It’s the sheer number of patterns that makes it feel daunting at first.
Once you internalize those patterns, it becomes much easier, and like the others it just needs a bit of practice.
17. For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
This was one of the first songs many players learn, and it’s a favorite because it fuels the adrenaline when you play it. Metallica’s riff sounds complicated but is reasonably easy to play.
The band uses some tricky-sounding riffs that don’t actually require advanced technique.
18. Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue
The riff that drives this song sounds harsh but is pretty simple, and the chord changes aren’t very complicated once you start playing. The song has a genuinely catchy melody, so if you like having fun on the guitar, this one is for you.
19. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
It seems difficult at first, but the rhythm is straightforward. A few notes stand out, but nothing too complicated, which makes it a great song for practicing faster solos.
If you’re looking to step up your playing speed, this is a great track to drill.
20. Master of Puppets (Main Riff) - Metallica
The main riff is one of the most famous in guitar history, built on lightning-fast down-and-up picking and a melody that sticks in your head. It’s a fantastic song for practicing tight alternate picking and lead phrasing.
It’s challenging, but it’s exactly the kind of goal that keeps you motivated to practice.
Tips for Learning Your First Metal Songs
You don’t have to play any of these songs at full speed right away. Slow the riff down, get the picking pattern clean, and only push the tempo once it feels comfortable.
Most beginner mistakes in metal come from rushing the right hand before the fretting hand is ready.
Power chords are the foundation of nearly every song on this list, so spend time making your chord shapes clean and your muting tight. Palm muting in particular separates a sloppy metal riff from a tight one.
If you want to round out your playing beyond metal, learning a few beginner guitar pop songs will sharpen your rhythm and chord transitions in a way that carries straight back into the heavier stuff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is metal hard to learn for a beginner guitarist?
Not as hard as it looks. A huge amount of metal is built on power chords and repetitive riffs, which are some of the first things any beginner learns.
The riffs on this list are very approachable. It’s mostly the fast solos that take real time, and you can save those for later.
Do I need a distortion pedal to play metal?
You’ll want some kind of distortion or overdrive to get the right tone, but you don’t need an expensive pedal. Many beginner amps have a built-in gain or distortion channel that works fine for learning these riffs.
The notes you play matter far more than the gear at this stage.
Should I learn riffs or solos first?
Start with riffs. They’re the backbone of every song here, they’re easier to play, and they give you fast, satisfying wins that keep you motivated.
Once a song’s riffs feel automatic, you can begin chipping away at the solo a few notes at a time.
What’s the single easiest metal song to start with?
Iron Man by Black Sabbath and Breaking the Law by Judas Priest are both excellent first songs. Each is built around a short, simple, instantly recognizable riff that you can learn in a single practice session, which makes them ideal confidence-builders.
Final Thoughts
Metal is a challenging genre, but it’s far more beginner-friendly than it appears once you start with the right songs. Build your foundation on simple power-chord riffs, keep your picking and muting clean, and the speed will come with time.
Don’t get discouraged if your fingers feel like they’re on fire at first. That’s normal, and it fades fast with consistent practice.
Pick two or three songs from this list, learn the riffs cold, and only then start reaching for the solos. In a few months of steady practice you’ll be playing through these tracks with real confidence.
And if you want to mellow out and round out your playing, learning some beginner guitar pop songs is a great complement to all this heavy material.
