Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Guitar Tab

I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Expanded Edition)

1981 2:55

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About I Love Rock 'n' Roll

Few riffs in Hard Rock are as immediately recognizable as the one that opens this track, built from a handful of power chords in E major that almost any beginner can locate within their first month of playing. Do not let that accessibility fool you though: what makes Joan Jett and the Blackhearts version so effective is the attitude baked into the delivery, a tight, punchy rhythm feel at 120 BPM that demands you stay locked and consistent rather than sloppy and loose. The chord transitions need to feel snapped into place, not eased in, so pay close attention to your pick attack and muting between changes. The verse groove and the chorus hits are slightly different rhythmically, and that transition is where most players lose the pocket. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that verse-to-chorus shift slowed down until the timing feels automatic. Standard E tuning throughout means you can get up and running quickly, but spend your real effort on sounding confident and driving, not just correct.

• The song is built almost entirely on E major power chords, making it a great early study in consistent pick attack and tight rhythm guitar playing.
• At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is moderate but demands strict rhythmic discipline, especially when muting between chord hits.
• The main riff uses a simple repeating power-chord pattern, but nailing the punchy, aggressive tone requires attention to both right-hand dynamics and amp gain setting.