Simple Songs: AC/DC - Back in Black

Music doesn't have to be complicated to be good. Take one of my favorite bands for example... AC/DC. The song Back in Black, a rock and roll classic, is basically three chords repeated, E-D-A. Don't believe me? Try it out here.... Think about the rhythm and play these chords:

E--D-D-D--A-A-A 

The first little turn around is a very simple backward E scale, looks like this:

.e:--3--0---------------------

B:--------3--0---------------

G:-----------------3--2--0--

D:---------------------------

A:---------------------------

E:---------------------------

Then right back into the chorus, E-D-D-D-A-A-A. The next turn around is a simple walk up, looks like this on the low E string:

E:--7--4--7--5--7--6--7--7\0

When you play that last note slide down to the open E and start the E-D-D-D-A-A-A rhythm over again. Basically every verse just repeats these alternating chords and turnarounds. Now, for any melancholy purists out there, I don't care if this is how Angus played it on the original studio cut in 1977 or whenever. The point is, it's simple, it's easy, it rocks, and it's fun to play! Especially if you can get some distortion out of your practice amp (now your all kinds of Rock Star!!) Learn this and whip it out at your next party or social gathering, just make sure your wearing your shorts, chucks and school-boy jacket when you do it, and you'll bring the house down! Seriously, everybody knows that rhythm, don't care who they are.

The chorus, if you get really adventurous, just a simple play on this E scale:

E Scale

.e:-------------------------------------------0--3--

B:------------------------------------0--3---------

G:--------------------------0--2--3---------------

D:-------------------0--2-------------------------

A:---------0--1--2--------------------------------

E:--0--3------------------------------------------

And this A scale, which looks just like the E scale, just move it up one string, like this:

A Scale

.e:----------------------------------0--3--

B:------------------------1--3--4---------

G:-------------------0--2-----------------

D:---------0--1--2------------------------

A:--0--3----------------------------------

E:-----------------------------------------

Run up and down those scales a few times, then try this out for the chorus:

E Riff

.e:-------------------------------------------

B:-------------------------------------------

G:-------------------------------------------

D:-----2--0-------------0-----0-----0------

A:------------2--0---------0-----1-----2---

E:--0----------------3----------------------

Play that four (4) times, then shift up to the A scale:

A Riff

.e:------------------------------------------

B:------------------------------------------

G:------2--0------------0-----0-----0-----

D:-------------2--0--------0-----1-----2--

A:--0----------------3---------------------

E:-----------------------------------------

Play that twice, then back to the E riff and play it two more times (E-E-E-E-A-A-E-E). Now, bring it aroooouuund toooowwwnn back to the verse:

.e:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

G:---------------------------------------0----------------------0---------------

D:-------------------------------------------0----------------------0-----------

A:--0-----2--0--2--0-------2--0--2------------0------0--------------0-----0--

E:------0----------------0----------------------------3---------------------3---  

Play this whole thing twice.... then G bar chord:

.e:--3

B:--3

G:--4

D:--5

A:--5

E:--3

And finally, resolve to a few D bad chords:

.e:--x

B:--7

G:--7

D:--7

A:--5

E:--x

That is basically the whole song minus Angus' solo. Remember what I said about playing with tab. Tab is a tool so you know what scale and chord shapes to use. Before and while you are playing, go on to youtube or grooveshark, and look up the song. Listen to the rhythms, pause it and practice it a piece at a time. When you have the rhythm down, practice playing the whole thing through, along with the song or video. Start slow... a little piece at a time.

Always remember....

Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast!!

B