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AC/DC - Thunderstruck Pt.1 - Intro - Guitar Lesson

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AC/DC - Thunderstruck Pt.1 - Intro - Guitar Lesson

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AC/DC - Thunderstruck Pt.1 - Intro guitar lesson video
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Iron Man 2 album cover
Iron Man 2
1990 4:54
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AC/DC Hard Rock 1990 E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

Thunderstruck Pt.1 - Intro

"Thunderstruck Pt.1 - Intro" by AC/DC is the opening section of their iconic track Thunderstruck, featured on the Iron Man 2 soundtrack released on April 19, 2010. The intro is built around a single-string picking pattern that became one of rock's most recognizable guitar moments. For electric guitarists, it is an essential study in right-hand picking precision, rhythmic control, and building tension through repetition before a full-band drop.

  • The intro relies on a rapid single-string technique on the B string, making it a strong exercise for alternate or hammer-on picking.
  • AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band, and this track appeared on the Iron Man 2 film soundtrack released in 2010.
  • Learning this intro helps guitarists develop consistent picking speed and note clarity at high tempos without using complex chord shapes.
Gibson SG Standard
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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)
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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
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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.

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