Sin City - AC/DC

Master the Classic Rock Power of "Sin City"

AC/DC’s Sin City is a hard-hitting rock anthem packed with punchy riffs, aggressive blues-based soloing, and tight rhythm playing. Originally featured on the 1978 album Powerage, this track showcases the raw energy and dynamic guitar work of Angus Young and Malcolm Young. In this LickLibrary lesson, we break down every aspect of Sin City, helping you master its signature techniques while refining your overall guitar playing skills. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitar Work of Angus and Malcolm Young

Sin City features the powerhouse duo of Angus Young and Malcolm Young, two of rock’s most iconic guitarists. Malcolm’s rock-solid rhythm playing lays the foundation with driving chord progressions, while Angus delivers blistering lead lines and expressive bends. Their combined approach to riff-driven songwriting has influenced countless guitarists, making this track a must-learn for any AC/DC fan.

Key Guitar Techniques in "Sin City"

Power Chords

Power chords are essential in rock and blues-based music, providing a full and dynamic sound with minimal fretting effort. Sin City is loaded with these staple rock elements, making it an excellent track to strengthen your ability to lock into the rhythm section and maintain tight, punchy playing.

String Bending

Angus Young’s expressive soloing makes heavy use of string bending, adding emotion and intensity to the melody. Learning this technique helps improve finger strength, pitch accuracy, and dynamic control in your lead playing.

Slides

Slides are frequently used in Sin City to add fluidity between notes and phrases. Incorporating slides into your playing can help you develop smoother transitions in lead lines and solos.

Vibrato

A key element of Angus Young’s signature tone is his wide and expressive vibrato. Mastering vibrato not only enhances your sustain but also injects personality into your playing, making your solos sound more professional and controlled.

Alternate Picking

The track’s main riff and fast-paced solo sections require tight alternate picking to maintain clarity and speed. Developing a strong alternate picking technique improves your overall picking efficiency and articulation.

Palm Muting

Malcolm Young’s rhythm playing is known for its precise palm muting, which creates a percussive, chugging effect in the riffs. Practicing palm muting enhances control over dynamics and allows for a tighter rhythmic attack.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

These legato techniques help create smooth and fluid licks, reducing pick attack while maintaining speed and accuracy. Sin City uses these techniques to create effortless-sounding blues-rock lead lines.

Bluesy Bends

Angus Young’s solos are deeply rooted in the blues, and Sin City features some of his signature bluesy bends. Mastering this technique adds a soulful touch to your playing, allowing you to mimic the expressive vocal-like quality of great blues guitarists.

Double Stops

This technique, commonly found in rock and blues solos, involves playing two notes simultaneously for a fuller sound. Angus Young frequently uses double stops to emphasise key notes in his solos, making them sound bigger and more aggressive.

Why Learn "Sin City"?

Learning Sin City is a great way to build your rock guitar foundation. This lesson will:

• Improve your rhythm playing with tight, percussive palm-muting and power chords.
• Develop lead guitar phrasing with bends, slides, and vibrato.
• Enhance your alternate picking for improved picking accuracy and speed.
• Strengthen your fretting-hand coordination with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and double stops.
• Teach you the fundamentals of blues-infused rock soloing.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• String Bending
• Slides
• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Palm Muting
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Bluesy Bends
• Double Stops

With this lesson, you’ll unlock the classic rock power of AC/DC and take your playing to the next level. Let’s dive in and master Sin City!