The TOP 20 HARDEST ROCK SONGS to Play on Guitar (according to WatchMojo) 

I think it’s time you put together a top 10 hardest songs to play. Ones that you yourself find difficult or had a very hard time mastering!

As a MASSIVE Rush fan I'm actually really glad La Villa Strangiato is on the list because it is my personal favorite Rush song and more people should know about it because it kicks ass.

La Villa Strangiato was Rush's stated attempt to compose the most complicated thing they could and still play it live. This during a time when their music was at it's most complicated too. They probably could have come up with even harder stuff; but were committed to being able to play anything they recorded live.

I'm fairly certain that Eddie always maintained that Eruption wasn't hard and encouraged people to learn it as an intro to tapping.

Sultans of Swing is difficult to note for note but it's easy to wing it. The way Mark lays out his lines and varies his approach every time he runs through each section of the song really lends to just going dealers choice the whole song through.

La Villa definitely deserves the spot. Lifeson does this really weird flamenco influenced guitar solo that lasts for like 2 minutes, on top of all the weird time signatures. Geddy even confirms in an interview that it's the hardest song in their discography to perform in its entirety.

I was surprised but glad La Villa Strangiato made the list. I think its way harder than YYZ, the first solo itself is just out of this world. One of my favorite Rush songs

FraKctured by King Crimson is definitely the hardest song to play. The combination of New Standard Tuning, unusual fingerings, whole tone scales and brutal speed is just death.

In my mind Bleed definitely belongs on the list not just because of its impact, but also it bloody (pun intended) difficult to play. While in 4/4 the rhythm of the guitar bounces and the accents don't align making it very difficult to find the 1. Unlike other Meshuggah songs Bleed has a high tempo, which makes keeping time even harder. Also considering the song is 7 minutes long, the riff not aligning with the 4/4 makes very difficult to remember where you are in the song, that means you have to focus the whole time on two things 1) not falling into 4/4 and 2) where exactly you are in the song. Again considering the song is 7 minutes is very fast, does not have much breaks for the guitar it is physically straining for you picking hand while also keeping you on the edge mentally the whole time. I might be relatively easy to the initial riff one time, playing the whole song correctly is truly tough and next to impossible if you don't have a superb Drummer

Trust me my guy.. Give La Villa Strangiato a listen. But listen to the studio version, not the music video version. Both are good, but I prefer the studio one. Good stuff as always Tyler!

It hurts my soul how much Mr. Govan is underappreciated. He is without question the best guitar player on the entire planet. He can do literally any genre as good as anyone else.

You need to check out "La Villa Strangiato" by Rush, particularly the "Exit Stage Left" version. It's absolutely bonkers. Definitely much more technically demanding than YYZ, as much as I love that song.

I believe Mojo defines rock loosely as guitar-based music with a drum & bass rhythm section. That works for me.

I can tell you that, for me, La Villa Strangiato is tougher to play than YYZ. Plus Alex’s solo (the first one, in 7) is one of the most amazing pieces of musical expression ever written.

Hold up, he's never heard of La Villa Strangiato? It's a fantastic song, and legend has it it took them a month to record it all in one take. It along with other songs on Hemispheres made them not want to make quite as difficult songs anymore since they were really difficult to play live and in general. Learning La Villa Strangiato and other Rush songs really made me a much better bassist.

Sultans of swing - YES due to nuance. It’s not the notes, it’s how they are played. 😊

I am so happy that you gave Vinnie Moore a shout-out. He’s been one of my favorites for decades! I’ve worn out copies of Time Odyssey on several different formats through the years.

no audio my guy

Sultans absolutely belongs on the list. I have been playing for decades and started butchering this song pretty much from the start. Granted, the type of playing I generally gravitate to is more the stylings of EVH, Nuno and Satriani. But I constantly return to this tune, having never truly mastered the phrasing note for note. It is like golf. Easy to start but a lifetime to master

Glad to see more people give Vinnie Moore the respect he deserves, very underrated player.

Glad I'm not the only one with singular video deafitus, but honestly these are some of my favorite videos you do

Tyler, please look at la villa Strangiato. It’s more than the intro you had on this vid. Intricate guitar playing, dynamic shift, time changes, effects use, and pure genius at work.

Absolutely love these videos. It's always great to hear from someone who know what they're talking about. I love that your critiques are never done in a mean way as well.

Always love your reactions to mojo lists! And thank you for putting Super System together. I don’t even bother trying to teach guitar anymore- I just point new players to your app!

I love how suddenly a bunch of youtubers give Guthrie govan the respect he deserves. Everyone should know he is the one above all

Can't believe they didn't include (insert name here) from the album (insert name here) by (insert name here)! It's one of the all time legendary guitar songs!

Minds Eye my favorite VM song had his vhs tape back in the day. Mr born in 89. Love this and your channel

So happy that you mentioned Vinnie Moore's Meltdown, I was addicted to it on my 16s

Love these. Would love to see a video where you and your community create a list most of us can agree on lol

Sultans of Swing definitely deserves to be on the list. I had to completely change the way I play guitar to play that song correctly.

Besides La Villa Strangiato as a Rush fan being one of the most difficult guitar parts to practice, might I also mention both Fracture & it's updated version FraKctured by King Crimson? Robert Fripp ain't no pushover, he's truly at the limit of his discipline right there, it's hard on the fretting hands and dealing with a new standard tuning on the updated one especially is crazy!

In in love with that Ibanez

Never heard La Villa Strangiato?!?!?!!? I wouldn't consider it the hardest Rush song- probably either YYZ or Freewill are harder. In any case, the Hemispheres album is probably Rush's height of their story-telling prog rock era. Wish Cult of Personality was on the list. Extremely underrated song.

Omg your rock tone is kicking ass!!!! 🤘🎸🤘

Tyler has always been of my favorites fue to his healthy balance of technique, knowledge, and comedy without being over the top. Now, the fact that he name-dropped Guthrie solidified him as my favorite. Guthrie is incredible and still doesnt get the notoriety he deserves outside of the guitar community. Such an incredible musician.

Thank you so much for mentioning Guthrie!!! He definitely would have been a deserved number 1 spot! Best wishes from Berlin

Cult of Personality by Living Color is a tough one all the way through. That solo is just so wild and almost out of time.

I did not think you would say Guthrie. That makes me feel so much better. I’m learning his stuff and it I frustratingly hard. Love your videos.

Brother thank you for acknowledging Mike Dawes and Andy McKee in this video! I’ve been playing for 20 years on (and mostly) off, but just had a huge calling to come back into playing, and have been watching a lot of your videos. Kudos to you for all your content as you are honestly my most watched guitar related channel. Thank you for all of time and effort, but to get back to Mike Dawes (in my opinion arguably the best acoustic guitarist alive today (double parentheses to apologize for the slightly morbid connotation of saying “alive today” rather than all time; but I haven’t been alive for all time…),) the guy of incredible. Andy McKee is also a huge influence of mine that I learned about 15+ years ago around the dawn of my internet exposure (around the time of limewire) where I first saw hit Rat Records video filmed in high grain with wooden walls playing Drifting. Then I heard Art of Motion and both wanted to put down my guitar forever and pick it back up and play ‘till I was able to play that song… still can’t play it but every so often I play those grainy Rat Record videos for a dose of serotonin. Absolutely amazing! Thank you again and keep bringing the amazing content!!

Your watchmojo series is always fun to watch!

YOUR HEART IS PUMPIN’ ❤

Life force , daydream the entire minds eye album is just pure guitar heaven, vinnie Moore has been one of my biggest idols

Love your vids lots of love from nepal❤❤

spot on insert there on Vinne Moore...thank you very much Tyler

The live version of sultans of swing definitely would deserve a spot on that list, alchemy 1983 is probably one of the greatest live performances ever

Not only do we learn the top 20 hardest songs to play, we relearn Joe satriani's name

Love the I’m the one pick of yours. Always thought that has the best licks of any VH song

I'm enjoying these real guitarist vs watch mojo videos. I might have an idea for you for a video, but it would require a visit to Japan. I'm in Tokyo these days and I like to visit the thrift stores like Hard-off. Recently, I got a casio EG-5, a squier strat (CY 2000 year build), and a Yamaha SLG110S all for under $600. That made me think, what is the best guitar you can get from a thrift store in Japan? (I'm not sure how the thrift stores are where you are, but maybe it is applicable where you are). Keep up the great work. Your videos got me back into regular guitar practice.

It's incredible that there were so little rock songs in a list of rock songs

Just for clarity, Sultans of Swing belongs on here!! Marks playing is some of the most emotive I've heard. This and Brothers in Arms are just beautiful, but Sultans is hard!

You are one of about 5 people on earth who can make me laugh (as opposed to snicker, chortle smile etc) . Love the watchmojo vids

I was surprised to see wings of the storm. Great song! One song I thought might be on it was: love is on the way, Saigon kick.

Wings Of The Storm is great. Slip Of The Tongue is an absolute beast of Vai goodness. Special mention to Sailing Ships the album closer. What a goddamn powerhouse of a song. Epic playing by Vai... Go check it out.

La Villa is the song that you played for someone that thought YYZ was good but hadn't heard much Rush.

I have been waiting for this

It's so nice to know someone in the uni. Verse . Is also fascina ted with geetars

Dire Straits is my favorite band and has been for a long time and will continue to be for a long time. I think Sultans is difficult but the one I have most trouble playing is single handed sailor.

No audio?

I'm glad u mention Vinnie Moore, love his Melodic Neoclasical guitar instrumental

Glad to see so many people speaking up on La Villa Strangiato, which is a beast. I also thought he glossed over The Noonward Race. I could many guitarists playing a basic version of Sultans of Swing, but good luck getting anything close to the feel of the original.

I honestly agree with every single word I heard Tyler say here.

Sounds so good only elite guitar players would be able to hear it.

i have been watching your channel for a few days now and i decided to subscribe. i love your content. but i wonder. what would the greatest guitarists historically sound like if they had the most modern technologies and equipment. just a thought.

I love your in-depth explanation of agreement with Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover”. Yep

Hangar 18 absolutely belongs on this list, right near the top. Face melting solos from start to finish. ALSO Guthrie was my initial assumption for #1, so have to agree with you there.

Couldnt agree more how can you miss Gutherie one of the most versatile, insanely good at any genre and mimicing any style while also having a his own unique sound

La Villa Strangiato’s guitar and drums are magic.

We used to open the night with Flyin'.... I remember having to transpose the acoustic, tuned to C to Std tuning...was a finger bender...lol. Killer toon live...no singer, house gets sound together, does lead vocals next song...the night kicks ass from there. Rock on...

I learned both YYZ and La Villa Strangiato (la vee-ah stran-jiato). The latter was much harder, for me that is. Vinnnie Moore's NNY is also great, perpetuating the theme of tune titles of three letters.

Sultans of Swing…….💯 YES!! Sure people can play the notes, but the sound of that song is more than just notes. Knopfler makes the guitar sing on that one!

Hey Tyler, been watching your channel for a while now. Rarely miss your content. I'd love, love, love to see you you learn and play " La Villa Strangiato". I was surprised you weren't familiar with it. Pre-Motion Pictures Rush rocks! 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

Let’s go! I’ve been waiting for this vid

I think its time you put together a top 10 of Guthrie Govan licks and learn them!

Hey man there's no audio lol

Hey Tyler, Been a fan for a good while now and I tried your Guitar Super System. As someone who started a year ago I have to say that the app is difficult to follow. It’s broken into parts but I feel like it’s missing the very bare essentials and if they are there then they’re not easy to find. There are good things, don’t get me wrong, but I feel like the app is more for the average guitar player as opposed to a beginner.

Takes deep breath..... first of all, I can't believe you've never heard LA Villa!! Wow... give it a listen sometime.. I think you'll change your mind... great vid as always!!

LMAO that "Nerd Alert" part! 😆

Oh boy here we go again and I just started watching it and there's no audio

Glad they but Rush’s La Villa. Please listen to it, the time signatures makes this song special. Love your work, 😊

Hey man. I really enjoyed this video. I was genuinely surprised that you'd never heard La Villa Strangiato, actually. If I may, I suggest you find yourself a copy of Rush's "Exit Stage Left" album and listen to the LVS from that performance. Close your eyes, and just let it happen. Don't even think about if it's the "hardest to play or not." Just let it sink in.

Why all the no audio comments? I can hear it fine

I believe the Rush song took three weeks to record in Wales, and Rush decided to stop playing long prog songs because of it

Agree on Meltdown, good stuff. Got lil Pantera vibes during intro.

how did you not know la villa strangiato!!!! no way! saw this live a little while back. was life changing.

Sultans of Swing definitely belongs to this list. But I would say the hardest Dire Straits Riff is the outro of Lady Writer...

Tyler, as the great poet Lemmy once said. “It’s all rock n’ roll”

My favorite solo from Petrucci is in When the water Breaks from Liquid Tension Experiment. His phrasing is otherwordly. I'd love to see you learn that one!

Great callout for Vinnie Moore and Meltdown. My choice for Vinnie would be "Pieces of a Picture" but it is a bit more rock-fusion. Love that song.

There is no volume

This must be so good that only a select few may hear it

There are many more, but today I recommend main solo and outro solo from Snake Charmer's "Worlds Apart" (you can find it on RU-vid, as well).

Bruh I remember struggling with cliffs of dover on guitar hero on expert for a WHILE. Sheeeeeesh brought back some memories from 10 years ago. And never finished through the fire and flames on expert so.

OMG! I've never heard of Guthrie Goven (sounds like a dirty folk singer) so I just checked out "Fives" on your suggestion. My mind is blown, all my favourite prog/fusion sounds in one song, and definitely harder than most things on this list. I know what I'll be listening to for the rest of the day.

I definitely agree that “I’m the one” by Van Halen should’ve been on this, or maybe any other VH song that’s not eruption😂

I had not heard Guthrie's "orange guitar song" so checked it out immediately after watching this video. Reminded me of Richie Kotzen's "Chype Fluxx" on "Guitars That Rule The World" put out by Guitar World magazine in like the mid-ish 90s. Def check that song out. There's a really great song by Paul Gilbert on that compilation as well in kind of maybe an unexpected style from the great Paul.

any king crimson from 80-90, frame by frame, Larks' Tongues in Aspic - many parts.

BTW YYZ by Rush is named after the airport code for Toronto International... The morse code pattern for Y Y Z is the opening rhythm in that great Rush tune... A hard ROCK song to play for sure

It still amazes me that Master of Puppets and Eruption are so low, plus I’m especially shocked that there was no mention of any songs from Polyphia or Buckethead

LOVE VINNIE MOORE!!! Awesome that you included him!

I liked this only for the fact that you played I'm the one on that guitar. That was badass!! Oh and the Vinnie Moore shoutout, did not know someone your age even knew who he was.