Guitar & Bass Tabs
Motorhead
Learn Motorhead's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Motorhead developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Motörhead formed in 1975 in London when Lemmy Kilmister left Hawkwind to chase a raw, no-nonsense brand of rock. The early lineup—Lemmy on bass and vocals, guitarist Larry Wallis (soon replaced by Fast Eddie Clarke) and drummer Lucas Fox (later Philthy Animal Taylor)—forged a lean power-trio that could throttle a room with brutal, concise riffs. They fused the speed and aggression of punk with the heaviness of metal, creating a blueprint that would shape thrash and speed metal for decades. Their breakthrough came with the 1979 album Overkill and the 1980 anthem Ace of Spades, tracks that defined a ruthless, high-energy sound and propelled them to international fame.
Over four decades, Motörhead toured relentlessly, releasing a string of albums at high velocity and maintaining a gritty, unpolished aesthetic that resonated with both metalheads and punk fans. Their influence extends across rock and metal, with bands like Metallica, Slayer, and countless others citing Motörhead as a major inspiration. Lemmy remained the band’s constant frontman until his death in 2015, and the group’s legacy—built on fast tempos, iconic riffs, and the Snaggletooth mascot—continues to inspire new generations of players who chase that distinctive Motörhead energy.
🎸 Want to know what gear Motorhead used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Fast And Loose
Motorhead
Ace Of Spades
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Born To Lose
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Overkill
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Stay Clean
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Capricorn
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No Class
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Louie Louie
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Lawman
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Poison
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Stone Dead Forever
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Bomber
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We Are The Road Crew
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Jailbait
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Dance
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The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
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The Hammer
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Iron Fist
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Heart Of Stone
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America
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Back At The Funny Farm
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Rock It
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I Got Mine
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Mean Machine
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Doctor Rock
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Orgasmatron
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Rock N Roll
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All For You
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The One To Sing The Blues
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No Voices In The Sky
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Love Me Forever
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Angel City
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Ramones
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Cat Scratch Fever
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Hellraiser
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Too Good To Be True
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On Your Feet Or On Your Knees
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Death Or Glory
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Born To Raise Hell
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Bad Woman
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Playing Style
Motörhead’s playing style is built on tight, high-energy grooves: simple, down-picked power-chord riffs, fierce palm-muting, and relentless tempos that punch through the mix. Lemmy’s bass often mirrors the guitar’s riff with a thunderous, driving foundation, emphasizing rhythm and groove as much as melody. The guitarists—most notably Fast Eddie Clarke in the classic era and later Phil Campbell—delivered dirty, crunchy riffs and occasional snappy leads, all served with a no-nonsense attack. The hallmark is feel over flashy technique: a decisive, pounding rhythm section that demands precision, stamina, and tasteful use of dynamics to maximize impact.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic gear associated with Motörhead includes Lemmy Kilmister’s Fender Precision Bass (often with flatwound strings) driving a wall of Marshall amps for a raw, saturated bottom end. The guitar army in Motörhead’s heyday leaned on Gibson Les Paul Standards and SGs (as played by Eddie Clarke and successors) through powerful Marshall heads and 4x12 cabinets to unleash the band’s signature crunch. Later lineups under Phil Campbell continued this tradition with a mix of Gibson and ESP-era guitars, always cranked through high-wattage amps to preserve that aggressive, stadium-ready tone.
Why Learn Motorhead Songs?
Learning Motörhead tunes is a surefire way to build core rock guitar skills. The riffs teach you tight rhythm, palm-muted chug, and precise down-picking — essential for any heavy rock player. They’re typically mid-range in difficulty, approachable for solid intermediate players, yet they demand clean tone and clean timing to sound right at speed. Playing these tracks strengthens groove, stamina, and dynamics, while showing how a few powerful riffs can carry a whole song. In short, Motörhead songs build fundamental rock rhythm chops, tone control, and the confidence to comp with power.
Did You Know?
- 1Motörhead's mascot Snaggletooth (also called War-Pig) was created by Joe Petagno and appears on many album covers.
- 2Lemmy Kilmister’s bass tone became a blueprint for relentless, down-picked rock rhythms across metal and hard rock.
- 3Ace of Spades is one of the most iconic riffs in rock history and a rite of passage for players.
- 4Motörhead bridged punk energy with metal heaviness, influencing generations of players and helping spawn speed metal and thrash.
41 Motorhead lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Motorhead Guitar
Explore Motorhead 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.
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