AC/DC - Hells Bells Pt.2 - Solo - Guitar Lesson

Back In Black

1980 5:13

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About Hells Bells Pt.2 - Solo

Angus Young's solo in "Hells Bells" is a study in restrained, bluesy expression rather than speed or flash. Sitting in A minor, it leans heavily on pentatonic phrasing with wide, vocal-sounding bends and deliberate vibrato that need real left-hand control to land convincingly. The slow, heavy feel of the track means every note is exposed, so rushing even slightly will stick out against the band's locked-in groove. Getting the bends in tune and holding the vibrato at a consistent width are the two things most players underestimate here. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the bend-heavy phrases slowed down until your pitch accuracy is solid before bringing the tempo back up. AC/DC built their reputation on economy and feel over technical complexity, and this solo rewards that same mindset: nail the phrasing and the tone will follow.

• The solo sits in A minor pentatonic and relies on precise, wide string bends rather than fast scalar runs, making intonation the main challenge.
• A clean, slightly overdriven tone with natural amp sustain suits this solo well, since overly compressed or high-gain settings will mask the nuance of the bends.
• Slow the solo down with the Practice Toolbar and focus on matching the vibrato width and speed consistently across each note before attempting full tempo.