Whole Lotta Rosie Guitar Lesson by AC/DC

"Whole Lotta Rosie" by AC/DC is a timeless rock anthem that has inspired generations of guitarists with its powerful riffs, blazing solos, and infectious energy. Our note-for-note guitar lesson on this classic track will break down every technique used in the song, ensuring that you can master its distinctive sound and energy. This lesson will help you tackle the iconic riffs and solos in a way that not only teaches you the song itself but enhances your overall guitar-playing abilities. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced guitarist, this lesson offers valuable insights into some essential rock techniques. Stuart Bull breaks down this iconic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitarists Behind "Whole Lotta Rosie"

AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" is one of the standout tracks from their 1977 album Let There Be Rock, featuring the fiery guitar work of Angus Young. Angus, the lead guitarist of AC/DC, is known for his aggressive yet melodic style, which is deeply rooted in the blues but turbocharged with raw energy. His brother, Malcolm Young, provided the rock-solid rhythm foundation that helped define AC/DC’s sound. Together, the Young brothers created a dual-guitar dynamic that perfectly blended powerful rhythm work with searing lead lines. Angus’s influence on guitarists worldwide is immense, with his electrifying stage presence and virtuosic solos serving as a blueprint for hard rock and heavy metal players alike.

Breaking Down the Techniques in "Whole Lotta Rosie"

The beauty of "Whole Lotta Rosie" lies in its simplicity and raw power. However, don’t let that fool you—there are several key techniques used throughout the song that are essential for any guitarist to learn. Below, we’ll go through the main techniques featured in the lesson and how mastering them can elevate your playing.

Power Chords

At the core of the song is a driving riff built around power chords. Power chords are simple but effective and are an essential tool for any rock guitarist. By mastering this technique, you'll improve your ability to play tight, rhythmically strong progressions that sound powerful even with minimal notes.

Palm Muting

The verses of "Whole Lotta Rosie" rely heavily on palm muting, giving the song its percussive, punchy rhythm. Learning palm muting will allow you to control dynamics and add articulation to your playing, creating tension and energy that makes riffs stand out. It also helps with playing faster rhythms cleanly, which is key to capturing the song's aggressive feel.

String Bending

The song’s iconic solo features heavy use of string bending, a technique Angus Young is famous for. String bending gives the guitar an expressive, vocal-like quality. Mastering this technique will not only help you emulate Angus’s style but also improve your ability to add emotion and depth to your solos.

Vibrato

Alongside string bending, vibrato is a key technique used throughout Angus’s solo. Vibrato helps sustain notes and adds expression to your playing, making it feel more dynamic and controlled. This technique allows you to give life to individual notes, making even a simple melody sound more engaging and professional.

Slides

Angus frequently uses slides to transition between notes smoothly, adding a fluid quality to his phrasing. Learning slides helps you move between positions on the fretboard more seamlessly, improving your finger dexterity and overall fluidity when playing leads.

Alternate Picking

Speed and precision are crucial to nailing the main riff of "Whole Lotta Rosie," which is why alternate picking is an essential technique to master. By alternating between upstrokes and downstrokes, you’ll be able to increase your speed and accuracy, making it easier to tackle fast-paced riffs like those in the song.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

In both the riff and the solo, you’ll find a variety of hammer-ons and pull-offs. These techniques are essential for creating fluid, legato phrases. Mastering these will enhance your ability to play faster passages with less effort, creating smooth and connected notes that sound seamless.

String Bending

Another significant technique used by Angus Young throughout the solo is string bending, which adds a vocal-like expression to your playing. Bending strings allows for an expressive shift in pitch, a critical element in blues-based rock guitar solos.

Chord Progressions

The song features straightforward but impactful chord progressions that drive the energy forward. Learning these types of progressions will help you better understand song structure and composition, enhancing your ability to create your own music or improvise over a set of chords.

Pick Slides

In the pre-chorus and during the solo, Angus often uses pick slides to add texture and aggression to the sound. This technique creates a raw, grinding sound that’s perfect for rock and metal. Mastering pick slides adds an additional layer of style to your playing, allowing you to emphasize transitions or build intensity in a song.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

Learning the guitar techniques found in "Whole Lotta Rosie" not only helps you nail this classic rock song, but it also provides a strong foundation for other styles of rock, metal, and blues playing. Each technique builds a specific skill—whether it's improving your rhythm playing through palm muting and power chords or increasing your lead guitar ability with techniques like string bending and vibrato. These are core techniques that every guitarist should master to improve their precision, speed, and musical expression.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Pick Slides
• Chord Progressions