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AC/DC - Hells Bells - Guitar Tab

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Key A minor
AC/DC - Hells Bells guitar tab video
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Back In Black album cover
Back In Black
1980 5:13
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AC/DC Hard Rock 1980 A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

About Hells Bells

"Hells Bells" by AC/DC opens Back in Black, the band's landmark 1980 comeback record following the death of vocalist Bon Scott. The track sets a heavy, deliberate tone with its iconic bell intro before launching into a mid-tempo hard rock riff driven by Angus and Malcolm Young's guitar work. For electric guitar players, it is a rewarding study in rhythm precision, powerful chord voicings, and the restrained intensity that defines AC/DC's signature sound.

  • The song runs approximately 5 minutes and 12 seconds, giving guitarists extended time with its signature riff and solo structure.
  • "Hells Bells" was released as the second single from Back in Black on 31 October 1980.
  • The track later appeared on AC/DC's 1986 soundtrack album Who Made Who, tied to Stephen King's film Maximum Overdrive.

How to Play Hells Bells

The song moves through: Intro, Verse 1, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Verse 2, Solo, Outro Solo.

Key: A minor · Tempo: 63 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

Tuned down to Eb standard, the main riff sits in A minor and is deceptively simple in shape but demands tight rhythmic discipline at 63 BPM: every note and rest must land exactly, because the slow tempo leaves nowhere to hide. Begin by locking in the verse riff before tackling the solo, which includes Angus Young's characteristic string bends and pentatonic runs that require clean intonation at this tuned-down pitch. A common pitfall is rushing the riff's syncopated accents, so use the loop and speed controls on the intro and verse sections to internalize the groove before playing along at full tempo.

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 63 BPM.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Angus Young's 1968 Gibson SG Standard is the foundation of AC/DC's signature tone, its lightweight mahogany body and full upper-fret access enabling his aggressive, fluid lead work. Stock Gibson humbuckers push Marshall Plexi amps into natural tube saturation, giving him the perfect balance of dynamics and crunch without relying on effects.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 1959 Super Lead cranked to full volume is where Angus Young's power comes from, with no master volume control forcing the power tubes to compress and break up naturally. This thick, harmonically rich overdrive defines AC/DC's raw, unprocessed rock tone straight from guitar to amp.

Marshall JTM45
Amp

Marshall JTM45

Angus Young uses the Marshall JTM45 as his primary amp for achieving natural tube saturation at high volumes, where the amp's power tubes generate organic overdrive without any pedal assistance. This minimalist, direct approach captures AC/DC's core sound: pure, uncolored guitar and amp interaction.

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