Learn to Play "Beating Around the Bush" by AC/DC | Guitar Lesson

Get ready to unleash one of AC/DC’s most ferocious and technically charged tracks with our note-for-note guitar lesson for “Beating Around the Bush.” Taken from the band’s legendary Highway to Hell album, this blistering rocker features Angus Young at his most intense, ripping through rapid-fire riffs and dynamic lead phrases that blend blues aggression with tight rock ‘n’ roll precision. Clocking in as one of the band’s fastest and most intricate tunes, this track is a must-learn for any guitarist looking to build speed, phrasing, and expressive control.

Our LickLibrary lesson breaks down every note and nuance of the song with clarity and precision. Whether you're tackling Angus’s iconic intro or navigating the tight stop-start riffing and blues-drenched solo, you'll develop vital techniques including hammer-ons, chromaticism, double stops, and vibrato. This lesson not only teaches you how to play the song—it also equips you with the essential skills that fuel Angus Young’s signature sound. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Song Breakdown & Techniques Covered

Hammer-Ons

A defining part of the song’s fiery intro riff, hammer-ons are used to articulate rapid melodic lines with fluidity and speed. This technique involves striking a note and then “hammering” a higher note on the same string using a second finger, without picking again. Mastering hammer-ons improves your legato technique, builds finger strength, and enables you to play smoother, faster runs. In this lesson, we’ll show you how Angus uses hammer-ons to add urgency and flow to his rapid licks.

Chromaticism

One of the elements that gives “Beating Around the Bush” its edgy, tense character is chromaticism—the use of half-step note movements to create momentum and dissonance. Angus incorporates chromatic phrases throughout the riff and solos to add color and aggression to his playing. Learning how to use chromatic notes will help you add complexity to your solos, break out of scale-based patterns, and introduce more advanced musical ideas into your playing.

Double Stops

Angus Young regularly uses double stops in this track to add thickness and intensity to his riffs and solos. Double stops involve playing two notes at once, and they’re essential for achieving that gritty, blues-rock sound. In this lesson, we’ll show you how to play them cleanly, with proper muting, to add punch and harmonic richness to your phrasing. Developing this technique also strengthens your finger coordination and enhances your rhythm and lead integration.

Vibrato

What sets Angus Young apart from many rock guitarists is his aggressive, vocal-like vibrato. In “Beating Around the Bush,” vibrato is used to add expression and intensity to held notes, especially in the solo sections. Vibrato involves rapidly and repeatedly bending a note slightly up and down to give it a singing quality. Our lesson demonstrates how to apply vibrato effectively, helping you develop control, sustain, and dynamic expression in your lead playing.

Why Learn “Beating Around the Bush”?

“Beating Around the Bush” is one of the most technically challenging songs in the AC/DC catalog, making it the perfect study for guitarists who want to develop speed, articulation, and expressive technique. It combines fast-paced riffing with melodic leads that demand precision and control, all wrapped in that unmistakable Angus Young attitude.

With LickLibrary’s step-by-step lesson, you’ll learn how to tackle each section with confidence—from the infamous intro to the solo brimming with bends, hammer-ons, and blues licks. We provide on-screen tab, technique demonstrations, and expert guidance to help you get it right, note for note.

Whether you're aiming to improve your blues-rock vocabulary, build better fretboard control, or simply play one of the most exciting AC/DC songs out there, this lesson gives you everything you need to take your playing to the next level.

About the Guitarists: Angus and Malcolm Young

Angus and Malcolm Young are the quintessential guitar duo in rock history. While Malcolm laid down the band’s rock-solid rhythmic foundation, Angus brought the fire with explosive solos and energetic stage presence. On “Beating Around the Bush,” Angus delivers one of his most aggressive and expressive guitar performances to date. The intro riff alone showcases his mastery of phrasing, timing, and control, and the solo is a whirlwind of raw blues power and technical finesse. Learning this song gives insight into Angus’s unique blend of blues and rock vocabulary, and how he injects attitude into every phrase he plays.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Hammer-Ons
• Chromaticism
• Double Stops
• Vibrato

Crank up your amp and dig into the explosive energy of “Beating Around the Bush” with our in-depth LickLibrary guitar lesson. Learn the riffs, master the phrasing, and capture the attitude of Angus Young’s high-voltage guitar work—note for note.