Stumbled across this Marty Schwartz lesson the other day and honestly, it’s exactly the kind of thing I wish someone had handed me on day one. Six iconic rock riffs, all on a single string, zero chord knowledge required. I had to put the laptop down and grab my Tele for this one — and yes, the neighbours heard every single riff at least four times each.
If you’re hunting for the easiest rock riffs to get your fingers moving, this is your starting point. Let’s dig in.
Video credit: Marty Schwartz – Marty Music
Video Breakdown: One-String Rock Riffs for Beginners
Marty keeps things brilliantly simple here — everything happens on the low E string using fret numbers instead of note names. If you can count to fifteen, you can play these riffs. He kicks off with a quick rundown of the fretboard markers (the dots on the neck), then jumps straight into the riffs.
This is part of what makes these the easiest rock riffs to learn — there’s no chord shapes, no finger stretches, no music theory. Just one string and a bit of attitude.
Key Riffs Covered
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (AC/DC) — Open string, 3rd fret, 5th fret. Three notes, instant rock credibility. The money note here is that jump from open to the 3rd fret — nail the timing and you’ve got the swagger.
TNT (AC/DC) — Same zone: open, 3rd, 5th. Marty suggests using your index and ring fingers together, which is smart because it sets you up for proper fretting technique later. But honestly, one finger works just fine when you’re starting out.
Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple) — Okay, this isn’t technically how they play it on the record (it’s actually played on two strings with fourths), but Marty’s one-string version gets the melody across and keeps you in the same beginner-friendly zone. Purists might twitch, but who cares — you’re playing Smoke on the Water on your first day.
Another One Bites the Dust (Queen) — Open, open, open, open, 3rd, open, 5th. Got some serious groove to this one. The tricky part isn’t the notes — it’s the rhythm. That stuttering open-string pattern needs to lock in tight or it just sounds like you’re noodling.
Seven Nation Army (White Stripes) — This one moves up the neck to the 12th fret (the double dots). Marty walks through it: 12, 12, 15, 12, 10, then down to 8 and 7. Fair warning: this lick is dangerously addictive. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be playing it unconsciously during every conversation.
Iron Man (Black Sabbath) — Starting on the 7th fret, this one gets a bit more adventurous, reaching up to frets 14 and 15. It’s the most challenging riff in the lesson, but Marty breaks the finger movements down clearly. Don’t let the simplicity fool you — getting that slow, heavy timing right takes some patience.
The Power Chord Teaser
At the end, Marty drops a brilliant breadcrumb: the power chord. Wherever your index finger sits, add your ring finger two frets up on the next string. Suddenly those single-note riffs transform into the full, fat sound you hear on the records. It’s one of those “lightbulb moments” that makes you realise how close you already were to playing real rock guitar.
Practice Tips
Start stupidly slow on these. I mean it — slow enough that you can look at each fret number before your finger lands. The speed will come naturally once your fingers memorise the patterns.
The most common mistake I made (and still see people make) is rushing between notes. These riffs have attitude because of the space between the notes, not because of how fast you play them. TNT without swagger is just three notes. TNT with the right timing is a stadium anthem.
Pick one riff and loop it until it’s muscle memory before moving on. I’d personally start with Dirty Deeds — three notes, dead simple, and it sounds killer through a cranked amp or even just your practice amp with a bit of gain dialled in.
Once you’ve got two or three of these under your fingers, try stringing them together into a little medley. It’s a great party trick and honestly a solid confidence builder.
How This Fits Into Rock Guitar Playing
These one-string riffs are the gateway drug to rock guitar licks — once you’re comfortable navigating the fretboard on a single string, jumping to power chords and pentatonic licks feels like a natural next step. You can hear the blues DNA running through most of these riffs too, especially Another One Bites the Dust and Iron Man.
If you’re digging the AC/DC riffs, check out our breakdown of beginner power chord techniques for the full chunky rhythm sound. And when you’re ready to add some lead flavour, our pentatonic licks guide is the logical next move.
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Now go make some noise.