"Overkill" by Motörhead

Get ready to plug in, turn up, and unleash your inner metalhead with our in-depth guitar lesson for "Overkill" by Motörhead. One of the most iconic tracks in heavy metal history, "Overkill" is a high-octane, double-bass-driven assault that’s packed with raw attitude and aggressive guitar work. Our note-for-note lesson at Licklibrary.com breaks down every riff, lick, and solo, making it accessible to guitarists who want to capture the energy and tone of Motörhead’s unmistakable sound.

This lesson doesn’t just teach you how to play "Overkill" — it builds your technique, precision, and stage-ready confidence. With a variety of classic and advanced guitar techniques featured throughout, this track is a must-learn for players wanting to enhance their rock and metal vocabulary. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist: "Fast" Eddie Clarke

"Overkill" features the ferocious guitar playing of "Fast" Eddie Clarke, Motörhead’s original guitarist and one-third of the band’s classic lineup. Known for his aggressive rhythm chops and fiery blues-infused solos, Clarke was instrumental in shaping Motörhead’s heavy, punk-meets-metal sound. His playing style fused traditional rock 'n' roll elements with raw speed and distortion, creating a sonic blueprint that influenced generations of metal and thrash guitarists.

Clarke’s work on Overkill showcases his signature approach: fast-paced rhythm playing, blistering lead lines, and no-nonsense attitude. Learning this song gives you direct insight into the early roots of speed and thrash metal guitar techniques.

Song Breakdown and Techniques

Opening Riff – Aggression and Attitude

The song opens with a relentless barrage of power chords and tremolo picking, instantly setting the tone. These elements require tight palm-muting control and down-picking stamina, building your rhythmic strength and endurance.

Benefit: Mastering this section will improve your rhythmic precision and dynamic control, especially useful for fast-paced rock and metal riffs.

Verse Riffs – Palm Muting and Open String Work

Throughout the verses, Clarke blends open-string riffs with staccato palm-muted phrases to keep the momentum going. The tight, chugging rhythm is a classic example of heavy metal groove in action.

Benefit: This helps build timing, right-hand coordination, and string-skipping accuracy.

Solo Section – Pentatonic Power and Beyond

The guitar solo in "Overkill" is a fiery run of licks built around the minor pentatonic scale, peppered with string bending, slides, and vibrato. You'll also encounter hammer-ons and pull-offs that give the solo fluidity and speed.

Benefit: These techniques enhance your expressive phrasing and help you develop a more emotive and confident soloing style.

Lead Licks – Rock 'n' Roll Feel with Metal Edge

Fast Eddie uses alternate picking to rip through several fast passages. Combined with trills and pinched harmonics, the leads have a raw, aggressive edge that cuts through the mix.

Benefit: Incorporating these techniques builds both technical dexterity and tonal control — crucial for soloing in high-energy styles.

Galloping Rhythms and Aggressive Chug

The fast-paced triplet feel found in sections of "Overkill" are textbook examples of galloping rhythms. Combined with tight power chords, it creates a wall of sound that’s pure metal.

Benefit: These rhythms are essential for metal guitarists and help tighten your sync between left and right hands.

Why Learn “Overkill”?

Learning "Overkill" is more than just adding another song to your repertoire — it’s an opportunity to grow your technical and musical abilities. This track is a playground of essential metal guitar skills that push your speed, control, and endurance. Whether you're jamming in your bedroom or hitting the stage, mastering this song will boost your confidence and showcase your ability to handle one of heavy metal’s true classics.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Slides
• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Trills
• Pinched Harmonics
• Open String Riffs
• Galloping Rhythms

Jump into the lesson today on LickLibrary.com, and experience the adrenaline rush of playing Motörhead’s "Overkill" like a true guitar warrior.