Looking for the best Halloween guitar songs to learn this October? I’ve rounded up 13 spooky classics that are perfect for Halloween, with videos, guitar tabs, and chords to help you learn each one.
There’s a good mix of difficulty levels here, from easy three-chord songs to more challenging rock and metal tracks. I’ve also included 13 bonus Halloween songs further down the page, plus a playlist featuring all 26 tracks if you just want something suitably creepy to listen to.
Halloween Guitar Songs at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at the 13 featured Halloween guitar songs in this guide, along with a rough idea of the difficulty of each one. You’ll also find a few bonus Halloween song suggestions at the end of the article if you want even more ideas to add to your practice list.
| Song | Artist | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Highway to Hell | AC/DC | Easy |
| Runnin’ With the Devil | Van Halen | Intermediate |
| Psycho Killer | Talking Heads | Easy |
| Sympathy for the Devil | The Rolling Stones | Easy |
| Werewolves of London | Warren Zevon | Easy |
| Ghostbusters | Ray Parker Jr. | Easy |
| Pet Sematary | Ramones | Easy |
| Halloween | King Diamond | Intermediate |
| Little Ghost | The White Stripes | Easy |
| (Ghost) Riders in the Sky | Johnny Cash | Easy |
| Burn the Witch | Queens of the Stone Age | Intermediate |
| Fear of the Dark | Iron Maiden | Advanced |
| Black Sabbath | Black Sabbath | Easy |
13 Spooky Songs to Learn on Guitar
1. Highway To Hell – AC/DC
Difficulty: Easy
The song features one of the most well-known and iconic guitar riffs of all time, and luckily, it’s also one of the easier Halloween guitar songs to learn. The main rhythm part is built around a handful of open chords and a simple, punchy riff, making it a great choice for beginners who want something instantly recognizable.
More experienced players can also tackle Angus Young’s lead parts and solo if they want an extra challenge. Just be careful not to play the main riff too often at your local guitar store, as it is also one of the forbidden riffs!
If you’re after more beginner-friendly tracks, you can also check out my guide to easy guitar songs, which includes more than 150 songs with tabs, chords, and video lessons.
TAB Click Here For Highway To Hell Tabs
2. Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen
Difficulty: Intermediate
The main rhythm parts are fairly manageable, with a steady groove and plenty of space between the chords, so you can get a convincing version of the song together without being an advanced player. The real challenge comes if you want to tackle Eddie Van Halen’s lead work and add all of the little details that give the original its character.
It’s a great Halloween choice for intermediate players, but beginners could still have plenty of fun concentrating on the main rhythm guitar parts.
TAB Click Here For Runnin’ With The Devil Tabs
Eddie also features in my list of the best shred guitarists of all time, if you want to check out more players known for incredible lead guitar technique.
3. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
Difficulty: Easy
This is one of the easier songs on the list, making it a good choice for newer guitarists. The rhythm parts are straightforward, the groove is easy to lock into, and you can get a recognizable version together without needing any advanced techniques.
It’s also a great option if you want a Halloween song that feels a little different from the usual hard rock and metal choices.
TAB Click Here For Psycho Killer Tabs
4. Sympathy For The Devil – The Rolling Stones
Difficulty: Easy
The basic rhythm guitar part is very approachable, with a repeating chord progression that makes this a good choice for beginners. Once you have the groove under control, you can play along with most of the song without needing any particularly difficult techniques.
If you want to make it more challenging, you can also work on Keith Richards’ lead parts and fills, which add plenty of character without being essential to a convincing performance.
TAB Click Here For Sympathy For The Devil Tabs
5. Werewolves Of London – Warren Zevon
Difficulty: Easy
This is another beginner-friendly choice, thanks to its simple repeating chord progression and steady rhythm. Once you have the main pattern down, you can play through most of the song without much trouble.
It’s also instantly recognizable, which makes it a great one to pull out at a Halloween party or jam session without needing to learn anything too technical.
TAB Click Here For Werewolves Of London Tabs
6. Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr
Difficulty: Intermediate
The guitar parts are not especially heavy, but they do require good timing and a tight sense of rhythm. Much of the challenge comes from locking into the groove cleanly and keeping the funk-style parts crisp and consistent.
It’s a fun choice for players who want something instantly recognizable and a little different from the rock and metal songs elsewhere on this list.
TAB Click Here For Ghostbusters Tabs
7. Pet Sematary – The Ramones
Difficulty: Easy
This is a great choice for beginners who want something fast and energetic without too much technical difficulty. The guitar parts rely heavily on straightforward power chords and a steady punk rhythm, so the main challenge is keeping everything tight and consistent at speed.
It’s also one of the more obvious Halloween picks on the list, thanks to its horror-themed lyrics and connection to the Stephen King story.
TAB Click For Pet Sematary Tabs
8. Halloween – King Diamond
Difficulty: Intermediate
This one is a noticeable step up from the easier songs on the list, with faster riffing, tighter rhythm work, and more involved lead guitar parts. You do not need to master every solo to enjoy playing it, but you will need solid picking accuracy and timing to make the main riffs sound clean.
It’s a great choice for intermediate metal players who want a Halloween song that actually sounds dark and sinister rather than simply having a spooky title.
TAB Click Here For Halloween Tabs
9. Little Ghost – The White Stripes
Difficulty: Easy
This is one of the more beginner-friendly songs on the list, with a simple acoustic feel and a straightforward chord progression. The rhythm is relaxed enough that newer players should be able to get comfortable with it fairly quickly.
It’s also a good option if you want a Halloween song that feels spooky without relying on heavy riffs, distortion, or metal-style playing.
TAB Click Here For Little Ghost Tabs
10. (Ghost) Riders In The Sky – Johnny Cash
Difficulty: Easy
The core guitar part is fairly straightforward, with a simple chord progression and a steady rhythm that makes it accessible for newer players. The main challenge is capturing the song’s distinctive Western feel and keeping the picking clean and consistent.
It’s a great choice if you want something atmospheric and instantly recognizable without having to tackle a particularly technical guitar part.
TAB Click Here For (Ghost) Riders In The Sky Tabs
Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson also both feature in my list of the best country guitarists of all time, if you want to discover more great country players.
11. Burn The Witch – Queens Of The Stone Age
Difficulty: Intermediate
The main riffs are not especially complicated, but getting the song to sound right depends on tight rhythm playing and a strong sense of groove. It’s a good choice for intermediate players who are comfortable with heavier rock riffs and want something with a darker, more sinister feel.
You can focus on the main rhythm parts first, then add the smaller fills and lead details once you have the groove locked in.
TAB Click Here For Burn The Witch Tabs
12. Fear Of The Dark – Iron Maiden
Difficulty: Advanced
This is one of the more challenging songs on the list, with fast rhythm work, harmonized guitar lines, and several lead parts that demand solid technique and accuracy. The slower intro is fairly approachable, but the difficulty ramps up quickly once the full band kicks in.
It’s a great choice for experienced players who want a Halloween song that gives both their rhythm and lead playing a proper workout. If the solos are the part that interests you most, you might also enjoy my guide to the best metal guitar solos of all time.
TAB Click For Fear Of The Dark Tabs
13. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
Difficulty: Easy
The main riff is slow, heavy, and surprisingly easy to learn, which makes this a great choice for beginners who want something that sounds properly sinister. The biggest challenge is getting the timing and note spacing right so the riff has the same dark, ominous feel as the original.
More experienced players can dig into Tony Iommi’s lead parts and phrasing, but you can get a very convincing version of the song together just by focusing on the main riff and rhythm sections.
TAB Click For Black Sabbath Tabs
13 More Halloween Guitar Songs
I stopped the main list at 13 because, well, it’s Halloween! If you still need more inspiration, here are 13 bonus Halloween guitar songs worth checking out. Some are easy enough for beginners, while others will give more experienced players something to sink their teeth into.
- Mr Scary – Dokken
- People Are Strange – The Doors
- Halloween – Stephen Lynch
- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Halloweenhead – Ryan Adams
- South of Heaven – Slayer
- Monster Mash – Bobby Pickett
- Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band
- Living Dead Girl – Rob Zombie
- Enter Sandman – Metallica
- Halloween – Misfits
If you’re looking for something a little less challenging, you’ll also find plenty of beginner-friendly tracks in my easy guitar songs guide.
Spooky Guitar Playlist
Want to hear all of the songs in one place? I’ve put together a Halloween guitar songs playlist featuring all 13 main picks plus the 13 bonus tracks listed above.
Use it to find your next song to learn, build a spooky practice session, or just stick it on in the background while you carve a pumpkin and pretend you’re not eating half the candy before Halloween.
YouTube Halloween Party Playlist
That should give you plenty of spooky songs to keep your guitar busy this Halloween. If I’ve missed one of your favorites, let me know what you’ll be playing this year.
Further Spooky Reading
Here are a few more spooky and evil articles that you may also enjoy and reading this list of Halloween songs for guitar.
- 13 EVIL Halloween Themed Guitars
- 13 Horror Movie Inspired Guitar Amps (Designed By AI)
- Sinistrophobia – The Fear Of Left Handed People?!
- Are Left Handed People EVIL?
- Forbidden Riffs- 21 Songs BANNED In Guitar Stores
FAQ
If you’re a beginner, Highway to Hell, Werewolves of London, and Pet Sematary are all good places to start. They use relatively simple riffs or chord progressions and do not require much advanced technique to get a recognizable version of the song sounding good.
Some of the best beginner-friendly choices on this list include Highway to Hell, Psycho Killer, Werewolves of London, Pet Sematary, Little Ghost, and Black Sabbath. These songs are generally easier to learn than tracks such as Fear of the Dark or Halloween, which feature more technical guitar parts.
The main riff from Black Sabbath is one of the spookiest and most recognizable riffs you can learn, while Highway to Hell is another easy option with an instantly recognizable guitar part. More experienced players could try Fear of the Dark or Halloween for something heavier and more challenging.
