Queen - We Will Rock You - Guitar Tab

About We Will Rock You

Written by Brian May, "We Will Rock You" is one of those tracks that looks simple on paper but rewards careful attention to tone and feel. The song is built almost entirely on a single overdriven guitar riff, played in A major at a deliberate 80 BPM in standard E tuning. That slow, stomping tempo is deceptive: keeping the riff tight and in the pocket without rushing is harder than it sounds, especially for beginners who tend to clip the rhythmic gaps. May's signature Red Special guitar and homemade treble-booster tone give the riff its biting, compressed character, so getting your overdrive or distortion dialed in matters here. The real payoff for any Hard Rock player is learning how much attitude lives in right-hand muting and pick attack, not just in the notes themselves. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the riff slowed down and focus on matching the rhythmic feel before bringing it up to tempo. Queen kept the arrangement stripped to the bone, which means every small mistake is fully exposed.

• The main riff sits in A major and uses heavy palm muting at 80 BPM, so locking in your right-hand technique before worrying about speed is the key challenge.
• Brian May recorded the guitar using his homemade Red Special through a home-built treble-booster, giving the tone its distinctive compressed, cutting bite.
• Because the arrangement is almost entirely riff and drums, there is nowhere to hide, making clean pick attack and consistent muting essential practice priorities.