AC/DC - Hells Bells Pt.1 - All Riffs - Guitar Lesson

Back In Black

1980 5:13

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About Hells Bells Pt.1 - All Riffs

"Hells Bells" opens Back in Black with one of the most recognisable slow-build guitar moments in hard rock. Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC keep the riff work deceptively simple, rooted in A minor, but that simplicity is exactly what makes feel and timing so critical here. The main riffs rely on tight palm muting, controlled note bends, and a steady, deliberate attack, so any rushing or sloppy muting will immediately expose itself. Getting the weight of each note to land without dragging is a real challenge, and that comes down to right-hand discipline more than finger speed. There are several distinct riff sections across the song, and this page covers all of them, so work through each one individually before chaining them together. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop any riff slowed down until your muting and timing are locked in, then gradually bring the tempo back up. Letting the groove breathe is everything on this track.

• The riffs are built around A minor and lean heavily on palm-muted open and low-string notes, making clean muting technique the core skill to develop.
• Every riff runs at a slow, deliberate tempo, so focus on keeping your pick attack consistent and avoiding the temptation to rush or add extra movement.
• Malcolm Young's rhythm playing on this track is a study in restraint, using minimal movement and a tight, locked feel rather than flashy technique.