Why This Riff Is So Good
Power chord perfection
The riff uses simple E and D power chords, but the groove and palm muting make it massive. It proves that simplicity executed perfectly beats complexity done poorly.
Palm muting technique
The tight, percussive sound comes from precise palm muting. Rest your palm lightly on the strings near the bridge. Too much pressure kills the sound, too little loses the punch.
Groove and timing
The riff locks in with Phil Rudd's drums. The power chord changes hit exactly on the beat. It's not about speed - it's about tightness and groove.
How to Practice This Riff
Load a YouTube tutorial
Find a Back in Black guitar lesson or tutorial on YouTube and paste the URL into PracticeLoop.
Slow it down to 60%
Start at 60% speed. The original isn't fast, but slowing it down helps you hear the palm muting technique and groove clearly.
Loop the main riff
The main riff is 4 bars long. Set an AB loop and drill it until the power chord changes are smooth and the palm muting is consistent.
Perfect the palm muting
Practice resting your palm lightly on the strings near the bridge. Find the sweet spot where the chord tones ring clearly but with a tight, muted attack.
Lock into the groove at full speed
Once the technique is solid, work to full speed. The groove is everything - don't rush the changes or lose the muting precision.
Built for Guitar Practice
Speed Control 0.25x - 2x
Fine-grained slider with presets. Pitch is preserved so the riff stays in E at all speeds.
AB Looping
Essential for drilling the main riff. Loop the 4-bar riff and build muscle memory for the chord changes and palm muting.
Saved Loops
Save sections like "Main riff", "Verse variation", "Solo section". Come back to problem areas across practice sessions.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Space to play/pause, [ and ] for loop points, L to toggle loop. Keep your hands on the guitar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Back in Black hard to play on guitar?
It's beginner-intermediate. The riff uses basic power chords but requires precise palm muting and groove. The chord shapes are simple, but the timing and feel take practice. It's iconic because it sounds huge despite being simple.
What technique is used in Back in Black?
The main riff uses power chords with palm muting. Rest your palm lightly on the strings near the bridge while fretting power chords. The muted, percussive sound is what gives the riff its punch. The groove and timing are more important than speed.
What speed should I start practising Back in Black at?
Start at 60-70% speed. The original isn't fast, but the tightness of the groove is crucial. At slower speeds you can focus on clean power chord changes and consistent palm muting before locking into the full-speed groove.
Does slowing down change the pitch?
No. PracticeLoop preserves the original pitch at all speeds. The riff stays in E at all speeds, so you can play along accurately.