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Apart from standard tuning and drop D tuning, E-flat tuning has been one of the most popular alternate tunings across multiple genres and music styles.
The great thing about E-flat tuning is that it is super easy to tune your guitar to this tuning, and the result is awesome! Unlike some lower tunings like D standard or C# tuning, where you might run into tuning stability and string tension issues, E-flat is just a slight adjustment to each string.
In standard tuning, moving from the lowest string, the tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E. To achieve E-flat tuning, you only need to tune every string down a half-step. The result will be a tuning that goes like this: Eâ™-Aâ™-Dâ™-Gâ™-Bâ™-Eâ™. Pretty simple!
Below we have compiled a massive list of 50 songs across multiple genres and styles to help you hone your guitar skills in alternate tunings.
Without any more delay, let’s get going!
1. Jimi Hendrix- All Along The Watchtower
First up on our list is one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix didn’t write all of his songs in E-flat, but he did use this tuning for several of his songs.
All Along The Watchtower was originally written by Bob Dylan, but the Hendrix version, released on the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s third studio album, Electric Ladyland, adds a whole other level of rocking guitar to an already fantastic song.
In terms of Hendrix’s songs, a large portion of All Along The Watchtower isn’t super complicated. A good chunk of the rhythm guitar part is played on the acoustic, but playing this part on electric is also acceptable.
While most of the song isn’t too challenging, the solo is a different story. Of course, one would expect this from the legendary Hendrix.
All Along The Watchtower is an interesting song because the solo sort of hangs out for the entirety of the song.
Follow the link here to check out the tabs for All Along The Watchtower.
2. Jimi Hendrix- Little Wing
The second Hendrix tune on our list comes from his band’s second studio album, Axis: Bold as Love.
Little Wing is a much slower tempo than All Along The Watch Tower, but that doesn’t mean it is an easy song to learn.
Little Wing has a very bluesy feel, and despite the slow tempo, there are still a lot of tricky slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, along with several instances of ghost notes throughout the song. As with many Hendrix songs, you could classify the entirety of the short 2:25 song as a guitar solo. Stevie Ray Vaughan (who is featured below) also performed a cover version of this song.
If you are up for a challenge, the tabs to Little Wing can be found here.
3. Jimi Hendrix- Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Finishing up our Jimi Hendrix section of this article is one of his most famous songs, Voodoo Child (Slight Return).
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is the last track on the Electric Ladyland album and features one of the most iconic and well-known guitar intros of all time.
The song is not for the faint of hearts, as it encapsulates everything that is so amazing about Hendrix’s guitar playing. It is by far one of the most challenging songs on this list and once again features what is essentially a guitar solo for almost the entirety of the 5:13.
While this song is tough to learn and play correctly, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it, as anything challenging will only make you a stronger guitar player over time.
Check out the tabs here.
4. The Beatles- Yellow Submarine
Coming from the iconic band’s sixth studio album, Revolver, released in 1966, and also featured on their tenth studio album, which also doubled as the soundtrack for their animated movie of the same name, Yellow Submarine is our fourth song on the list.
The Beatles underwent many stylistic changes throughout their career, yet they always found a way to produce stellar music. Originally written as a children’s song by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, it is one of the more accessible songs on our list.
Although there is the addition of some horns on this track, the only guitar part consists of acoustic strumming in a basic strumming pattern making Yellow Submarine a great entry-level song into the world of alternate tunings for all ability levels.
Check out the tabs to Yellow Submarine here.
5. The Beatles- I’m Only Sleeping
Also from their 1966 album, Revolver, is the fifth song on our list, I’m Only Sleeping.
I’m Only Sleeping again features a simple strumming pattern on the acoustic guitar, but unlike Yellow Submarine, it also includes some electric guitar parts.
One unique and historical feature of this song is that it is credited with being the first-ever recording of a backward lead-guitar part on a pop song, which you can really hear and appreciate starting at the 1:35 mark.
Both the acoustic and electric guitar parts are not overly complicated, and it is a fun and interesting song to play.
Check out the tabs to I’m Only Sleeping here.
6. Alice In Chains- Down In A Hole
One of the most influential bands of the 1990s, the Seattle-based Alice In Chains, was at the forefront of the grunge music movement along with fellow Seattle bands Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam.
Alice In Chains is widely known in the hard rock community for their combination of heavily distorted guitars combined with clean acoustic and the iconic voice of frontman Layne Staley. Down In A Hole checks off all of these boxes.
Down In A Hole is the fourth track from the band’s second album, Dirt, released in late 1992. Dirt is the band’s most commercially successful album.
There are so many cool guitar parts in this song, including multiple strumming opportunities on both the acoustic and the electric and the main verse riff that helps any guitarist practice their single-string picking. The chorus features some great strumming opportunities, and there is even a short solo at 5:15 as the song winds down.
Check out the tabs to Down In A Hole here.
7. Alice In Chains- Man In The Box
The second Alice In Chains song on our list is Man In The Box, the second song on their 1990 debut album, Facelift. Part of what gives Alice In Chains their iconic sound is the many songs played a half step down in E-flat tuning. While not all of their songs are written in alternate tunings, several are, with great success.
Man In The Box is the perfect song for any guitarist who loves thick riffs focusing around an open low string. The main riff is relatively simple, but it is a ton of fun to play and sounds awesome! Add on one of Layne Staley’s best vocal performances of his career, and you have an outstanding-sounding song.
There are some cool guitar fills throughout the song that is challenging, including the intricate sole that begins at the 3:20 mark, but for the most part, this song is a very accessible rock song.
Follow this link for the tabs to Man In The Box.
8. Alice In Chains- Rooster
The third and final song on our list from Alice In Chains is arguably their most well-known song, Rooster. The sixth track from their critically acclaimed 1992 album, Dirt, Rooster, was written about guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s dad.
Rooster is often included on various top 100 lists, and deservedly so. Like many Alice In Chains songs, Rooster begins with subdued strumming and a prolonged build until the 2:08 mark, when the electric guitars full of distortion burst in.
The solo is easy, and while the song itself is not that complicated, it is a fun song to play and one of the most iconic songs to come out of the 1990 grunge music scene.
Check out the tabs to Rooster here.
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd- Simple Man
Lynyrd Skynyrd, a band that has seen its share of controversies and tragedies over the years, is still one of the most-played bands on most classic rock stations throughout the United States. Even with the recent passing of the band’s last original founding member, they are still set to continue their 2023 tour.
Lynyrd Skynyrd has many famous songs, and their laidback Simple Man is right up there with the rest. Simple Man is from the band’s 1973 debut album and has stood the test of time, and has remained as popular today as it was during its original release.
The song features the iconic intro and verse riff that consists of a repeated picking pattern over some basic chord shapes, turning into strumming during the chorus (especially if playing with an acoustic). This song can be played on either electric or acoustic, although it was initially recorded on the electric.
It is a fun and somewhat challenging song to learn and play, and you can check out the tabs to Simple Man here.
10. Nirvana- The Man Who Sold The World
Beginning with the iconic electric guitar riff, The Man Who Sold The World is primarily an acoustic-strumming song and is one of the easier songs on this list to learn and play.
Despite their relatively short existence, releasing only three albums before the death of guitarist and singer Kurt Cobain in 1994 at the age of 27, the band managed to garner plenty of controversies.
The Man Who Sold The World is a cover originally written by David Bowie. As stated above, it is a relatively simple song, with most of the song a simple strumming pattern on the acoustic.
The tabs can be found at this link.
11. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble- Pride and Joy
Another guitar-shredding icon to use E-flat tuning is Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Taken way before his time at the age of 35 in a helicopter crash, SRV has made a lasting impact on music, inspiring generations of guitar players despite his relatively short career.
Releasing only six albums between 1983 and 1991, Pride and Joy is from his debut album, Texas Flood. Pride and Joy was SRV’s first single and has become one of his best-known songs.
With one of the most iconic guitar openings in the history of electric guitar, Pride and Joy is 3:39 of pure guitar magic. As with any of Stevie’s songs, Pride and Joy is not for the faint of hearts and ranks among the most challenging songs on this list.
Pride and Joy features signature SRV solos throughout the song, with one of the best beginning at the 1:39 mark, but it also encompasses some tricky strumming patterns during the verses using an ample amount of ghost notes.
If you think you are up for the challenge, check out the tabs for Pride and Joy here.
12. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble- Texas Flood
The second song from SRV’s debut album is the title track, Texas Flood.
While not as fast-paced as Pride and Joy, it is no less challenging. Texas Flood truly puts on display the genius and talent of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Not only is his guitar playing phenomenal, but when and how he plays the notes are a thing of beauty.
Beautiful music is just as much about when not to play as it is when to play. Giving a song space allows for the notes to really shine when they are played, and Texas Flood is a perfect example of this concept.
Texas Flood features a back-and-forth between SRV’s singing with his guitar. The entirety of the song is essentially a solo. This is another very challenging but fun song to tackle.
Check out the tabs for Texas Flood here.
13. The Smashing Pumpkins- 1979
1979 is by far The Smashing Pumpkins’ most famous song, with over 200 million views on YouTube. Founded in Chicago, Illinois, in the late 1980s, Smashing Pumpkins have been a staple of the alternative rock scene ever since, even with a breakup in the early 2000s.
1979 is from their third studio album, released in 1995. Overall, the song is not terribly complex, although there are a few interesting slides and bends, and the main riff features a ghost note sandwiched between two strings that you are playing notes on, making it a bit challenging.
1979 has one of the catchiest melodies of any song to come out of the 1990s, which says a lot.
Check out the tabs here.
14. Van Halen- Eruption
Eruption is one of those songs that nearly every aspiring guitarist wishes they could play. Eddie Van Halen is continuously listed as one of the greatest guitar players of all time and for good reason.
Eruption is by far the most technically challenging song on our list. The entire song is one long, high-speed guitar solo. Full of finger tapping, excellent use of the whammy bar, and all sorts of bends and sweeps.
Even if you are not quite at the level to play this song perfectly, it is still worth working on is it encompasses so many lead guitar skills into one song.
If you think you are up for this massive challenge, check out the tabs here.
15. Van Halen- Panama
The second Van Halen song on our list is much more of a traditional song versus an extended guitar solo, but it is no less fun to play.
Panama, released on the band’s sixth studio album 1984, the last album to feature all original members (until 2012), is the perfect example of all that Eddie’s playing has to offer.
Panama features the signature sound that is synonymous with Eddie’s playing. Panama is another highly technical song, and even the main riff, which is one of the easier sections of the song, is challenging with the constant switching between palm muting on the A-flat string with variations of bare chords. Not to mention the complex solo beginning at the 2:05 mark.
Follow this link for the tabs to Panama.
16. Van Halen- Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
The third and final Van Halen song on our list is Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love, from the band’s self-titled 1978 debut album.
Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love features one of Van Halen’s most iconic guitar intros, which features his signature tone and effect. Even if you don’t own a flanger or phase pedal, this song is still a blast to play.
While certainly more accessible than the other two Van Halen songs on this list, it is not exactly easy. This is especially true for the solo, which begins at the 1:22 mark. The song has a cool break that starts around the 1:50 mark and features some really cool guitar work before returning to the main riff at the 2:17 mark.
Check out the tabs to Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love here.
17. Ozzy Osbourne- Diary Of A Madman
Ozzy Osbourne is often credited with helping to create the entire metal genre with his work with Black Sabbath in the 1970s. While he had great success with Black Sabbath, he is one of the few musicians that have gone on to have an arguably greater career as a solo artist.
However, without the contributions of amazing guitarists like Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde, his music might not have had the impact and success that it has.
Diary Of A Madman comes from Ozzy’s second solo album of the same title, released in 1981. Diary Of A Madman features the guitar work of Randy Rhoads, who is often regarded as one of the greatest rock and metal guitarists of all time. Rhoads tragically passed away in 1982 at the age of 25 during a plane crash as the plane attempted to scare other band members by flying low by the bus, which it ultimately hit.
Diary Of A Madman begins with a classic-inspired acoustic intro before the electric guitar bursts into the song 34 seconds in. The 6:16 song is a bit longer than many of Ozzy’s other songs and continually switches between subdued acoustic and aggressive electric.
It is a challenging song, but worth learning.
Check out the tabs here.
18. Ozzy Osbourne- Mama, I’m Coming Home
The second Ozzy song on our list is one of his most popular songs of his career. Mama, I’m Coming Home is from Ozzy’s sixth studio album, No More Tears, released in 1991 to widespread commercial success reaching as high as number seven on the US charts.
Like Diary Of A Madman, Mama, I’m Coming Home begins with acoustic guitar, which continues until the 1:27 mark. Apart from the pinch harmonics used throughout the song, and some tricky slides during the acoustic part, Mama, I’m Coming Home is not overly difficult, apart from the solo that begins at 2:29.
Mama, I’m Coming Home is a good song for those wanting to expand their playing in E-flat tunings in a hard rock and metal direction.
Follow the link here for the tabs.
19. B.B. King- Lucille
Blues legend B.B. King and his song Lucille is next up on our list at number 19.
Written about his guitar, Lucille is from his 1968 album, his fifteenth, of the same name. B.B. King is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time and is well known for making his guitars sing.
His playing style has often been emulated, but no one can play it quite like he does. If you are an aspiring blues guitarist, B.B. King is one of the first players you should study. In fact, even if you don’t want to play that style of music or even don’t particularly like it, he is still worth studying and playing.
Lucille is not blazingly fast or chock-full of notes. This song is about how the notes are played, not how many, and that is what makes this song great.
You can learn a lot from his playing approach and amazing technique. If you want to learn Lucille, follow this link to the tabs.
20. Nickelback- Photograph
Seemingly everyone’s favorite band to hate, Nickelback is still one of the most well-known and commercially successful bands of the 2000s. A surprising amount of their songs are written in alternate tunings, including E-flat.
Founded in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Canada, Nickelback achieved commercial success in the early and mid-2000s and is still making new music.
Photograph is from Nickelback’s fifth studio album, All The Right Reasons, released in 2005. It is one of the band’s most well-known songs.
Photograph is largely an acoustic-driven song featuring a basic strumming pattern, although there are some backup guitar parts, including some electric sections. It is one of the easier songs on this list and is a great song to practice your acoustic strumming technique.
Check out the tabs to Photograph here.
21. Stone Sour- Through Glass
Initially formed in 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa, Stone Sour played for five years before disbanding and reforming in 2000. Frontman Corey Taylor, perhaps best known as the lead singer of the band Slipknot, is the band’s most well-known member.
Through Glass is the 8th track from the band’s second album, Come What(ever) May, released in 2006. The song is one of the softer songs in the band’s otherwise mostly-heavy repertoire.
Most of the song is performed on the acoustic guitar, but there are some electric rhythm parts towards the end of the song and a lead electric part that contributes throughout the duration of the 4:42 song.
Through Glass is a great song to practice your acoustic guitar skills as it is not very fast-paced and utilizes a few different strumming patterns and some single-string picking.
The tabs for Through Glass can be found here.
22. Stone Sour- Hesitate
Hesitate, the second Stone Sour song on our list, comes from the group’s third album, Audio Secrecy, released in 2010. Again on the softer side of what Stone Sour has to offer, Hesitate still features a solid acoustic guitar presence but uses electric guitar more so than Through Glass.
Hesitate is another song that is on the easier side, but it is a good song to work on strumming timing and strumming with a distorted electric guitar part, which can sometimes be challenging to perfect. A short solo around the 2:25 mark also provides some good lead guitar practice that isn’t overly difficult.
Check out the tabs to Hesitate here.
23. Linkin Park- A Place For My Head
The next song on our list is the ninth track from Linkin Park’s debut album, Hybrid Theory, released in 2000. In an album packed full of iconic Link Park singles, A Place For My Head sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, but it is still a great song and features some of Chester Bennington’s best-screaming work.
A Place For My Head features very heavy but relatively simple guitar riffs making it a great entry-level song for guitarists just beginning to play. Despite its relatively easy difficulty level, it is still a fun song to play for all guitarists.
A Place For My Head features a good deal of single-string playing and lots of power chords, making it a fun song to play along to.
Check out the tabs here.
24. AC/DC- Highway To Hell
Founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1973, AC/DC has been at the top of the Rock and Roll mountain for decades.
Highway To Hell, from the band’s sixth album of the same name, released in 1979, is one of their most well-known songs. Highway To Hell is the last album to feature singer Bon Scott, who died at 33 in early 1980.
Featuring AC/DC’s signature distorted chords, Highway To Hell is incredibly fun to play. Besides the solo, which is difficult in typical Angus Young fashion, the rest of the song is not overly difficult, making it a good song to break into E-flat rock and roll.
The solo, which begins at the 2:12 mark, is challenging but fun to play.
Check out the tabs here.
25. AC/DC- T.N.T.
The second AC/DC on our list is T.N.T. T.N.T. was initially released on the 1975 album, T.N.T., which was only released in Australia, and is again featured on the first international album released by the band High Voltage in 1976.
Similar to Highway To Hell, T.N.T. is all about those thick chords and Angus Young guitar solos. While this song does not have as technically challenging solo as Highway To Hell, it is still difficult and will take some serious practice to nail down.
If you are interested in learning this AC/DC song, follow the link here for the tabs.
26. Guns N’ Roses- Sweet Child O’ Mine
The opening guitar riff by Slash in Sweet Child O’ Mine is one of the most well-known guitar intros of all time and has been used in commercials throughout the years.
Formed in California in 1985, Guns N’ Roses was one of the top rock and roll bands of the 80s and 90s. Sweet Child O’ Mine is from their 1987 debut album, Appetite For Destruction, featuring some of their other biggest hits, such as Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City.
Apart from the iconic intro, the main riffs feature numerous challenging ghost notes, slides, and pull-offs. The solo, one of Slash’s best of his career, begins at 3:35 and lasts over a full minute. Toward the end of the song, there are more lead guitar interludes, making Sweet Child O’ Mine a difficult but rewarding song to play.
27. Guns N’ Roses- Patience
Look no further if you are looking for another acoustic song in E-flat tuning. The 5:54 song is entirely performed with acoustic guitars and features both strumming and picking parts resulting in one of the more difficult acoustic songs on this list.
Starting around 3:25, there is even a cool acoustic solo that lasts for about 30 seconds and is excellent for practicing solos on the acoustic, which can sometimes be challenging due to the gauge of the strings and access to the higher frets.
Follow this link to check out the tabs for patience.
28. 3 Doors Down- Here Without You
Formed in Mississippi in 1996, 3 Doors Down rose to massive mainstream success with their 2000 release of The Better Life, the 11th best-selling album of the year. The band quickly followed up their early success with the 2002 release of Away From The Sun, which features Here Without You.
Here Without You begins with some beautiful electric guitar picking. This riff serves as the focal point for most of the song, so if you can nail it down, you can play almost the entire song.
Here Without You is another perfect example of how you don’t need to write an intricate song to make a great song. This formula has certainly worked, as Here Without You has almost 800 million views on YouTube and over 535 million streams on Spotify.
Follow this link for the tabs to Here Without You.
29. Green Day- Basket Case
Green Day is one of the most well-known bands in the American music scene. Often labeled as punk rock, among other genres, Green Day has had many hits over the years, with Basket Case being one of their most successful.
Basket Case is from the band’s third studio album, Dookie, released in 1994. The song is a little over three minutes long and is a no-nonsense guitar piece. Basket Case is all about the riff, relying heavily on palm muting. The fast-paced song has no solo and is perfect for any guitar player trying to work on the picking speed.
Check out the tabs for Basket Case here.
30. Green Day- When I Come Around
From the same album comes the second Green Day song on our list. Like Basket Case, When I Come Around is all about the riff.
When I Come Around is a slower tempo than Basket Case but is performed in a very similar style, although around the 2:16 mark, there is a bridge-type section that resembles a short guitar solo. Most of the song is power chords and palm muting, so if you need some practice on either of these two skills, this is the perfect song for you.
If you would like to learn When I Come Around, follow this link here to the tabs.
31. Poison- Every Rose Has Its Thorn
The first of two Poison songs on our list is Every Rose Has Its Thorn. Poison, formed in the early 1980s in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, has been one of the most successful glam metal bands in history.
Although the band has had several hits over the years, their most successful is Every Rose Has Its Thorn, which hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 24th, 1988, and stayed there for three weeks.
Beginning with a Bret Michaels sigh, the acoustic-driven power ballad has one of the most memorable chorus in all of rock and metal music. The acoustic part is one of the most accessible guitar parts on the list. The electric lead parts spread throughout the song are a bit more challenging, including the solo that begins at the 2:35 mark, but overall this song is one of the more accessible songs on our list.
Follow this link for the tabs to this iconic 80s metal song.
32. Poison- Nothin’ But A Good Time
From the same album of Every Rose Has Its Thorn comes the energetic, guitar-driven Nothin’ But A Good Time.
Much more technically challenging than Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Nothin’ But A Good Time is a lead guitar player’s dream. The main riff of the song is particularly hard because of the odd timing breaks. The chorus is relatively easy, but the solo is quite difficult.
Guitarist C.C. DeVille is at his best for this solo, which begins at the 2:21 mark following the bridge. The solo is one of the most iconic the band ever created and is one of the more difficult guitar parts on this entire list.
Check out the tabs for Nothin’ But A Good Time by clicking here.
33. Megadeth- Angry Again
The vast majority of Megadeth songs are written in standard tuning, but a few songs are in alternate tunings, such as E-flat.
Angry Again was created in 1993 for the movie Last Action Hero starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and is not on any studio albums but is included on the 1995 EP, Hidden Treasures, and several compilations and greatest hits albums.
Angry Again is a reasonably fast-paced song, featuring what you would expect from a Megadeth song: Heavy palm-muted riffs with intricate slides, single string picking between the palm muting, and a high-speed and difficult solo that begins two minutes into the song.
Most Megadeth songs are difficult, and Angry Again is no exception. However, in terms of other Megadeth songs, it is not even close to one of the most difficult, so it is a decent song to start playing Megadeth.
Check out the tabs to Angry Again here.
34. Megadeth- The Killing Road
Coming from the band’s sixth studio album, released in 1994, The Killing Road is a much more thrash metal-type song than Angry Again.
The Killing Road features a technique for the main riff that Dave Mustaine uses in many of his songs where the low string is open and palm muted while playing notes on the next string up. This technique is commonly used in many metal songs and is a good technique to practice if you plan to play a lot of music in this genre.
Like Angry Again, this song also features an intricate solo that begins at about 2:15 into the song and lasts for just about 45 seconds.
The Killing Road is more difficult than Angry Again, but it is a great song to learn if you are up for the challenge.
Follow the link here for the tabs.
35. Megadeth- Addicted To Chaos
The third Megadeth song on our list comes from the same album as The Killing Road. Starting with a drums-only intro, Addicted To Chaos again features Mustaine’s signature open-string palm muting with hammer-ons for the main riff.
The chorus follows a similar pattern but doesn’t use open-string palm muting like the intro and verse.
Addicted to Chaos is a much slower tempo than many other Megadeth songs, making it a good song to begin playing Megadeth as many of the band’s riffs are very fast and complex.
The tabs for Addicted to Chaos can be found here.
36. Scorpions- Send Me An Angel
This power ballad from the Scorpions was the last track on the band’s eleventh studio album, released in late 1990. While certainly not as well known as some of their biggest hits, such as Rock You Like A Hurricane, Send Me An Angel shouldn’t be overlooked.
Send Me An Angel begins with an acoustic intro, playing a descending pattern from the high to low strings as the song slowly builds to the chorus. A short electric guitar solo is featured about 2:23 into the song.
Send Me An Angel is not difficult and a good introduction to rock and roll power ballads.
For the tabs to this song, follow the link here.
37. Seether Feat. Amy Lee- Broken
The 37th song on our list comes from Seether, formed in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1999. Broken is arguably the band’s most popular song and features Amy Lee, lead singer of Evanescence.
Broken is from the band’s second studio album, Disclaimer II, released in 2002. Broken begins with an excellent acoustic guitar intro, which is the song’s main feature until the chorus when some distorted electric guitar cuts in.
Overall, broken isn’t incredibly difficult, but the picking on the acoustic portion will take some practice to perfect. The electric guitar portion during the chorus section isn’t too difficult, and the solo is not among the most difficult on this list.
Follow this link for the tabs to Broken.
38. Thin Lizzy- The Boys Are Back In Town
Founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969, Thin Lizzy is rock and roll at its finest. The Boys Are Back In Town is from the band’s sixth studio album, Jailbreak, released in 1976. Jailbreak was the first of their albums to gain serious recognition in the United States and has remained one of the most successful albums to date.
The main riff of The Boys Are Back In Town features two distinct guitar parts that create a really cool sound. However, the song is best known for the post-chorus guitar lick, where the guitars play simultaneously. Most of the part is the same, but some different notes give this part its iconic sound. This same technique is also used on the solo towards the end of the song.
The Boys Are Back In Town is a fun song that any guitarist would enjoy playing.
Check out the tabs here.
39. Matchbox Twenty- Push
Push, from Matchbox Twenty’s debut 1996 album, Yourself or Someone Like You, is one of the band’s most well-known songs, along with 3 AM and Real World, both of which are also from this album.
Push is a slow, sad song with a simple strumming pattern on a slightly distorted electric guitar. Later in the song, there are some nuances that provide some interesting and entertaining playing.
Overall, the song is not difficult, and it is also a song that will sound equally as good on an acoustic guitar, so if you don’t own an electric guitar, that won’t be a problem.
Check out the tabs to Push here.
40. Def Leppard- Photograph
The second song on our list titled Photograph. There is no relation between the songs, at least none I know.
Formed in Sheffield, England, in 1976, Def Leppard is one of the best-known and commercially successful rock groups worldwide.
Photograph is the second track on the band’s third studio album, Pyromania, and it is pure rock and roll. The song features open string palm muting, a main riff that is played mostly above the seventh fret on the higher strings, and an awesome solo that begins at 2:37 into the song.
Photograph is a great song to practice rhythm guitar playing on the part of the neck that isn’t always used in rock and roll riffs as well as a good song for lead guitar practice.
Check out the tabs to Photograph here.
41. Kiss- Detroit Rock City
Kiss was founded in New York City in 1973 and has been a force in the hard rock and metal scene ever since. Known for their intricate live performances and merchandising, Kiss also has produced some pretty good songs over the years as well.
Detroit Rock City is the first track on the band’s fourth studio album, Destroyer, released in 1976. It features one of the band’s most recognizable guitar riffs and includes one of the coolest bass riffs ever made, so if you are a bass player, this song is for you!
The main riff isn’t too complicated, as the bass line drives this part of the song. The chorus features a bit more difficult riff, and the solo, which begins at 2:30 into the song, is a fun and challenging piece.
Check out the tabs to Detroit Rock City here.
42. Kiss- Strutter
Strutter is the opening song on their debut album and is one of the only songs that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley wrote together. It is often considered one of the best songs the band ever created.
Strutter is full of two-string strumming for the vast majority of the song. The most recognizable part of the song is the riff that accompanies the chorus and is by far one of the best riffs Kiss ever wrote.
The solo begins at the 1:45 mark and is an excellent song to practice your string bending technique on.
The tabs to Strutter can be found here.
43. Puddle of Mudd- Blurry
Founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1992, Puddle of Mudd rose to prominence in the early 2000s, and while they have continued to produce music since then, they never again were able to achieve their early success. Puddle of Mudd’s lead singer, Wes Scantlin, has a long history of legal troubles, which has likely caused issues for the band.
The band’s most well-known song is Blurry, the fifth song on their debut album, Come Clean, released in August of 2001. The album has been certified triple Platinum, selling over five million copies.
Blurry is actually one of the more complex songs on this list, especially as far as the acoustic songs are concerned, as the main acoustic riff features continuous use of harmonics, which can be tricky to learn and perfect.
The distorted electric during the chorus and the guitar solo is not overly complicated, but the acoustic part will take some serious practice.
If you are up for the challenge, check out the tabs here.
44. Metallica- Fuel
Although Metallica stuck with standard tuning through the 1980s, the 1990s saw the metal music legends begin to experiment with some alternate tunings.
Arguably the most successful song of these endeavors was 1997’s Fuel off of the Reload album. Metallica’s sound of the mid to late 90s is often debated among fans as to whether it is good or not, but Fuel is nonstop action through and through.
One of the fastest riffs in lead guitarist James Hetfield’s long history of blazingly fast riffs, Fuel is a high-octane, no-nonsense song from start to finish. This song will definitely challenge your picking speed ability.
Check out the tabs to Fuel here.
45. Metallica- King Nothing
Another of the Metallica songs in E-flat tuning comes from the band’s 1996 release, Load.
King Nothing features a challenging guitar riff during the verses and is one of Kirk Hammett’s most difficult guitar solos he created during the 1990s, which begins at around the three-minute mark. You will need a wah pedal to play the solo correctly, but if you don’t own one, you can still play the solo, although it won’t sound precisely correct.
King Nothing also has a very cool bass part, so this is another great song for all of the bass players out there.
Check out the tabs to King Nothing here.
46. Metallica- Until It Sleeps
Another song from the Load album, Until It Sleeps, is one of the most unique Metallica songs as it differs significantly from the typical style Metallica writes in. Although several songs incorporated slower elements, such as Fade To Black, Nothing Else Matters, and One, Until It Sleeps is stylistically unique.
The guitar is pretty sparse during the verses, with just some clean sections that go back and forth with the lyrics. However, during the chorus, the distorted guitar kicks in and features palm muting on the Aflat string, along with strumming notes on the next two strings.
The solo begins around three minutes into the song, and while it is not as tricky as the solo on King Nothing, it is still a Kirk Hammett solo, so you can expect a pretty high level of difficulty.
Follow this link for the tabs to Until It Sleeps.
47. The Police- Every Breath You Take
The three-piece band from London, England, produced several top hits, with Every Breath You Take being among its most popular.
Every Breath You Take comes from the band’s fifth and final studio album, Synchronicity, released in 1983. The album is often cited on lists as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Every Breath You Take is a complicated song as the verse consists of palm muting every note as it ascends and descends across the fretboard. This pattern continues throughout the chorus and instrumental section as well.
While there are no complex solos in this song, the style of the riffs makes it a very difficult song.
Check out the tabs to Every Breath You Take here.
48. Tesla- Into The Now
Number forty-eight on our list is from the band, not the car company, Tesla.
Founded in 1981 in California, Tesla has produced several hits over the years. Into The Now is one of the lesser-known Tesla songs and one of the few written in E-flat tuning. Released on the band’s fifth studio album of the same name in 2004, Into The Now is non-stop rock all the way through.
The main riff isn’t overly complicated and is a great song to practice your power chords. The song also features a strong bass line, so it is another good song on our list for bass players.
The tabs for Into The Now can be found here.
49. Ratt- Round and Round
Sometimes overshadowed by some of the bigger-name metal bands of the 80s like Def Leppard, Van Halen, and Foreigner, Ratt has produced a few excellent songs, including their most well-known song, Round and Round.
Round and Round is from Ratt’s debut album, Out of the Cellar, released in 1984. It was an instant success, becoming the band’s greatest hit and peaking as high as number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.
Round and Round is similar to Def Leppard’s Photograph and Poison’s Nothin’ But A Good Time, with most of the main riff, played about the seventh fret, features lots of palm muting and ghost notes.
The solo begins at 2:24 into the song and is just as challenging and fun to play as the solo on Poison’s Nothin’ But A Good Time.
If you are up for another 80s metal song, follow this link to the tabs.
50. Joe Bonamassa- Sloe Gin
Last but certainly not least is Sloe Gin by legendary Blues Guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
Joe Bonamassa has made a name for himself as a fantastic guitar player since he opened up for B.B. King at the age of twelve. Known for his fantastic lead playing as well as his massive guitar collection, Bonamassa is one of the best guitarists performing today.
Sloe Gin is from his 2007 album of the same name and is a laid-back Blues song running just over 8 minutes long. The song features interspersed guitar sections throughout, but the main solos begin at the 2:26 and 5:17 marks and are very challenging.
Bonamassa is widely known for his incredible lead playing, so this song ranks as one of the most difficult out of any on our list.
Check out the tabs for Sloe Gin here.
Conclusion
There you have it! A massive list of 50 songs in E-flat tuning that is designed to help you explore multiple genres in this versatile alternative tuning style.
Enjoy!