Guitar & Bass Tabs

Accept

lessons available

Learn Accept's Guitar & Bass Style

Discover how Accept developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.

Founded in Hamburg in 1976, Accept emerged from the German metal underground with a mission to fuse heavy riffs, melodic hooks, and relentless energy. Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes formed the backbone of the band, and their early lineup settled around Hoffmann's steely riffs and the unmistakable voice of Udo Dirkschneider. The group released its self-titled debut in 1979, laying down a blueprint for what would become speed metal and helping bring European metal into the global spotlight.

With 1982's Restless and Wild and the mammoth Balls to the Wall (1983), Accept became one of metal's most influential acts. Their aggressive, fast-paced riffing, paired with memorable melodies and twin-guitar harmonies, inspired a wave of thrash and power metal bands around the world. Over four decades they weathered lineup changes and epic tours, continuing to release new material and keep the flame alive for fans of hard-hitting rock.

🎸 Want to know what gear Accept used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!

Watch the Lesson

Love Child

Starlight

Breaker

Run If You Can

Son Of A Bitch

Burning

Feelings

Midnight Highway

Fast As A Shark

#10

Restless And Wild

#11

Ahead Of The Pack

#12

Shake Your Heads

#13

Flash Rockin' Man

#14

Don't Go Stealing My Soul Away

#15

London Leatherboys

#16

Balls To The Wall

#17

Losing More Than You've Ever Had

#18

Love Child

#19

Turn Me On

#20

Losers And Winners

#21

Guardian Of The Night

#22

Metal Heart

#23

Midnight Mover

#24

Too High To Get It Right

#25

Up To The Limit

#26

Wrong Is Right

#27

Screaming For A Love-Bite

#28

Dogs On Leads

#29

Living For Tonight

#30

Bound To Fail

#31

T.V. War

#32

Monsterman

#33

Another Second To Be

#34

Walking In The Shadow

#35

Russian Roulette

#36

Aiming High

#37

Stand Tight

#38

Prisoner

#39

Love Sensation

#40

Hellhammer

#41

Samson And Delilah

Deep Dive

Playing Style

Accept's signature sound centers on precise, high-energy riffing and twin guitar harmonies. Hoffmann's melodic yet punishing lines weave with the rhythm section, while Baltes' tight bass underpinning locks in tempo. Common techniques across their catalog include power chords, palm-muted chugs, fast alternate picking, galloping rhythms, and memorable melodic hooks built on minor pentatonic scales. The result is a relentless but musical combination of speed and groove that makes even the fastest passages feel controlled and expressive.

🎸 Gear & Equipment

Iconic gear associated with Accept centers on punchy, high-gain tones: humbucker-equipped guitars (often in the Gibson Les Paul style) run through robust Marshall-style amps for that tight, cutting edge. On stage and in the studio, their rigs emphasized reliable heads and cabinets, with delay/reverb effects to flesh out solos and harmonized lines. While gear has evolved over the years, the core appetite for a dense, mid-focused tone that slices through a pounding rhythm section remains a hallmark of their sound.

Why Learn Accept Songs?

Learning Accept tunes builds a rock-solid foundation in riffing, rhythm, and lead phrasing. Students develop precise picking technique, clean tremolo/alternate picking, and dynamic control of palm-muted chugs and power-chord progressions. The catalog spans mid-level to advanced material, offering high-speed shredding, galloping rhythms, and memorable melodies that reinforce timing, phrasing, and musicality—ideal practice for players chasing classic metal aggression and tight, professional guitar work.

Did You Know?

1Fast As A Shark, from Restless and Wild, is widely cited as one of the first speed metal tracks and helped shape thrash metal's direction.
2Wolf Hoffmann is renowned for his precise, melodic guitar work and remains one of metal's most enduring guitar icons.
3Mark Tornillo joined Accept in 2009, ushering in a new era with Blood of the Nations (2010) and continuing with the band for years to come.
4Accept has become a mainstay at major metal festivals worldwide, keeping a loyal fanbase across decades.

41 Accept lesson(s) available — Start learning today!

Learn to Play Accept Guitar

Explore Accept guitar and bass lessons with a focus on riffs, rhythm parts, classic rock techniques, and practice-friendly video lessons.

Start Here

Begin with the most recognizable riffs and rhythm parts before moving into harder songs.

Techniques

Practice power chords, timing, picking control, bends, vibrato, and classic rock phrasing.

Next Step

Use the lessons below to build a practice path from easier songs to more advanced parts.

Similar Artists to Accept

If you're learning Accept on guitar or bass, these related artists use similar riffs, tunings, playing styles, and classic rock techniques.

AAC/DC MMetallica VVan Halen LLed Zeppelin BBlack Sabbath

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