Have you been playing these riffs wrong all this time? Let us know in the comments 👇 For more great lessons, rock 'n roll, and more like and subscribe!
Thanks! Love to see other lefties rock out. I haven't been playin those AC/DC riffs at all, because nobody in the band knows how to sing like AC/DC. But watching this was a perfect compressed lesson to grasp the style of Angus. Thank You very much!
I have a Guitar World special Angus issue from 2005, which has Nick's article w Angus from 2000 in it... so I've thankfully been playing them correctly!! :D
I'm sick and tired of people saying that we put out 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we've put out 12 albums that sound exactly the same. - Angus Young 2000
If they put out 12 albums and they sounded the same but were shitty there would be no interview. Every other band with a " Legendary " record that put them on the map got critical shade from a follow up record that didn't sound the same. Music journalism has a track record that has no merit in the world of Artist
Rolling Stone magazine has ripped apart Led Zeppelin. Allman Brothers Band and a few others it may have been Skynyrd. I learned a long time ago that I can not like a band or song that doesn't mean they suck. I have to say that to people a lot more than you think. Few argue the statement. " Oh man{fill in name} they suck I can't stand them". I say. They don't suck. Just not your cup of tea. Not mine either. If they sucked we would not be talking about them
You'll notice that when Angus and Malcolm both played the same riff, Angus almost always plays it in a different neck position. This was done to give some more tonal variety to the riff, and make it sound more ball-breakingly massive.
Hes playing a real Gibson S.G. but the cheapest ones Gibson makes, the faded S.G. is the cheapest Gibson S.G. you can buy, the S.G. StanDard is the type S.G. angus uses, but his faded one doesn't too bad at all, yes he is playing left handed, when he played highway to hell, theres only so many ways you can arrange the dominate major a as for the f# to g major, he played it the same way as the tab, shows it being done, but since he thinks hes being slick about hiding what hes doing with the opening A major by covering what hes holding there at the open A , I got news for ya, the dominate note in the opening chord is an open A-major d-string at the 2nd fret along with the G-string also being held down at the 2nd fret, forming the A-major chord , but check,em out when he goes to show an tell everyone were all playing it wrong, ,LOL, I watched everything he did, and played right along with,em ,that high voltage part wasn't hard at all, if he considers that part hard , he probably doesn't play too many songs with scale runs an patterns, especially arpeggios , good luck my man, but I think its you that has the wrong idea about the opening of highway to hell, if your so convinced about how its done then show yourself playing without hiding your fingers , plus, there,s only so many spots there to place your fingers ,LOL, show us something really difficult or that you feel is the hardest stuff Angus pulls off, make a believer out of us, is all im asking give,em something to work on , make the newbies practice harder and more often ,LOL, practicing everyday for hours , is what makes you a better guitarist, play everyday for at least 5 to 8 hrs a day, and all weekend long, for about 10 yrs , by then you should be playing clubs, if not recording your own music , each person learns at there own pace, some might get playing down in 5 to 6 yrs some it may even take longer , becoming a good guitar player isn't easy, not by a long shot, if it was then everybody would be a guitar GOD,LOL, that's why you MUST put in the time and daily practice ,along with patients and determination , but if your really committed to learning how to be a great guitarist, theres no such thing as a short cut, it doesn't exist , it takes long ,very long hard practice, and more practice, and yeah did I say it takes more practice, yeah and more practice, if you stay at it, you might just become a great guitarist in the end, pick up your guitars and practice ,do it first, do it now, an keep doing it, til your fingers are as black as your fret board then you know you,ve done some practicing if your finger tips are blackened , or bleeding or both, plus the skin will callus up nice an thick ,making doing bends a lot easier , good luck
@@The68lespaul Lad I've already got the playing side of things down. I just don't have the right amp. I already knew most of these things that he showed (except the Riff Raff one). Just that amp sounds killer. I just want to know the head, cab and any pedals.
For Those About To Rock and Riff Raff are actually only era-correct. Angus often played FTATR that way in the mid-90s into the early 2000s, but the rest of his career it was played with the open B, whether or not he intended it or even realized it. To be fair, Angus is not known for his impeccable memory; he even lost his Schaffer-Vega at one point. Also, Riff Raff almost always was played with the open A, whereas in some concerts from 2016-17 he played the 2nd fret G for a few cycles in the intro, then stopped immediately when the drum beat kicked in. Any indication that it is normally 2nd fret G is simply a symptom of the really high-heavy tones he played with in the late 70s as well as the fact that he used T-Tops, which tend to sound a little thinner. On top of that, the Schaffer-Vega, which was used on Powerage, really accents string attack and makes your tone a lot snappier, giving the effect as though you could be playing on a thinner string than you really are, possibly even making wound strings sound like unwound strings. If you listen closely on the If You Want Blood live album, you'll be able to tell it's an open A. Regardless, Angus has had several style changes over his career (which is to be expected; it's a 45 year span), and some songs have undergone some occasional changes as a result. Also note: on Riff Raff nowadays Angus palm-mutes and does a hammer-on in the start of the main riff, whereas he didn't do that in the 90s and before when they played it. Just because he does something one way now does not mean that's how he always did it. AC/DC's my favorite band, and I've done loads of research on them over the years. I REALLY know my stuff when it comes to the DC.
Damn. You are one true and dedicated ACDC fan! That means you and I have that very much in common! Check my channel for some acdc tutorials just so you can appreciate another's journey to learning and hearing things most can't in regaurds to ACDC. 🤘 Anyway, everything you said here is 100% correct. We can hear and see his progression as a player and his approach to his own riffs (Mals too). 🤘🔥🤘
MisterSwagify I prefer marvel over dc honestly. Seriously though dcs better, Batman was a good part of my child hood. Really though, you know your stuff. And I’m weird.
Bringing Nick to SW has been one of the best moves. Not only does he bring his years of knowledge and experience as a metal guitar player, he adds an element of humor that makes you want to watch the video whether you're interested in the topic or not.
Why can't other TH-camr's explain things with the delivery that Nick Bowcott does? Humble, smooth, entertaining, and in a voice that you can listen to all day. And, he gets to the point without spending 20 minutes on how to play a 3 note riff.
Many years ago there was a youtuber called Dallas something or other, he of course got shut down, but he was like a Phd student in AC/DC playing, I learned so much about their playing from him. He taught the right way to play the chords. He taught all those songs you just played the "correct" way.
Waidaminut... I'm about 10 minutes in and I realize something.. my first lesson at about 13 years old.. round about 2003 I had a VHS metal guitar lesson tape..with this guy in it. He was explaining guitar basics and talked about how cheap tuners were as he tosses it across the room... and I think it just broke hahaha. That video helped me understand bar chords and rhythm in an age when TH-cam guitar lessons weren't really a thing... the things you remember
I humbly submit that the last two C notes on Riff Raff are pull-off's, not picked! I used to play it the same exact way, but if watch live videos and listen, I'm pretty sure I'm correct. Thanks so much for the lesson!
I love the way Nick runs his guitar playing down . Folks I seen this guy get on stage with sons of Texas , opening for THC and completely own the stage with a Pantera song . He's been rocking for years and hopefully has more years to go . Rock on
Oh my effing God. I bought a guitar and amp and chose this as my first tune to learn. I was being told to use the B string drone which in the end made me throw the guitar into the attic. I was gutted ! I just watched this whilst trying to get inspired, got my guitar dusted off and nailed it within 5 mins. I’m now enjoying getting the chords down . I can’t thank u enough
Man, thank you for this. I've been searching forever on that little spice on You shook me all night long on the opening chord, and now I've got it. Turns out it's easier to play as well. Some of those I got it right, some needed adjusting as well. Pretty cool revisiting those tunes.
Thank you, sir, for confirming what we're doing right, righting us on what we're doing wrong, and just as importantly, doing it with "just the right amount of crunch" like it's supposed to have! So many people not only play AC/DC riffs wrong, but use too much distortion/saturation, and it absolutely castrates those colossal chords and hooks!
I've noticed when people play "Shook Me All Night Long" the lead guitar player doesn't arpeggiate those changes. It sounds mushy when folks just strum it. The arpeggios make it swing.
Love this video! I remember when I first figured out about Angus's string attack and how much it makes his sound what it is, and of course he said it best that you just need to hit the buggers. And I have to do a bit of bragging that it took me about two minutes to figure out Riff Raff by ear. Thanks for telling these great stories!
Okay, in You Shook Me All Night Long, the "wrong way" you showed is the way I've been playing it since about 1980. Nobody showed it to me, I just figured it out on my own. I"m not sure, at this point, if I want to attempt the change or keep playing it wrong. The "wrong way" has more "me" in it, if that makes any sense, lol
Fantastic lesson Nick! Thanks for this one! In addition to covering some great riffs you covered some great concepts such as the upbeat and swing. Also really liked how you shared the approach that Angus shared with you regarding the difference between where the cords can be played on the neck to very different effect and impact. So many great lessons that can be applied to everyday playing as well as to some great AC/DC covers!
Hells Bells was our walk out song during my high school football days, that song made me feel like one bad dude coming out of the locker room with that blaring
Open strings DO sound differently than closed. Great demo of the differences! Also, excellent job matching the tones and distortion of the originals :)
Ta boom cha...lol. I find it easier to learn from a lefty as it's mirror image and you can work out what they are doing way quicker. Maybe it's just me but that's the way it is... Cheers.
@@titmusspaultpaul5 As a lefty, I can confirm: That's exactly how I feel. I find it easier to learn when watching a right-handed person playing (99.99% of the times)
Great vid. Time to grab my axe and practice. One point though; I learned many years ago how to play Highway to Hell correctly and Angus doesn't use his thumb to play the f#, he uses different fingering for the D shape and incorporates this into a "new" shape. Much much easier to play. So instead of using your first finger on the " normal" D shape, use that to finger the f# then use your second finger on the top of the D chord (played on the G string) and your third finger on the B string. Mute the high E string. If you do that then you play it just like Angus and, when you get use to it, then it's easier to play... Cheers everyone and good playing.
Great video. I knew the HTH riff was coming. I've never been able to make it sound right and I've never really heard anyone else play it right. Now I know why! Good advice. I liked how Malcolm always referred to their music basically having a 50's vibe rock 'n roll 'swing'. The rock formula that always works. A perfect example of this are the live versions of 'High Voltage' from the Bon era... makes you want to get up and move. Now, if I could just figure out how to play 'Big Jack' correctly haha. Thanks again.
Hi Nick, I apologise as I’ve watched a couple of posts from you this morning that (I’m afraid to say) I’d never previously seen. I may have seen you review an amp at some time? The Code? Not sure, but I’m not a huge viewer. All I can say is many thanks and Hurrah to you also. There are many “experts” out there who constantly wish to point out one’s alleged ineptitude when playing many of these riffs. On most occasions all that is required is a better ear (or inside information 🙂). Before I go I’d like to add three things, power chords have no place whatsoever when playing Problem Child, you are 100% correct regarding everything here and I could never, ever forget the Beating Around The Bush riff. I’ll keep a closer eye out for more of your stuff in the future. Best wishes and I hope you and your’s can stay safe during the current situation. Cheers, Si.
I remember getting into a "heated" discussion with another guitar player about that F# under the D in Highway to Hell. He kept telling me, "No way, can't physically play it" I kept saying, "Use your thumb" btw Grim Reaper lesson seconded! 🤟😎🤟
@@Riffman42 I was going to mention that. He showed how to play it right in magazine interview. I always played the low F# with my thumb, but what he does is after the 1st three hits on the D chord, keep the 3rd finger on the D on the second string, but shift the 1st finger over to play the F# on the low E string, and fret the 2nd fret A on the G string with the 2nd finger. It makes the D/F# to G chord movement much smoother that way.
bonus, Angus stomps his foot on a lot of songs when seen playing live, he's keeping his timing which is pretty much what was explain at the end of the vid.
Just found this - outstanding. Great insight and I remember the article your wrote, and mentioned here, way back when I was first starting. Well done then, and now, sir!
This is a well done video. I enjoy seeing the correct way to play things. The video of 50 Zepplin Riffs is note correct but a quarter of it is position inaccurate. There is a lot more open chords than the guys plays. It makes a huge difference.
Thank you SW / NB / AV folks - this is awesome Nick, thank you! "And what's the answer?.... NEITHER!" I'm still chuckling at what you said to JJN - cheers!
Nick, thank you. I wish you and your family the greatest joy of this Holiday Season. You have more than competent technique and AC/DC tone for days. And, as far as I can tell those are only your faults. Rock on Brohiem!!
I learned hells bells from the magazine you're talking about years ago. It was so much easier than the way my book had it, it just flowed! I taught it to my son when he was nine.
Saw this, came ready, poised and prepared to call you out, very brave video. But pleased to say you are dead on, for me, out of your chosen songs it's riff raff that trips people up. The octave A. It makes total sense though, it's much more natural to hit that G string on the up stroke after the down stroke open A chord, that's what gives it its skipping boogie feel. Very pleased, no correction necessary.
Nick you are a badass Heavy Metal guitarist period! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼rock on brother. And I absolutely love your Riffer Madness dvd, i Purchased 10 of them for x-mas 2019 stocking stuffers for all my friends.
Aaaaaaghghghhhhhh!! I need the tab please please 🙏 🙏 I've been lost for years how to play the intro to riff raff! My most excellent guitar teacher was fully stumped what Angus was playing, and he knew just about everything. Loved the vid BTW, very very informative and you're so so lucky getting to jam with Angus. Your rig sounds spot on too. Subbed 👍
The very first riff is just the A string open, played with the D string 4th fret, and then while continuing to play the open A string, move back and forth from the 4th and 5th frets on the D string, pause on the 5th, then do it again and stop on an open A chord... Notes to faster riff - play A chord three times, then open A string, A string 3rd fret, A string 4th fret, D string 2nd fret, D string 4th fret, A string 3rd fret, A string open, D string 5th fret, A string 3rd fret, A string open, then hit the three open A chords again.. (hope this helps - post an email as a reply if you want, I'll send you a video on how to do it.. it's a great riff, no one should be deprived who wants to learn it! :-)
I actually remember the Guitar World interview Nick did. It was great! I also specifically remember the bit about how he played Hells Bells up the neck.
Well, I've had Hell's Bells, Sin City, and Highway to Hell right all along. That octave A in Riff Raff is pretty subtle, easy to miss. I play For Those About to Rock the second (incorrect) way you show, but I really think it sounds great with the added high B in addition to the F#, and also I don't think it's any harder than the real way. I only ever learned You Shook Me All Night Long in the interest of completeness, never really played it much, wasn't my favorite song. I'd be interested in knowing if the way I play Have a Drink on Me and Down Payment Blues is right.
Back in Black is also very commonly played wrong. On all 3 parts to the main riff. The actual chords, the picked pentatonic lick, and the end of the riff, the walk up to the B. I've heard this played wrong on all the areas.
wow, the opening to For Those About to Rock I've got wrong all these years myself. Now, listening accurately to the original I can hear that the confusion must come from the fact that the guitar is doubled in the intro and not "perfectly" so. The notes not being exactly at the same time give it the effect there are more than just two notes. You're a very lucky guy. I'd have given anything for a lesson with my teenage hero. BTW the elephant in the room would rather be "Thunderstruck", that almost everyone gets wrong. Everyone's playing it with pull-offs, but actually it's all alternate picked through.
Love Nick's lessons. Have to agree with Chance Terrill on what amp & pedals (if any) were used, would be nice to know the signal path. Nick barely put himself down this time!!! WIN for him!!! Thanks Sweetwater.
@@sweetwater Nick (if it really was you that replied) thanks for letting me know. I should have no problem getting the tone with my Boss Katana 100 Head. I want to thank you for the time you spend researching to do these type of vids, because no else would. My hope is that I can get to next years gearfest and buy you a couple beers while hearing some of the many stories you have about the artist that you and I grew up with. Keep on Rockin'!!!!
Haha, yeah, I've seen that video by Paul Davids and I remember very well that in one of those examples a guy plays Eddie's Eruption just before HtH and then terribly screws up the timing. Tells you that all the technique in the world is worth a lot less when that interal metronome isn't getting the job done.
Keep in mind that Angus and Malcolm played 2 different things (even though it's the same notes). For Hells Bells Malcolm does play it the 2nd way you played it- up on the 2nd fret area, while Angus played it down around the 7th-9th fret area
@@thebordenasylum7726 malcolm plays the C chord on the intro while angus plays the main riff, then malcolm starts playing like angus, with his style of playing of course.
I’m not that AC/DC guy , but especially when we played at Mc parties, we had that joke- we actually only had to play 6-7 numbers. ( smoke on the water, thunder, born to be wild, highway stars, final countdown, and millits women -a danish number we made like metal ) this version was apparently so good, it were our opening number, for years. ( we naturally made our own numbers) and even today listening to these. I do think what a great sound especially my gibson les Paul de luxe, and an amp ( named peak a English Mesa boogie M five copy. ) electro voice 15 . I had been searching for information about this amp - and I can’t find any thing about it. So if anyone knows about these ( 1986 ) do tell me. Today I play a Mesa boogie, and a boss 212 kantana and manly a line 6 and a cry baby, and some stomps. Vigier/ ibanez/ strat / sg lion , but my vigier is so good, that I will bye one more. Still got my gibson D L . From 81 and then they stopped producing these. So on eBay 5000£ . Approximate.
Have you been playing these riffs wrong all this time? Let us know in the comments 👇 For more great lessons, rock 'n roll, and more like and subscribe!
Thanks! Love to see other lefties rock out. I haven't been playin those AC/DC riffs at all, because nobody in the band knows how to sing like AC/DC. But watching this was a perfect compressed lesson to grasp the style of Angus. Thank You very much!
I have a Guitar World special Angus issue from 2005, which has Nick's article w Angus from 2000 in it... so I've thankfully been playing them correctly!! :D
I'm sick and tired of people saying that we put out 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we've put out 12 albums that sound exactly the same. - Angus Young 2000
All of your songs sound the same.
"Yes, but it's a good song"
- Angus Young
Yeah, they all sound the same. Absolutely badass is all they sounded like.
If they put out 12 albums and they sounded the same but were shitty there would be no interview. Every other band with a " Legendary " record that put them on the map got critical shade from a follow up record that didn't sound the same. Music journalism has a track record that has no merit in the world of Artist
Rolling Stone magazine has ripped apart Led Zeppelin. Allman Brothers Band and a few others it may have been Skynyrd. I learned a long time ago that I can not like a band or song that doesn't mean they suck. I have to say that to people a lot more than you think. Few argue the statement. " Oh man{fill in name} they suck I can't stand them". I say. They don't suck. Just not your cup of tea. Not mine either. If they sucked we would not be talking about them
GENIUS
You'll notice that when Angus and Malcolm both played the same riff, Angus almost always plays it in a different neck position. This was done to give some more tonal variety to the riff, and make it sound more ball-breakingly massive.
Gotta love octaves. I
@@vlogress11c81 Same octave different position.
Great all round musical knowledge that you rarely see these days
Also malcom usually more percussive, angus lets em ring out more on a lot of riffs
1:51 god that TONE IS PERFECT
damn the tone sounds hella real
I know. Really wish they posted up the gear used.
Hes playing a real Gibson S.G. but the cheapest ones Gibson makes, the faded S.G. is the cheapest Gibson S.G. you can buy, the S.G. StanDard is the type S.G. angus uses, but his faded one doesn't too bad at all, yes he is playing left handed, when he played highway to hell, theres only so many ways you can arrange the dominate major a as for the f# to g major, he played it the same way as the tab, shows it being done, but since he thinks hes being slick about hiding what hes doing with the opening A major by covering what hes holding there at the open A , I got news for ya, the dominate note in the opening chord is an open A-major d-string at the 2nd fret along with the G-string also being held down at the 2nd fret, forming the A-major chord , but check,em out when he goes to show an tell everyone were all playing it wrong, ,LOL, I watched everything he did, and played right along with,em ,that high voltage part wasn't hard at all, if he considers that part hard , he probably doesn't play too many songs with scale runs an patterns, especially arpeggios , good luck my man, but I think its you that has the wrong idea about the opening of highway to hell, if your so convinced about how its done then show yourself playing without hiding your fingers , plus, there,s only so many spots there to place your fingers ,LOL, show us something really difficult or that you feel is the hardest stuff Angus pulls off, make a believer out of us, is all im asking give,em something to work on , make the newbies practice harder and more often ,LOL, practicing everyday for hours , is what makes you a better guitarist, play everyday for at least 5 to 8 hrs a day, and all weekend long, for about 10 yrs , by then you should be playing clubs, if not recording your own music , each person learns at there own pace, some might get playing down in 5 to 6 yrs some it may even take longer , becoming a good guitar player isn't easy, not by a long shot, if it was then everybody would be a guitar GOD,LOL, that's why you MUST put in the time and daily practice ,along with patients and determination , but if your really committed to learning how to be a great guitarist, theres no such thing as a short cut, it doesn't exist , it takes long ,very long hard practice, and more practice, and yeah did I say it takes more practice, yeah and more practice, if you stay at it, you might just become a great guitarist in the end, pick up your guitars and practice ,do it first, do it now, an keep doing it, til your fingers are as black as your fret board then you know you,ve done some practicing if your finger tips are blackened , or bleeding or both, plus the skin will callus up nice an thick ,making doing bends a lot easier , good luck
The68lespaul you know what an apostrophe is right? -> ‘ ‘ ‘ LoL
@@The68lespaul Lad I've already got the playing side of things down. I just don't have the right amp. I already knew most of these things that he showed (except the Riff Raff one). Just that amp sounds killer. I just want to know the head, cab and any pedals.
@@The68lespaul Are you meaning "dominant" when you write "dominate"?
One of my favorite guitarists. Angus takes simple and rocks the hell out of it.
Its really not that simple... brorock, metalcore, poppunk, some blues etc seems a lot simpler to me
I was crossing my fingers for that Hell’s Bells at the beginning 😂, guess I’ve been playing it right 😤
Yeah, I clicked on the video like "okay, time to unlearn 5 songs again" and is was a pleasant surprise that I had been doing that one right, at least.
Josiah Bell ik Im so happy bc that was one of the first riffs I leaned by ear s long time ago and just now I see that I’ve been playing it right
For Those About To Rock and Riff Raff are actually only era-correct. Angus often played FTATR that way in the mid-90s into the early 2000s, but the rest of his career it was played with the open B, whether or not he intended it or even realized it. To be fair, Angus is not known for his impeccable memory; he even lost his Schaffer-Vega at one point. Also, Riff Raff almost always was played with the open A, whereas in some concerts from 2016-17 he played the 2nd fret G for a few cycles in the intro, then stopped immediately when the drum beat kicked in. Any indication that it is normally 2nd fret G is simply a symptom of the really high-heavy tones he played with in the late 70s as well as the fact that he used T-Tops, which tend to sound a little thinner. On top of that, the Schaffer-Vega, which was used on Powerage, really accents string attack and makes your tone a lot snappier, giving the effect as though you could be playing on a thinner string than you really are, possibly even making wound strings sound like unwound strings. If you listen closely on the If You Want Blood live album, you'll be able to tell it's an open A. Regardless, Angus has had several style changes over his career (which is to be expected; it's a 45 year span), and some songs have undergone some occasional changes as a result. Also note: on Riff Raff nowadays Angus palm-mutes and does a hammer-on in the start of the main riff, whereas he didn't do that in the 90s and before when they played it. Just because he does something one way now does not mean that's how he always did it. AC/DC's my favorite band, and I've done loads of research on them over the years. I REALLY know my stuff when it comes to the DC.
Damn. You are one true and dedicated ACDC fan! That means you and I have that very much in common! Check my channel for some acdc tutorials just so you can appreciate another's journey to learning and hearing things most can't in regaurds to ACDC. 🤘 Anyway, everything you said here is 100% correct. We can hear and see his progression as a player and his approach to his own riffs (Mals too). 🤘🔥🤘
MisterSwagify I prefer marvel over dc honestly.
Seriously though dcs better, Batman was a good part of my child hood.
Really though, you know your stuff. And I’m weird.
MisterSwagify Yes, yes, yes on the open B string in FTATR! It’s clear as a bell on the studio version!
Dude you know you're shit
They didn't play Riff Raff in the 90's.
Bringing Nick to SW has been one of the best moves. Not only does he bring his years of knowledge and experience as a metal guitar player, he adds an element of humor that makes you want to watch the video whether you're interested in the topic or not.
LOVE Nick Bowcott!!! He is such a gem for SWEETWATER staff and LOVE his approach and interview style as well!! Need more lesson CORRECTIONS from him!!
Why can't other TH-camr's explain things with the delivery that Nick Bowcott does? Humble, smooth, entertaining, and in a voice that you can listen to all day. And, he gets to the point without spending 20 minutes on how to play a 3 note riff.
Many years ago there was a youtuber called Dallas something or other, he of course got shut down, but he was like a Phd student in AC/DC playing, I learned so much about their playing from him. He taught the right way to play the chords. He taught all those songs you just played the "correct" way.
Are you talking about SoloDallas ?
@@x-daveonpc Yes, that the name. So good at playing AC/DC.
Waidaminut... I'm about 10 minutes in and I realize something.. my first lesson at about 13 years old.. round about 2003 I had a VHS metal guitar lesson tape..with this guy in it. He was explaining guitar basics and talked about how cheap tuners were as he tosses it across the room... and I think it just broke hahaha. That video helped me understand bar chords and rhythm in an age when TH-cam guitar lessons weren't really a thing... the things you remember
I humbly submit that the last two C notes on Riff Raff are pull-off's, not picked! I used to play it the same exact way, but if watch live videos and listen, I'm pretty sure I'm correct. Thanks so much for the lesson!
I think you are right on that, I was thinking the same thing.
Black Sabbath next. There's so many of their riffs played wrong.
Agreed.
There was a video he did about Paranoid being played wrong that Sweetwater uploaded a week ago.
Sabbath are HUGE blockers. Waste of time
@@allgrainbrewer10 that sucks
Luke Kern yea. Rick Beato has talked about it in past episodes
I bought that issue back in the 90s, just for that article and still have it to this day!
I love the way Nick runs his guitar playing down . Folks I seen this guy get on stage with sons of Texas , opening for THC and completely own the stage with a Pantera song . He's been rocking for years and hopefully has more years to go . Rock on
Oh my effing God. I bought a guitar and amp and chose this as my first tune to learn. I was being told to use the B string drone which in the end made me throw the guitar into the attic. I was gutted !
I just watched this whilst trying to get inspired, got my guitar dusted off and nailed it within 5 mins. I’m now enjoying getting the chords down . I can’t thank u enough
Man, thank you for this. I've been searching forever on that little spice on You shook me all night long on the opening chord, and now I've got it. Turns out it's easier to play as well.
Some of those I got it right, some needed adjusting as well. Pretty cool revisiting those tunes.
😃👍
Being mostly a blues and metal guy. Getting to the root of rock n’roll is kinda refreshing thanks!!
Thank you, sir, for confirming what we're doing right, righting us on what we're doing wrong, and just as importantly, doing it with "just the right amount of crunch" like it's supposed to have! So many people not only play AC/DC riffs wrong, but use too much distortion/saturation, and it absolutely castrates those colossal chords and hooks!
I've noticed when people play "Shook Me All Night Long" the lead guitar player doesn't arpeggiate those changes. It sounds mushy when folks just strum it. The arpeggios make it swing.
Very informative and well put together! Wish I could have had a guitar teacher like you!!
Love this video! I remember when I first figured out about Angus's string attack and how much it makes his sound what it is, and of course he said it best that you just need to hit the buggers. And I have to do a bit of bragging that it took me about two minutes to figure out Riff Raff by ear. Thanks for telling these great stories!
a humble guitarist is always a great teacher. your great
"Now look sunshine. I was playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order" Eric Morecombe
Thanks for all the great information. Practice time! And a great video too, thanks for sharing 🤘
Okay, in You Shook Me All Night Long, the "wrong way" you showed is the way I've been playing it since about 1980. Nobody showed it to me, I just figured it out on my own. I"m not sure, at this point, if I want to attempt the change or keep playing it wrong. The "wrong way" has more "me" in it, if that makes any sense, lol
that kicked ass man, you killed it. anyone that gave this a thumbs down deserves to have them broke off.
Fantastic lesson Nick! Thanks for this one! In addition to covering some great riffs you covered some great concepts such as the upbeat and swing. Also really liked how you shared the approach that Angus shared with you regarding the difference between where the cords can be played on the neck to very different effect and impact. So many great lessons that can be applied to everyday playing as well as to some great AC/DC covers!
Enjoyed this video alot. Nic is a down to earth cool bloke !!
Hells Bells was our walk out song during my high school football days, that song made me feel like one bad dude coming out of the locker room with that blaring
I love these... but Nick, bro when can we get some Grim Reaper lessons?
Man I like that sg
As someone mentioned,..The TONE is FANTASTIC here.
as a fellow lefty, this was easy to follow without having to mirror everything. thank you
Thanks, Nick!
Also, Grim Reaper kicks ass!
Nice!!! Thanks so much for unraveling a few Angus mysteries that have been messing me up for years!!! Keep rocking!
You can really here them ring and come to life the way Angus plays it.
Open strings DO sound differently than closed. Great demo of the differences!
Also, excellent job matching the tones and distortion of the originals :)
When you play as a lefty, you're never playing it right.
Ta boom cha...lol. I find it easier to learn from a lefty as it's mirror image and you can work out what they are doing way quicker. Maybe it's just me but that's the way it is... Cheers.
Boom
@@titmusspaultpaul5 As a lefty, I can confirm: That's exactly how I feel. I find it easier to learn when watching a right-handed person playing (99.99% of the times)
Gabriel dos Santos this may be why all right handed guitarist hate lefty’s 😜 I’m a lefty but I play right handed. Bat left though
As a lefty i dislike this, but you’re probably right
His voice reminds me of Lemmy
He sounds more like paul mccartney
Great vid. Time to grab my axe and practice. One point though; I learned many years ago how to play Highway to Hell correctly and Angus doesn't use his thumb to play the f#, he uses different fingering for the D shape and incorporates this into a "new" shape. Much much easier to play. So instead of using your first finger on the " normal" D shape, use that to finger the f# then use your second finger on the top of the D chord (played on the G string) and your third finger on the B string. Mute the high E string. If you do that then you play it just like Angus and, when you get use to it, then it's easier to play... Cheers everyone and good playing.
This is how I play it, but I just watch the video from River Plate and Angus is actually using his middle finger for that F#.
Great video. I knew the HTH riff was coming. I've never been able to make it sound right and I've never really heard anyone else play it right. Now I know why! Good advice.
I liked how Malcolm always referred to their music basically having a 50's vibe rock 'n roll 'swing'. The rock formula that always works. A perfect example of this are the live versions of 'High Voltage' from the Bon era... makes you want to get up and move. Now, if I could just figure out how to play 'Big Jack' correctly haha. Thanks again.
Hi Nick,
I apologise as I’ve watched a couple of posts from you this morning that (I’m afraid to say) I’d never previously seen. I may have seen you review an amp at some time? The Code? Not sure, but I’m not a huge viewer.
All I can say is many thanks and Hurrah to you also. There are many “experts” out there who constantly wish to point out one’s alleged ineptitude when playing many of these riffs. On most occasions all that is required is a better ear (or inside information 🙂).
Before I go I’d like to add three things, power chords have no place whatsoever when playing Problem Child, you are 100% correct regarding everything here and I could never, ever forget the Beating Around The Bush riff.
I’ll keep a closer eye out for more of your stuff in the future.
Best wishes and I hope you and your’s can stay safe during the current situation.
Cheers,
Si.
Well done Sir! Damn, I still love those songs. So great👍🏻
I was playing them wrong. thanks for showing how to play them right.
I remember getting into a "heated" discussion with another guitar player about that F# under the D in Highway to Hell. He kept telling me, "No way, can't physically play it" I kept saying, "Use your thumb" btw Grim Reaper lesson seconded!
🤟😎🤟
Angus plays that F# with his middle finger.
@@Riffman42 I was going to mention that. He showed how to play it right in magazine interview. I always played the low F# with my thumb, but what he does is after the 1st three hits on the D chord, keep the 3rd finger on the D on the second string, but shift the 1st finger over to play the F# on the low E string, and fret the 2nd fret A on the G string with the 2nd finger. It makes the D/F# to G chord movement much smoother that way.
Keep em coming, these are awesome vids. To keep time with an AC/DC song one most stomp thy foot and bang thy head!
bonus, Angus stomps his foot on a lot of songs when seen playing live, he's keeping his timing which is pretty much what was explain at the end of the vid.
Absolutely love learning the nuances to Malcolm and angus's playing style. Much of what they do is based upon the groove. Rick on
love watching a fellow lefty play, makes mirroring so much easier! Keep it up Nicky boy
For someone who idealized Angus growing up playing guitar, I'm pretty happy with myself playing 5 of 6 correctly!
Just found this - outstanding. Great insight and I remember the article your wrote, and mentioned here, way back when I was first starting. Well done then, and now, sir!
This was very helpful, especially the up-up-down guidance on Highway to Hell!
Nice chill tutorial, singing the vocal parts along with may be a little more difficult
My favorite ACDC song now has to be "Up-Down-Up", lol! Excellent lesson.
This is a well done video. I enjoy seeing the correct way to play things. The video of 50 Zepplin Riffs is note correct but a quarter of it is position inaccurate. There is a lot more open chords than the guys plays. It makes a huge difference.
Thank you SW / NB / AV folks - this is awesome Nick, thank you! "And what's the answer?.... NEITHER!" I'm still chuckling at what you said to JJN - cheers!
Nick, thank you. I wish you and your family the greatest joy of this Holiday Season. You have more than competent technique and AC/DC tone for days. And, as far as I can tell those are only your faults. Rock on Brohiem!!
PLEASE keep doing these videos, they’re so cool
Wouldn’t mind jamming with this guy. Great job and great presentation.
Nick Bowcott is absolutely awesome. Great player, instructor and interesting commentary...lol
I learned hells bells from the magazine you're talking about years ago. It was so much easier than the way my book had it, it just flowed! I taught it to my son when he was nine.
Saw this, came ready, poised and prepared to call you out, very brave video. But pleased to say you are dead on, for me, out of your chosen songs it's riff raff that trips people up. The octave A. It makes total sense though, it's much more natural to hit that G string on the up stroke after the down stroke open A chord, that's what gives it its skipping boogie feel. Very pleased, no correction necessary.
I’ve still got the magazine with your article. Good stuff..
Nick you are a badass Heavy Metal guitarist period! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼rock on brother. And I absolutely love your Riffer Madness dvd, i Purchased 10 of them for x-mas 2019 stocking stuffers for all my friends.
Love your videos they make me smile and very happy thank you brother ❤️
Lol. Very happy to see (hear?) my Guitar World from the 90's has Hells Bells right. Glad to know I learned it correctly from the start
That guitar tone was fantastic. Cheers Nick
Aaaaaaghghghhhhhh!! I need the tab please please 🙏 🙏
I've been lost for years how to play the intro to riff raff! My most excellent guitar teacher was fully stumped what Angus was playing, and he knew just about everything.
Loved the vid BTW, very very informative and you're so so lucky getting to jam with Angus. Your rig sounds spot on too. Subbed 👍
The very first riff is just the A string open, played with the D string 4th fret, and then while continuing to play the open A string, move back and forth from the 4th and 5th frets on the D string, pause on the 5th, then do it again and stop on an open A chord... Notes to faster riff - play A chord three times, then open A string, A string 3rd fret, A string 4th fret, D string 2nd fret, D string 4th fret, A string 3rd fret, A string open, D string 5th fret, A string 3rd fret, A string open, then hit the three open A chords again.. (hope this helps - post an email as a reply if you want, I'll send you a video on how to do it.. it's a great riff, no one should be deprived who wants to learn it! :-)
@@lilmoe4364 OMG!! You sir are true gent! Thank you. I'll give this a go ASAP 😎👌👍😁😁😁🏆
No prob! Let me know if you have questions, hopefully it will make sense.. :-)
Loving these Nick vids. Awesome stuff. Please keep 'em coming. \m/
Excellent...thanks for resolving the "Riff Riff" issue for me!
SGs are such cool guitars ! The first guitar I ever had was a ‘64 SG ! Cherry red like yours !
I have always played Hells Bells the Third Way... Thanks Nick....
I actually remember the Guitar World interview Nick did. It was great! I also specifically remember the bit about how he played Hells Bells up the neck.
Well, I've had Hell's Bells, Sin City, and Highway to Hell right all along. That octave A in Riff Raff is pretty subtle, easy to miss. I play For Those About to Rock the second (incorrect) way you show, but I really think it sounds great with the added high B in addition to the F#, and also I don't think it's any harder than the real way. I only ever learned You Shook Me All Night Long in the interest of completeness, never really played it much, wasn't my favorite song. I'd be interested in knowing if the way I play Have a Drink on Me and Down Payment Blues is right.
Lots of people play wrong Whole Lotta Love too
Great sound mate !
Are there any bad AC⚡️DC riffs? Hell no!! Thanks for an awesome video!
THANK YOU!!! Brilliant and insightful. I don't have an SG, but I do have a Les Paul and Jackson RR that do well for this "Heavy Bike" guitar work.
I still own that issue of Guitar World magazine! I remember studying that article!
.....you got to jam with Angus?!?! Lucky son...it's like a bucket list you never had on the list but should be in top 3....I can only imagine 🤘
Love your humility, man
So Good fun watching this ! Thanks !
Cool video…and that sweetwater shirt is the bomb bruh,, need to get one of those asap!
Back in Black is also very commonly played wrong. On all 3 parts to the main riff. The actual chords, the picked pentatonic lick, and the end of the riff, the walk up to the B. I've heard this played wrong on all the areas.
wow, the opening to For Those About to Rock I've got wrong all these years myself. Now, listening accurately to the original I can hear that the confusion must come from the fact that the guitar is doubled in the intro and not "perfectly" so. The notes not being exactly at the same time give it the effect there are more than just two notes. You're a very lucky guy. I'd have given anything for a lesson with my teenage hero.
BTW the elephant in the room would rather be "Thunderstruck", that almost everyone gets wrong. Everyone's playing it with pull-offs, but actually it's all alternate picked through.
Except its a combination of both. He pulls of to open string. Then picks open. Then hammers on to fretted. And picks fretted
Thank you, Sweetwater!
The tone is perfect! As the lesson is.
WOW! I got them ALL right. AC/DC rocks!
Love Nick's lessons. Have to agree with Chance Terrill on what amp & pedals (if any) were used, would be nice to know the signal path. Nick barely put himself down this time!!! WIN for him!!! Thanks Sweetwater.
Hey, Kirk! I plugged straight into a Boss Katana Artist 100-watt 1x12" combo set on the "Crunch" amp type. No pedals. 🤘
@@sweetwater Nick (if it really was you that replied) thanks for letting me know. I should have no problem getting the tone with my Boss Katana 100 Head. I want to thank you for the time you spend researching to do these type of vids, because no else would. My hope is that I can get to next years gearfest and buy you a couple beers while hearing some of the many stories you have about the artist that you and I grew up with. Keep on Rockin'!!!!
Haha, yeah, I've seen that video by Paul Davids and I remember very well that in one of those examples a guy plays Eddie's Eruption just before HtH and then terribly screws up the timing. Tells you that all the technique in the world is worth a lot less when that interal metronome isn't getting the job done.
Keep in mind that Angus and Malcolm played 2 different things (even though it's the same notes). For Hells Bells Malcolm does play it the 2nd way you played it- up on the 2nd fret area, while Angus played it down around the 7th-9th fret area
actually not
@@557brunof4 yes....watch it live. That's the way they do it every single time
@@thebordenasylum7726 malcolm plays the C chord on the intro while angus plays the main riff, then malcolm starts playing like angus, with his style of playing of course.
Thank you Nick and Sweetwater!
Wooonderfull, what a fun, learning these great Rock Sound Monuments!!!
And this must be done with a SG/ Marshall Rig!!! :):):)
Thank you very much!
There isn't a way to play right but your own way. That's rock n' roll!
I’m not that AC/DC guy , but especially when we played at Mc parties, we had that joke- we actually only had to play 6-7 numbers. ( smoke on the water, thunder, born to be wild, highway stars, final countdown, and millits women -a danish number we made like metal ) this version was apparently so good, it were our opening number, for years. ( we naturally made our own numbers) and even today listening to these. I do think what a great sound especially my gibson les Paul de luxe, and an amp ( named peak a English Mesa boogie M five copy. ) electro voice 15 . I had been searching for information about this amp - and I can’t find any thing about it. So if anyone knows about these ( 1986 ) do tell me. Today I play a Mesa boogie, and a boss 212 kantana and manly a line 6 and a cry baby, and some stomps. Vigier/ ibanez/ strat / sg lion , but my vigier is so good, that I will bye one more. Still got my gibson D L . From 81 and then they stopped producing these. So on eBay 5000£ . Approximate.
Thanks man. Some l knew some were new. Big fan of AY and AC⚡DC
That's somebody who knows how to dial up his amp !!! Great sound
The guitar tone is perfect!!