Shoot To Thrill – AC/DC

Take your guitar playing to the next level with Shoot To Thrill by AC/DC, one of the band’s most iconic rock tracks, featured on their groundbreaking 1980 album Back in Black. At Licklibrary.com, our in-depth guitar lesson breaks down this hard-rock anthem note for note, enabling you to capture every nuance of the original performance. Whether you’re looking to improve your timing, rhythm, or expression, this lesson provides a wealth of essential rock guitar techniques that every player should master. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and Its Players

Shoot To Thrill showcases the trademark energy and grit of the Young brothers, Angus and Malcolm Young, who defined AC/DC’s legendary two-guitar sound. Angus, the band’s lead guitarist, is renowned for his explosive solos, blues-based phrasing, and electrifying stage presence. Malcolm, the rhythm guitarist, was the backbone of the band’s sound, delivering rock-solid grooves with punchy power chords and tight syncopation. Together, their guitar interplay on this track is a masterclass in classic hard rock riffing and lead work.

Angus Young’s influence on rock and metal guitarists is monumental. His style combines the rawness of blues with the aggression of hard rock, making his licks and solos essential learning material for any aspiring guitarist. This lesson will help you internalise the same dynamic techniques that made Angus a guitar legend.

What You'll Learn in This Lesson

Power Chords and Palm Muting

The song opens with a driving riff built on aggressive power chords that demand precision and timing. These chords form the harmonic backbone of the track, and learning them will help you develop the clarity and punch essential for rock rhythm guitar.

Alongside the power chords, palm muting is used to add groove and articulation. By muting the strings slightly with your picking hand, you gain control over dynamics and tone, enhancing your overall rhythm playing.

String Bending and Bluesy Phrasing

Angus’s lead work features expressive string bending, a technique that adds vocal-like quality to your solos. Bending to pitch accurately is a vital skill, and this lesson offers multiple opportunities to work on your control and ear training.

You’ll also encounter bluesy bends, an expressive twist on regular bends that emphasises feel over flash. Mastering this style helps you connect emotionally with your solos, a hallmark of Angus’s approach.

Alternate Picking

Tight, aggressive rhythms in Shoot To Thrill also rely on efficient alternate picking. This technique ensures speed and accuracy, especially in faster passages. The lesson breaks down how to build up your picking hand stamina while maintaining clarity in your notes.

Slides and Pull-Offs

To add fluidity and movement, the solos and fills in this track include frequent slides and pull-offs. These techniques make your playing sound more connected and smooth, crucial for creating seamless lead lines.

Practicing pull-offs also strengthens your fretting hand and improves legato phrasing, which can greatly enhance your soloing vocabulary across various styles.

Vibrato and Double-Stops

Angus Young’s signature vibrato is another technique explored in the lesson. Vibrato breathes life into your notes, making them more expressive and giving your playing that professional polish.

The song also uses double-stops, a classic rock and blues technique where two notes are played simultaneously. These are used for both rhythm texture and melodic fills, giving you the chance to build control and coordination across two strings.

Unison Bends

One of the more dramatic moments in the lead sections involves unison bends, where two strings are bent to the same pitch. This creates a soaring, vocal-like effect that's a staple in classic rock soloing.

Benefits of Learning This Song

• Build a solid rock rhythm foundation with power chords and palm muting.
• Enhance your soloing skills through bending, vibrato, and expressive phrasing.
• Improve timing and coordination with alternate picking and pull-offs.
• Develop tone and feel by mimicking the dynamics and articulation of Angus Young.

Not only will you come away with a deeper understanding of this AC/DC classic, but you'll also gain versatile skills that translate into countless other rock and blues tunes.

Guitar Techniques Covered in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Slides
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Double-Stops
• Unison Bends
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Pull-Offs