Practice Studio

AC/DC - Demon Fire - Guitar Lesson

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

AC/DC Hard Rock 2020 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Demon Fire


"Demon Fire" from AC/DC's 2020 album POWER UP is a straight-ahead Hard Rock riff machine built around E minor, which puts it right in the band's natural stomping ground. The central riff has that classic AC/DC feel: a few power chords, a bluesy chromatic movement, and a rhythm that has to sit absolutely locked in with the drums. The temptation is to rush the groove, so pay close attention to where each chord lands in the pocket. Getting the right-hand palm muting tight and consistent is where most of the work is, because a loose mute will muddy everything. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down until your pick attack and muting feel automatic. Once the riff is solid, the transitions into the chorus are straightforward, but they reward the same steady, unhurried right-hand discipline the verses demand.

  • The song is built on E minor power chord riffs, keeping it in a comfortable open-position range that suits both beginners and players refining their rhythm technique.
  • Consistent palm muting is the core technique here: uneven pressure will undercut the punch that defines the track's tone.
  • Practising the main riff with a metronome at a reduced tempo before going full speed will help lock in the groove without sacrificing accuracy.

How to Play Demon Fire

Key: E minor

Use the section loop to isolate a passage and drop the speed to build each section up to tempo.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Angus Young's 1968 Gibson SG Standard is the foundation of AC/DC's signature tone, its lightweight mahogany body and full upper-fret access enabling his aggressive, fluid lead work. Stock Gibson humbuckers push Marshall Plexi amps into natural tube saturation, giving him the perfect balance of dynamics and crunch without relying on effects.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 1959 Super Lead cranked to full volume is where Angus Young's power comes from, with no master volume control forcing the power tubes to compress and break up naturally. This thick, harmonically rich overdrive defines AC/DC's raw, unprocessed rock tone straight from guitar to amp.

Marshall JTM45
Amp

Marshall JTM45

Angus Young uses the Marshall JTM45 as his primary amp for achieving natural tube saturation at high volumes, where the amp's power tubes generate organic overdrive without any pedal assistance. This minimalist, direct approach captures AC/DC's core sound: pure, uncolored guitar and amp interaction.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)