Learn how to bring the raw, edgy sound of punk rock guitar to your rhythm technique
In this beginner-friendly Gibson App video lesson, Irene Ketikidi will help you explore how the foundational style of Chuck Berry evolved into the intense, confrontational guitar sound of the Sex Pistols. By the end, you’ll understand exactly how to bring out that bold, punk rock attitude in your own guitar playing using powerchords and palm muting. Grab your own SG™ Standard—or Classic White Les Paul Custom—and join in!
When you first start playing guitar, punk rock is a fantastic style to dive into because it emphasizes simplicity, passion, and raw energy. You might be surprised to learn that punk rock guitarists, like the legendary Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols, actually took inspiration from classic rock ’n’ roll figures, especially Chuck Berry. Ketikidi also namechecks the New York Dolls and Stray Cats as a source of inspiration for hearing how this style of rhythm guitar can be traced.
Steve Jones told MusicRadar, “I’m a rock ’n’ roll fan. I love the 50s: Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry… My upbringing on guitar, all that music was in my head growing up. The Faces, Bowie with Mick Ronson, Mott The Hoople—my influences were those, so anything that comes out of [Never Mind The] Bollocks is owed to those bands. But I couldn’t play that good, so it came out the way it came out.”
What’s the connection between Chuck Berry and punk rock?
Chuck Berry set the stage for energetic guitar playing with straightforward riffs that stick in your memory. His style was built around catchy, easy-to-follow melodies using pentatonic scales and techniques like double stops, bending two strings at once. Berry’s use of basic powerchords—chords stripped down to their most essential notes—helped create music that was both rhythmic and exciting, instantly grabbing listeners’ attention.
Fast-forward to the 1970s and the Sex Pistols embraced a similar guitar philosophy, choosing simplicity and aggression over complicated solos and intricate melodies. Punk guitar focused on raw powerchords played rapidly, mixed with distorted tones and an attitude-driven approach. Rather than perfecting virtuosic techniques, punk guitarists emphasized energy, rebellion, and attitude. Get those downstrokes tight!
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