GUITAR LESSONS

ROCK GUITAR FOUNDATIONS - ELECTRIC GUITAR LESSONS

AC/DC GUITARIST ANGUS YOUNG

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INTRODUCTION

One of the masters of rock and rock guitar greats is Angus Young of the band AC/DC. It’s not so much his technical guitar prowess with things like speed, it’s a more structural approach that allows him to make simple chord patterns interesting and play leads in a way that just do their job…to rock us! Their straightforward approach to writing and performing their songs earns them a title that I’ve often heard from many rockers who understand rock; that AC/DC is the last true Rock and Roll Band.

Why? Syncopated rhythms and plenty of 1-5 power chords

What do I mean by syncopated rhythms? They often play a chord on the “AND” of the beat, against a straight and solid 4/4 beat. Simplicity. Brilliant! If you can do this, it is a major foundation of playing any great rock song on electric guitar. With Gibson SGs and Marshall stacks behind them, they stirred something in rock fans that was different, more primal.

ART OF GUITAR VIDEO

This guitar lesson online is a technique video by Mike Mushok, a great guitar player and an experienced and talented teacher on his YouTube Channel The Art of Guitar, does an excellent job breaking down many of the guitar techniques Angus Young uses in his guitar playing. As far as guitar lessons on YouTube, Mike’s Art of Guitar channel is one I highly recommend.

AC/DC GUITAR TECHNIQUES

I find it helpful that he points out that palm muting, string muting, exaggerated vibrato, Travis picking and pull-offs are many of the guitar techniques that makes Angus Young sound like Angus and the rock and roll music and history that comes with AC/DC in annals of Rock.

Not to mention, playing AC/DC songs in the style of AC/DC guitarist Angus is that it’s just plain fun to rock my Gibson SG on these legendary rock songs I grew up with!

Check out some of the sounds you’ve heard in AC/DC songs and how Angus incorporates his guitar playing techniques to produce those sounds and and how practicing these techniques can make your guitar playing rock.



Here’s another good video from Pete Thorn on four specific guitar techniques that Angus Young uses in his solos.


ANGUS YOUNG INTERVIEW


Here’s an interview with Angus where he talks about his beginnings on guitar and certain techniques he uses to overcome self-professed physical limitations from having small hands, explaining how he came up with clever ways to get a note out if you can’t play.




Here’s the rig rundown for ACDC from Premier Guitar