Back in Black on a Black Fat Strat: An RSL Grade 5 Rock Guitar Classic
Back in Black on a black Fat Strat seemed like the perfect choice with Halloween coming up. My recent videos have mostly featured my students, so this one is me for a change, playing the AC/DC intro and throwing in some licks. The volume is kept to a minimum so as not to disturb the neighbours, but hopefully you can still hear the groove.
Back in Black RSL Grade 5: why it’s such a good piece to learn
I play this riff from the RSL Grade 5 Classics book, and it’s always a fun one. Back in Black is the title
track of AC/DC’s 1980 album, and the riff is one of the best known in rock. It’s also a great piece for
teaching, because almost everything that makes a rock guitarist sound good is in it: tight timing,
controlled muting, confident chord changes and a bit of attitude.
The solo section is left open for improvisation, so you get to throw in some licks of your own rather
than just reading what’s on the page. That’s a good step for a Grade 5 player, because it asks you to
start thinking like a rock guitarist rather than just following the dots.
What RSL Grade 5 guitar asks of you
By Grade 5, RSL (Rockschool) exams expect a solid all-round player. Alongside the performance
pieces, students prepare technical work such as scales and arpeggios, along with musicianship tasks
like ear tests and questions about the music they’ve played. A piece like Back in Black is a good test
of feel as much as technique, because the examiner is listening for how well you lock into the
groove, not just whether the notes are right.
If you can create a stunning groove with just a metronome or a drum machine behind you, you
know you’re on the right track, whether the aim is to make an audience feel something or to get
high marks from the examiner. It’s another song to tick off the list on your way to mastering rock
guitar.
Tips for playing Back in Black on a Black Fat Strat (or any guitar)
Start slowly with a metronome and make sure every chord lands exactly on the beat. Back in Black
is a riff where the spaces matter as much as the notes, so mute the strings with your fretting hand
to make the silences genuinely silent. Once it feels comfortable, swap the metronome for a drum
machine and bring the tempo up gradually. Recording yourself and listening back is one of the
quickest ways to hear whether you’re rushing or dragging.
In the improvised section, don’t feel you need to play lots of notes. A few well-placed licks that sit
in the groove will sound much better than a flurry of notes that loses the time. A Fat Strat’s
humbucker in the bridge position gives you plenty of crunch for this, even at low volume, but the
same approach works on whatever guitar you have.
How I plan each student’s lessons
What I enjoy most about teaching is nurturing others to become the best versions of themselves
musically, and I get a real buzz out of that. Every week I prep and customise each student’s lesson.
That means encouraging them, challenging them, drilling the exercises they need, rewarding them,
and including music games so the lessons stay engaging.
Ultimately, the aim is to keep students motivated to keep their practice going between lessons.
With repetition, muscle memory builds, and that’s what makes playing guitar easier and more
enjoyable. Pieces like Back in Black are a great way to keep that motivation going, because they’re
songs people genuinely want to play.
Rock guitar lessons in Teddington and online
If you or your child would like to learn rock guitar, prepare for RSL grade exams, or simply get
better at playing the songs you love, I offer guitar lessons in Teddington as well as online lessons.
Every lesson is planned around the student, so whether you’re a beginner or working towards
Grade 5 and beyond, we’ll work on what you need. Get in touch through the contact page to book
a lesson.
