Highway To Hell Chords & Guitar Lesson Just Like The Record

True story:

Years ago, I used to teach one-to-one guitar lessons. I had this great student who came excited to play each week, and he put in the work. One day, he missed his lesson, and I didn’t hear from him.

I left him a few messages but I never heard anything back…

Until one day, he sent me a text and said, “Hey, can I come back in for lessons?” I said, “Sure” and set up a time.

When he came back in, he told me the reason he was gone was because he was driving down the highway, fell asleep at the wheel, and toppled off the freeway into a ditch. He ended up in the hospital but thankfully lived.

When we opened up his lesson book the last song we were playing was, “Highway to Hell”. And he said, “Yeah man, it was like I was on a highway to hell.”

Anyway, this kind of spooked me out a bit. So I haven’t taught how to play the song since.

But below, I’m going to give it another try. So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “Highway To Hell” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Highway To Hell?

"Highway to Hell" was written by the 3 core members of AC/DC. Lead guitarist Angus Young, rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, and lead singer Bon Scott. The song is one of their biggest hits and was the title track of their 1979 album Highway to Hell. It was one of the last tracks written with Bon Scott before he passed away in 1980.

Lead singer Bon Scott said the song was inspired by the band's experiences on the road. The phrase "highway to hell" was meant to be a metaphor for the chaotic lifestyle the band had embraced. The song's main riff came from Malcolm, who would frequently develop guitar ideas and then bring them in to the rest of the band. It’s become on of the most recognizable rock riffs ever.

"Highway to Hell" was recorded at Roundhouse Studios in London with producer Mutt Lange at the helm. Lange played a significant role in capturing the bands raw energy and sound. The record Highway to Hell was a breakthrough album for AC/DC. It marked the point where they transitioned from being a popular Australian band to a globally recognized force in rock music.

“Highway to Hell” hit No. 1 on the Australian charts, and No. 47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. This was a huge breakthrough for the band at the time. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it No. 255 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." It’s considered one of the most iconic rock songs of all time.

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Highway To Hell?

The tuning for "Highway To Hell" as recorded by AC/DC is standard tuning. Angus and Malcolm kept things simple. Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch) 

Now that you know the “Highway To Hell” tuning, let’s next talk about the…

Highway To Hell Chords

If you want to play “Highway To Hell” on guitar, you’ll need to know 5 main chords, they are A5, D/F#, G5, E, and D. Let’s take a look at a few ways these chords can be played on the fretboard.

A5 is a very common rock guitar chord played with just the index finger on the fretting hand like so:

D/F# I would generally play with my fretting hand thumb on the 6th string. However, Angus often plays this chord with his middle finger on the 6th string. (See video above for demonstration.)

G5 is a simple open G power chord played like this:

E is played using all 6 strings like so:

Finally, D is played from the 4th string down like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

Is Highway To Hell hard to play on guitar?

There are only a couple of parts to the song and really only 4 root chords. However, nailing all the rhythms and solos is going to take a solid intermediate to advanced level rock guitarist to play. And if you want to do all that plus throw in the schoolboy shorts, duckwalking, and headbanging. Then this is going to require a super guitar hero mode.

What key is Highway To Hell in?

“Highway To Hell” as recorded by AC/DC is in the key of A major. However, it borrows from a bluesy and mixolydian style tonality.

Let’s take a look at how the chords relate in the key of A major: 

A5 (Power Chord)

Notes: A - E

This is a root (I) power chord in A major. It does not have a third which means it's neither major nor minor. It's a strong, open-sounding chord used a lot in rock music.

D/F# (D major with F# in the bass)

Notes: F# - A - D

This is a IV chord (D major) in the key of A major, but with an F# in the bass.

The F# (which is the 3rd of D major) in the bass creates a smoother transition between chords, especially leading to E major (V).

G5 (Power Chord)

Notes: G - D

This chord is a bit outside of A major. G natural is not in the key of A major (since A major has G#).

This was what I was referring to above about borrowing from other scales. This here is an example of A Mixolydian (which has G natural instead of G#). This gives the progression more of a "bluesier" sound.

E major (V chord)

Notes: E - G# - B

This is the dominant (V) chord in A major and creates a strong tension leading back to A major (I). Like in the verse to the chorus of “Highway to Hell”.

D major (IV chord)

Notes: D - F# - A

The IV chord in A major.

This chord presents a great alternative change away from the I chord and then back like I - IV - I. This appears in the chorus of “Highway to Hell”. 

So that’s the theory, but remember, all of that doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

Highway To Hell Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for “Highway To Hell” is an epic driving 8th-note rock feel. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a driving, steady rhythm like this: 

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure, while the "&" represents the offbeats that add energy and momentum.

When counted out loud, it sounds like: 

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and."

This gives the tune a strong and consistent forward motion. A great option is to strum this rhythm using all downstrums like this:  

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

D d d d d d d d 

Here’s an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “Highway to Hell”:

Conclusion

There ya have it! That’s an inside look into the iconic guitar riffs and styles of “Highway to Hell”. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan