Top 10 Hardest Songs to Play on Guitar

Playing guitar can be a serious challenge, and for those who are always looking to push their skills to the limit, there's nothing more satisfying than mastering a song that feels almost impossible. Some tracks take speed, precision, and sheer endurance to the next level, leaving even seasoned players struggling to keep up. These songs are the true tests of skill, requiring hours of practice and dedication.

Whether it's blisteringly fast solos, complex time signatures, or intricate fingerpicking patterns, the songs on this list represent some of the hardest challenges a guitarist can face. These songs aren't just hard to play, they push the boundaries of what's physically and mentally possible on the guitar.

The Top Ten

Through the Fire and Flames - DragonForce

This deserves the top spot. Eruption is pretty easy once you actually look it over. Everything about it is basic stuff that any beginner guitarist has learned. It's a mystery to me that Eddie once said he messed up a part on the original recording. If you want complicated tapping, go look at any song by Animals as Leaders.
Through the Fire and Flames is not only a badass song, but it also is one of the most absurdly hard songs to play. Period. I'm a professional producer and guitarist, and it's almost impossible to load up a MIDI file of this song without crashing your computer. The note density in this song is almost on par with Black Midi.
This being difficult has nothing to do with Guitar Hero. It has to do with soloing over a chord progression. That's hard enough already, so throwing in every existing guitar technique is a pretty cruel addition. The only easy parts are the single string tapping parts. That's why Van Halen mostly does single string tapping: because it's easier than knowing what you're doing.
Eruption - Van Halen

Judging by the number of YouTube versions of this song that get it wrong, this song is very difficult to get right. The tapping part at the end is the least of your problems and is about the only part of the song that anyone ever gets right. There's a weird swing to some of it that so many ignore when they "master it". Many people anonymously claim to be able to play Eruption with no problem, but somehow, they never materialize in real life or even on YouTube. Judge people only by their actions, not by their words. Eruption is nearly impossible, and if you can actually play it 100% through to the letter, then count yourself among the elite 0.01% of people ever to pick up a guitar.
Also, Eddie recorded this in 1978, and it still challenges guitarists to this day!
The Dance of Eternity - Dream Theater

Let's face it, guys. Technically, this is the hardest song on the list by far. The entire song varies through complex melodies, constantly changing time signatures, and what some might describe as complete technical insanity! And it's not just the guitar - this song is also known for being one of the hardest for drums and keyboards, including an intense bass solo. This song became famous for being so technically difficult. Honestly, this list should be titled "Top 10 Most Popular Hard Songs." Otherwise, it makes no sense not to put this at number one.

This song would be rather easy on Guitar Hero, but actually playing it is a totally different story. The song is not really fast (the tempo is around 120-132 to the quarter note), but don't underestimate it. What makes this song so hard is its time signatures. There are over a hundred meter changes throughout the song, and they often come without warning. So unless you know every measure of the song forwards and backwards, you're almost guaranteed to get lost somewhere.
There are a few sections in the song that are entirely in 4/4, but even those sections have extremely odd rhythms. This song definitely proves that guitarists shouldn't be judged solely by how fast they can play. Because if a guitarist lacks technical skills, this song will kick their ass. Not to mention that this song is probably harder to play on other instruments.
Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson

This song requires so much skill that people think it's played on a clean guitar, despite being quite distorted. This is achieved by using a superb muting technique that is extremely difficult. If you make even one mistake, people will wonder why you are using distortion. To get it to sound correct, you must play incredibly well. With songs like Eruption, a mistake is not a big deal. However, if you make a mistake in Cliffs of Dover, you ruin the entire vibe of the song.

Yes, it's a guitar instrumental, so you would expect a lot of guitar. But what you get is like running a marathon and sprinting the whole way. The guitar line is simply massive, relentless, and simply beautiful. No distortion, just clear tone, leaving nowhere to hide your fingering mistakes. The skill and time needed to completely learn most songs on this list would only get you through the first 30 seconds of this song.
Voodoo Child - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

I'm just a fourteen-year-old girl, and I can play Eruption (not note for note, but I bet I could if I took the time to try), and am playing it for my school talent show. That's how confident I am that I can do it. I actually did have to try out, and I made it even with less than a third of the people making it.
Anyways, Voodoo Child is a Hendrix song. Enough said. He was the most skilled guitarist of all time. Playing it note for note doesn't sound right, no matter how well you do it. He inspired me to modify pretty much every song I learn, and I think it makes it sound better when you add your own style to it. Except on a Hendrix song, where you never quite can find any way to improve the song. And like I said earlier, it will never sound right if you do it perfectly. Does that stop me from playing his songs and doing my thing? No. Do I acknowledge that I'll never be as good as him? Yes.
Afterlife - Avenged Sevenfold

How could this possibly be ranked below DragonForce? Synyster Gates can shred better than any other guitarist in the last decade. His blistering speed puts other guitarists to shame. Afterlife is one of the most challenging songs ever and is really hard to perform on the spot.
I've only seen three other people besides Synyster Gates himself play the solo in Afterlife correctly, and even they could barely pull it off. Kind of disappointed in this one.

The hardest song ever to master on guitar is DragonForce? Seriously? Studio Force is a more accurate description of their songs. Even though their solo is fast, it lacks any skill - just a pure, bland, emotionless lick to be precise. Even Synyster Gates, one of the top 10 guitarists in the world and a big Schecter artist, publicly admitted that the solo in Afterlife was mind-boggling, and he didn't think he could ever play it. I don't care about your thoughts, but that's my favorite song of all time.
Master of Puppets - Metallica

I've been playing rock and metal guitar for over 25 years. Master of Puppets is hard work - a finger-numbing experience. Imitation is never a good idea. Who wants to listen to a copy of the original? That said, Master of Puppets stimulates your abilities and exposes weaknesses. Tricky down picking and running your fingers through the entire neck can make you dizzy and lost.
On this page, many claim they've mastered this song, especially a younger generation who were never inspired by Metallica 20+ years ago. This often means too much ego and not enough skill. MOP is a masterpiece that positioned Hammett as one of the best guitarists of all time.
Holy Wars... The Punishment Due - Megadeth

The intro riff of Holy Wars has four chromatic triplets, along with a chord ending. In contrast, Master of Puppets begins with just three simple power chords in chromatic descent. Master of Puppets is a simpler song, included on the list only because it's one of Metallica's most popular songs. You can learn the rhythm of Master of Puppets in your first two weeks of guitar playing easily. However, learning the rhythm of Holy Wars could take nearly two months. By that time, you could master the entire Master of Puppets album. FYI, learning means playing it with perfection.

Yes! Now this is metal at its most difficult end. I'm not sure about the ones higher up or lower, for that matter. Master of Puppets? I mean, come on! Bieber? Give me a break. Teen Spirit? Laugh out loud.
Mustaine and Megadeth deserve major kudos for their contribution to the music industry, and Tornado of Souls will forever be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Wait, Free Bird isn't in the top ten? That's sad. Free Bird features almost a five-minute solo consisting of different types of notes and riffs that are difficult to conjure at the same time. Moreover, there are three guitarists playing the solo simultaneously, and they almost sound exactly the same. Thunderstruck shouldn't even be on this website. You can play the solo while drinking water (well, not exactly, depending on your skill). Free Bird should really be in the top tens.

This isn't top 10? SERIOUSLY? Sure, some of these are more difficult than Free Bird, but Thunderstruck? Half of the song is the same riff over and over again, and the other half isn't nearly as difficult as the 5-minute guitar solo in Free Bird. Should easily be in the top 10. Afterlife could drop down too.
Jordan - Buckethead

What? This is the craziest song in the world! How did this not get in the top ten at all? Great composition, tasteful phrases, and Buckethead's signature wah sound make this a truly original masterpiece. If you think I'm kidding, go have a listen. I guarantee your brain will be confused long after you're done.

In my opinion, it's absolutely pathetic that this song is not #1. It's not the best piece for "feel," but if you want technicality, this is damn near as hard as you're going to get. Of all the guitar pieces I've ever heard, this is absolutely by FAR the most technically advanced.

The Newcomers

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Year of the Horse - RichaadEB
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Octopus's Garden - The Beatles

The Contenders

Thunderstruck - AC/DC

The intro and the rest of the song aren't as difficult if you don't play it right. Most people have the idea that the opening is only hammer-ons and pull-offs. But if you want to play it correctly, as in how Angus Young plays it live, you use alternate picking, which, at the tempo the song's at, is really difficult.

Actually, for all of you who are assuming the intro is made of hammer-ons and pull-offs, it's actually alternate picking. Sure, the easy way out is the former, but alternate picking is what Angus did, so if you truly think the song is easy, then go ahead and try picking.
La Villa Strangiato - Rush

I love this song with a passion. My favorite version is on the "Exit Stage Left" live album. I love how the solo in the middle starts off slow and builds into a climax that sends chills down my spine. I'm currently trying to learn it, and it is the most frustrating thing I've ever tried to do. Alex Lifeson's timing and patterns are so weird and unique, but it works so well. This song is way harder than any other on this list.

Alex Lifeson doesn't get nearly enough credit as a guitarist. The riffs throughout the song make you cramp up, but it doesn't matter anyway because the intro solo tires you out before you have a chance at any riffs. The solo halfway through the song has actually made my fingers bleed in the past. You can't truly call yourself a guitarist until you can play this. If you've never heard it, listen to it now.
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses

The song itself is very simple, but matching the tempo is nearly impossible, at least for me.
Hysteria - Muse
Tornado of Souls - Megadeth

Really, why is this here? It should at least make the top 30. Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck, it's so easy. Why is Thunderstruck in the top 20 while this is up here? This is an awesome song that does not deserve to be up here.

Hangar 18 is harder, in my opinion. The solo isn't ridiculously hard. The rhythm in this song is pretty hard, though. Leave it to Dave Mustaine to make a complicated rhythm out of basic power chords.

Should easily be number one. The rhythm is insane, and the solos require insane sweep picking with long stretches. Listen to the song and tell me it doesn't deserve to be number one.
Frantic Disembowelment - Cannibal Corpse

This is probably the hardest song I've ever seen. Every cover I've seen of this song is massively simplified and usually slowed by a lot. Cannibal Corpse only played it live once, and they don't anymore because it's too hard. They had to get a new live guitarist, Jeremy Turner, to pull it off live once, and he couldn't even really do it. He had a really difficult time. The only guy who can really do it is Pat O'Brien, the lead guitarist of Cannibal Corpse, and he only did it once, live and in the studio, that is. The reason there is no live footage of this song is because it's too hard to play. Now that's difficulty.

Are you kidding me? Avenged Sevenfold is above this! Dude, this is the most insane song I have ever seen. This makes Necrophagist ashamed of themselves! If you think speed is what makes something hard, you are wrong. Yes, this song is 246 BPM, but that is not what makes this so insanely difficult. The technicality is through the roof! I have never seen anything like this before!
Rob Barrett, the rhythm guitarist of Cannibal Corpse, said in their DVD that he can't even play this. Jack Owen, the old rhythm guitarist of Cannibal Corpse, did not record this. All tracks were done by Pat O'Brien. I consider Pat to be the best metal guitarist ever. Yes, you read that right, ever! He is the very best in the game right now and does not get near the respect he deserves just because he plays in a death metal band. All his bandmates always speak extremely well of his playing.
If you don't know this song and you are a guitar player, please listen to this. It is nothing short of the most insane playing ability you will ever see.
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne

Any of Randy's solo-laden Ozzy songs are VERY difficult because the kid was a RARE GEM, a classically influenced speed demon who also had a "groove." If he could've worked on more of his blues chops, he would've been the Best Guitarist Ever at 23 years old.
To whoever said, "not that hard," I DOUBT you can play it like HE did. And even IF you can, NOBODY can play "Crazy Train," "Flying High Again," "I Don't Know," and "Mr. Crowley," NOT TO MENTION "Diary of a Madman."

This song is one of the greatest and hardest songs to play! Listen to it, and you will understand.
I'm the One - Van Halen
Technical Difficulties - Paul Gilbert

Getting it as clean as the recording is extremely difficult. The guitar skill is outstanding. Master of Puppets is easy. I don't understand why it would be higher than this.

Top 5 for sure. I strained my middle finger tendon learning this song. It's insane how clean it is on the record.

May sound easier than the rest, but this requires a great deal of skill to master.
Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers

This rhythm is not so easy to play accurately for such a long time. It's very physically demanding and played at high speed by Frusciante.
Did you know that Frusciante, as a teen, could easily play shred songs, but that became boring for him as he turned to Hendrix and similar stuff? You say that Voodoo Chile is not difficult. How, then, have none of the world's top shredders made it sound even close to right? Neither Steve Vai nor Joe Satriani made it sound right. Only Stevie Ray Vaughan made it right.

Pretty easy to remember due to repetitive chords, but it is extremely difficult to play this riff up to speed and play it for nearly the entirety of the song. John Frusciante can jam.
Hangar 18 - Megadeth

This song is way harder than Red Hot Chili Peppers. Even Lil Wayne can play Red Hot Chili Peppers, and that's saying something.

I can play perfectly only the first part with the verses and the chorus, but really not the second one with all the solos.

If you're telling me a Chili Peppers song is harder than Hangar 18, I'd like one big explanation.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Cafo - Animals as Leaders

Tosin Abasi is a beast, using techniques almost untouched in the guitar community.
This song is a great example of poly and arrhythmic elements, not to mention odd metre.

This song is insane. I bet nobody here can even begin to try this technical masterpiece.
Tosin is easily one of the most talented guitarists ever.

I have no idea why all these songs are here because they are so easy to play.
You want something hard to play? Try this. Should be number 1 for sure.
Fury of the Storm - Dragonforce

Has the combination of all the instruments at great speeds. Easily one of the toughest songs on earth, along with many other Dforce songs. DragonForce's songs are indeed on the list of the world's toughest songs.

Oh! So you think this song shouldn't deserve the top 5 list? Please show me any other song with 36 seconds of ultra-fast tapping. Besides Eruption, though, that is the godfather of tapping.

Personally, this one is harder than "Through the Fire and Flames." Even though they are both difficult songs to learn, this one is harder.
Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin

Definitely a hard song. It's like tapping, but only with one hand. Not only that, but you have to do constant quarter bends to get Page's tone if you want it to sound correct. Then, there's the 2nd solo, which I've never seen anyone play correctly but Page.

I just can't believe this song is not number 1! I think none of you guys who voted even know this song. This song has the most difficult solo on earth. I've never found someone who can play it without errors, never.

The riff is quite easy, but the solo is so darn difficult. Jimmy Page made it even harder.