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What song is impossible to play on guitar?

“Eruption” by Van Halen, A Difficult Guitar Song “Eruption,” though, still stands as one of the most difficult to replicate. Many have emulated, few have come close to playing every note exactly as Eddie played it. And by Eddie's own admission, there were mistakes in this solo (can you even tell?).

guitaraficionado.com - 17 Hardest Songs To Play On Guitar [With Tabs]

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Looking for a real guitar challenge?

Maybe you’re just curious to see what some of the all-time hardest guitar songs are (so you can compare yourself against them). Either way, what one finds challenging, another may find easy. But the songs found here? Well, they’re doozies. We wish you god speed.

So, let’s get to the hardest songs to play on the guitar.

“Cliffs Of Dover” by Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson is one of few guitarists who turned playing the guitar into an artform. Johnson doesn’t just play guitar. He’s intentional about every note he plays and how he plays them, uses plucked chords, riffs, and licks in favor of strumming, and is just as meticulous in crafting his perfect, violin-like tone as he is in fussing over technique. “Cliffs Of Dover” is not Johnson’s only hard song to play. But the intro alone combines dizzying speed with scary string-stripping and phrasing that only the most experienced guitarists can pull off perfectly. And that’s before Johnson settles into any semblance of a riff. After that, the song continues to evolve, and throughout, Johnson captivates with his guitar melodies (no vocals on this tune). Other good Johnson picks that will put your fingers in a pretzel – “Manhattan,” “Zap,” and “S.R.V.”

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“Eruption” by Van Halen, A Difficult Guitar Song

If nothing else, the late and great Eddie Van Halen deserves mention because of how far-reaching his impact has been on modern guitar playing. Besides Jimi Hendrix, it’s hard to think of anyone that has had a more lasting, dramatic influence on the direction of guitar technique since. From frustrating whammy bar antics to non-linear riffs embellished with fills (rarely played the same way twice), there are numerous Van Halen songs that are sure to put up a challenge, especially if you want to copy them note-for-note. “Eruption,” though, still stands as one of the most difficult to replicate. Many have emulated, few have come close to playing every note exactly as Eddie played it. And by Eddie’s own admission, there were mistakes in this solo (can you even tell?).

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“Juice” By Steve Vai, One Of The Hardest Guitar Songs Ever

If the only thing you knew about Steve Vai was that he played with the legendary Frank Zappa, you’d already have context for how skilled and quirky his musical sense was (and still is). But where Zappa was more improvisational and looser with his feel, as a pupil of Joe Satriani, Vai had a strong theoretical foundation in music, serious compositional chops, and guitar playing facility like few other. The guitar instrumental “Juice” is the perfect meeting place of catchy melodies and dizzying guitar technique (almost like the A to Z of guitar playing). But there is no shortage of Vai songs that will put up a serious fight, be it “Freak Show Excess,” “Blue Powder,” “Erotic Nightmares,” or otherwise.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“Far Beyond The Sun” by Yngwie Malmsteen

The image of a smoking guitar is a meme that’s existed for decades, and while guitarists like Eddie Van Halen surely played a part in perpetuating such imagery, it might be Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen’s frantic fingers that are the greatest contributing source. For better or for worse, he’s become somewhat of a self-caricature these days. But in his early days, his passion was palpable. And it was on full display in neoclassical wizardry like “Far Beyond The Sun.” “Black Star” is another memorable pick for me, but It’s really a “take your pick” situation because of how similar many Malmsteen compositions tend to be.

Guitar Chords: Songsterr

“Waves” by Guthrie Govan, A Hard To Play Song On Guitar

While he may not have found mainstream success (yet), Guthrie Govan is known as the consummate virtuoso in the guitar community, with the ability to play just about anything you throw at him – style, genre, artist, song, or otherwise. His genius is on full display on “Waves,” with tasteful, melodic riffs built around slides. Who would have even thought to craft such slippery, finicky phrases? None other than Govan. If those riffs don’t present enough of a challenge, then the blistering solos surely will. But Govan’s talent is better understood viscerally. Go look up some YouTube videos and you’ll see what we mean.

Guitar Tab: Guitar Lovers

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“City Nights” by Allan Holdsworth

Allan Holdsworth might have wanted to become a jazz saxophonist. Instead, his parents gave him a guitar, so he became an impossible to duplicate fusion guitarist. Given his choice of genre, it’s understandable that he would never go totally mainstream (despite his short-lived collaboration with Eddie Van Halen), but you also get the sense that he never really wanted to. Whether it’s his impossibly smooth legato leads or his beautifully articulated and clean stretch chords, there’s scarcely a song of his that’s easy to play. But “City Nights” is one of those short numbers that serves as a succinct and memorable entryway into his world. Again, you can take your pick. Just about all Holdsworth songs will have you sweating bullets.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“Get Out Of My Yard” by Paul Gilbert

It was clear, even from the early days, that lanky and long-fingered Paul Gilbert was a guitar whiz. His work with Racer X and Mr. Big amply demonstrated this fact, but his solo work since has only reinforced his astronomical playing ability. Stylistically, he’s like the unruly, illegitimate child of Eddie Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen, but it’s obvious that he’s taken inspiration from the likes of Pat Travers, Randy Rhoads, and Kim Mitchell too, and has a place in his heart for J-pop and other lighthearted pop as much as anything else. “Get Out Of My Yard” is an intense, wild, blazing solo from start to finish, but there isn’t a shortage of tunes Gilbert has played on that will give your guitar skills a serious beating.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“Mediterranean Sundance” by Al Di Meola, A Hard Guitar Song

When it comes to shredders, many credit Al Di Meola with inspiring them to learn how to play ridiculously fast. “Mediterranean Sundance” is exactly as it sounds, but it should give you a good idea of what we’re talking about here. The scorching acoustic guitar licks on this track are simply surreal.

Di Meloa’s electric guitar playing style is also worth a look.

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“Play With Me” by Extreme

Nuno Bettencourt if often overlooked on lists like these, but that has nothing to do with his skills – which Queen’s own Brian May approved – and probably more do with the fact that Extreme only found mainstream success with “More Than Words,” an acoustic ballad, which was quite a departure from their “funk metal” wont. And I’m going to say something controversial here, but in terms of evolution and versatility, I would go so far as to say Bettencourt surpassed the late and great Eddie Van Halen. “Play With Me” comes from Extreme’s self-titled debut, and if the nauseating tempo wasn’t punishing enough, Nuno shows off his palm-muted speed licks, string-skipping magic, and neoclassical chops throughout.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“Through The Fire And Flames” by DragonForce

Power metal band DragonForce blew onto the scene in 2005 with “Through The Fire And Flames,” complete with fiery, video game inspired twin guitar riffs and solos. The music video version was chopped down to five minutes, but the recorded version clocks in at 7:22 with additional sketches and riff ideas scattered throughout. The appeal is instant, though power metal tropes are on full display, with embarrassing lyrical content (kind of emo – “life is so hard”), and an all-out freakshow speed excess (not just on the guitars, but on every instrument). Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman themselves said it took them a decade or so to master the playing style heard on Inhuman Rampage, the song this album belongs to. And it would take them another couple of years to fully get their stage routine down. It probably won’t be any different for you.

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“Tornado Of Souls” by Megadeth

Metallica rival Megadeth never came close to outselling their peers, despite vengeful front man Dave Mustaine’s undying competitive spirit. But they always made up for it with versatility, and sometimes, with virtuosity (truthfully, I’d take the Mustaine-Friedman pair over Hetfield-Hammett duo any day). Speaking of Marty Friedman, though, his guitar playing is always exquisite, and on “Tornado Of Souls,” it’s near impossible to duplicate. Maybe you’ll breeze through the intro and verse riffs without much problem. But it’s after that, that things start to heat up. The unforgettable guitar solo is melodic, lighting fast, and highly technical.

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

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“Neon” by John Mayer, One Of The Hardest Guitar Songs Of All Time Many YouTube personalities – be it Tyler Larson or Paul Davids – make a strong case for John Mayer’s “Neon” being one of the all-time hardest guitar riffs to play. Now, the electric version is one thing. It’s certainly a challenge already. But Mayer’s infamous Live in LA acoustic version? Simply otherworldly. The combination of right-hand slaps and plucks with unusual left-hand chording make for a finger pretzel many guitarists take a long, long time to navigate (and Mayer sings while playing it!). And while Mayer’s talent is not in question, a song like “Who Did You Think I Was” is very playable by comparison.

Guitar Chords: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“Breaking All Illusions” by Dream Theater

With a name like Dream Theater, expectations are set. If you don’t wow your audience, you aren’t living up to your name. And while bands like these have a tendency of falling into musical ruts (everything starts to sound the same after a while), the talent on display is the real deal, including guitarist John Petrucci, whose tone is often superb. The 12-minute prog-rock epic “Breaking All Illusions” obviously has plenty of time to prove itself, but simply trying to memorize the entire song, never mind playing at the speed and accuracy Petrucci does, will prove a task big enough for mere mortal guitarists.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“FraKctured” by King Crimson

The dual guitar attack of Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp is severely underrated. And while Belew will be quick to tell you that he’s not the most technical player in the world, he’s more than qualified to play in the somewhat obscure prog-rock setting of King Crimson, and Fripp is a masterful and experienced player whose fingers seem effortlessly fused with the guitar itself. What makes “FraKctured” challenging, though, are the various harmonized, cascading, and contrasting guitar riffs they seem to pull off so effortlessly. If the two guitarists weren’t perfectly in sync, this would simply be impossible.

Guitar Tab: Songsterr

“Jordan” by Buckethead

Buckethead is largely recognized as a masked Paul Gil… just kidding! We know the man behind the mask is none other than Brian Patrick Carroll. The catchy “Jordan” features some seriously fancy fretwork, including kill switch riffing, speed tapping, and seriously tasteful and melodic licks.

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“CAFO” by Animals As Leaders, Another Hard Guitar Song

Count on young instrumental prog-rockers to rock the boat. Relative newcomers Animals As Leaders’ “CAFO” simply erupts from the opening notes. Guitarist Tosin Abasi is simply otherworldly. It’s as if he’s absorbed every guitar technique on the planet, and now he’s a step ahead of mortal guitarists. Is he from another planet? Probably.

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

“Sultans Of Wing” by Dire Straits

The Dire Straits’ “Sultans Of Swing” features the fearful fretwork of Mark Knopfler, who doesn’t use a pick, and in this song, plays new licks and fills every four bars or so. Which might not seem like a big deal, but over the course of a 5:47, when there’s little repetition, it kind of adds up!

Guitar Tab: Ultimate-Guitar.com

Hardest Songs To Play On Guitar, Final Thoughts

Wow, tired? Those were some hard guitar songs!

Are we done here? Well, not really, because there are so many other challenging songs worth exploring, by the likes of Rush, Andy McKee, Cacophony, Joe Satriani, Metallica, Jeff Beck, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Prince, and more. If your favorite artist or band wasn’t represented here, we mean no offense – putting a list like this together takes something. Either way, the above songs should keep you busy for a long time to come. Work hard and have fun!

Last Updated on January 26, 2022.

guitaraficionado.com - 17 Hardest Songs To Play On Guitar [With Tabs]

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