AC/DC - T.N.T. - Chords/Riffs - Guitar Lesson

High Voltage

1975 3:35

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About T.N.T. - Chords/Riffs

Few riffs in rock are as immediately recognisable as the one that kicks off T.N.T., and learning it is a great early goal for any guitarist working on rhythm playing. AC/DC built the whole track around a handful of open-position and power chord shapes in E major, which keeps the left-hand work accessible while demanding something harder to teach: a tight, punchy right hand that locks in with the drums. The muted chugging between chord hits is where most beginners lose the feel, so isolate that section with the Practice Toolbar, slow it down, and focus on palm-mute pressure and pick attack before bringing it back up to speed. The riff itself centres on the low E string, making string-muting discipline on the unwanted strings essential. Once the riff feels comfortable, pay attention to the call-and-response breaks where the band stops and Malcolm and Angus hit single chord stabs. Nailing those stops cleanly is what separates a sloppy run-through from a convincing performance.

• The main riff is built on the open low E string and a small cluster of power chords, making it a strong early lesson in rock rhythm technique.
• Palm muting between chord hits is central to the groove, and controlling the pressure and consistency of that mute is the main technical challenge.
• The sharp unison stop-starts in the arrangement require precise right-hand damping, so loop those moments slowed down to lock in the timing.