High-Energy Indie and Alternative Rock Favourites
If you want to play indie and heavy rock in a party band, you need more than a few big riffs — you need the staples. This is the material that fills dance floors, packs out pubs, and keeps festival crowds shouting every word.
From punchy pop-punk to gritty garage rock and full-throttle alternative metal, these songs demand tight rhythm playing, confident dynamics, and the stamina to deliver night after night.
Think anthems by Foo Fighters, the explosive grooves of Rage Against the Machine, the razor-sharp indie hooks of Arctic Monkeys, and the high-energy punch of Green Day. You’re expected to know the classics inside out — the riffs, the stops, the build-ups, and the breakdowns.
This is core repertoire for any serious party band guitarist: big choruses, driving rhythms, and songs that people recognise within the first bar.
All My Life | Foo Fighters
You can learn how to play All My Life by Foo Fighters using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| G5 | G5 |
All my life, I’ve been searching for something…
All The Small Things | Blink-182
You can learn All The Small Things by Blink-182 using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C5 | G5 | F5 | G5 |
All the small things, true care, truth brings…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: All The Small Things (Blink-182) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
American Idiot | Green Day
You can learn American Idiot by Green Day using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and backing tracks.
| N.C | N.C G | Ab Db | Gb Db Ab Gb |
Don’t wanna be an American idiot…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: American Idiot (Green Day) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Are You Gonna Be My Girl | Jet
You can learn Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| A5 N.C |
So one, two, three, take my hand and come with me…
Are You Gonna Go My Way | Lenny Kravitz
You can learn Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and the backing tracks.
| Bm(add4) | A | E D E | E G E |
But what I really want to know is… Are you gonna go my way?…
Basket Case | Green Day
You can learn how to play Basket Case by Green Day using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| E5 | B5 | C# | G#5 |
Do you have the time, to listen to me whine…
Best of You | Foo Fighters
You can learn Best of You by Foo Fighters using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| C#m7 | C#m7 | Asus2 | Asus2 |
I’ve got another confession to make, I’m your fool…
Bullet In The Head | Rage Against The Machine
Learn how to play Bullet In The Head by Rage Against The Machine using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| E7 | E7 |
This time the bullet cold rocked ya. A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika…
Don’t Look Back Into The Sun | The Libertines
You can learn Don’t Look Back Into The Sun by The Libertines using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G | D | Em | D |
Don’t look back into the sun, now you know that the time is come…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Don’t Look Back Into The Sun (The Libertines) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Everlong | Foo Fighters
You can learn Everlong by Foo Fighters using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Dmaj7 | Dmaj7 | Bsus2 | Bsus2 |
Hello, I’ve waited here for you…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Everlong (Foo Fighters) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor | Arctic Monkeys
Learn how to play I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| C#5 B5 | A5 F#5 | C#5 B5 | A5 F#5 |
Stop making the eyes at me, I’ll stop making the eyes at you…
I Fought The Law | The Clash
You can learn I Fought The Law by The Clash using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| D5 | G5 D5 | D5 | A5 D5 |
Breakin’ rocks in the hot sun, I fought the law and the law won…
I Predict A Riot | Kaiser Chiefs
You can learn how to play I Predict A Riot by Kaiser Chiefs using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Cm | Cm | Eb | F |
Watching the people get lairy, it’s not very pretty I tell thee…
Killing In The Name | Rage Against The Machine
Learn how to play Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
||: Muted Verse riff :||
Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses…
Know Your Enemy | Rage Against The Machine
You can learn how to play Know Your Enemy by Rage Against The Machine using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| (E) F#5 A5 F#5 (E) F#5 | (E) F#5 C5 B5 A5 |
Know your enemy! Come on…
Last Nite | The Strokes
You can learn Last Nite by The Strokes using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C5 | C5 | C5 | C5 | D5 | D5 |
Last night she said, “Oh, baby, I feel so down”…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Last Nite (The Strokes) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Molly’s Chambers | Kings Of Leon
You can learn Molly’s Chambers by Kings Of Leon using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
||: F#5 (F#/E F# F#/E F# F#/E) :||
Free, that’s all that she can bleed, that’s why’ll she’ll never stay…
Monkey Wrench | Foo Fighters
You can learn Monkey Wrench by Foo Fighters using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| B5 | B5 F#5 | E5 | E5 (D5) |
What have we done with innocence…
Parklife | Blur
You can learn Parklife by Blur using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| E | E Dmaj7sus2 Asus2 |
Confidence is a preference for the habitual voyeur of…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Parklife (Blur) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
The Pretender | Foo Fighters
You can learn how to play The Pretender by Foo Fighters using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Amadd9 | Am /B /C Am | F#m7b5 (/G) | Fmaj7 |
Keep you in the dark, you know they all, pretend…
Seven Nation Army | White Stripes
You can learn how to play Seven Nation Army by White Stripes using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and backing tracks.
| Em (E G E D) | C5 B5 | Em (E G E D) | C5 B5 |
I’m gonna fight ’em all. A seven-nation army couldn’t hold me back…
Sex On Fire | Kings Of Leon
You can learn Sex On Fire by Kings Of Leon using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| E E6 | E E6 | E E6 | E E6 |
Lay where you’re laying, don’t make a sound…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Sex on Fire (Kings Of Leon) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go | The Clash
You can learn Should I Stay Or Should I Go by The Clash using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| D N.C | D G5 |
Darlin’ you got to let me know…
Song 2 | Blur
You can learn Song 2 by Blur using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| F#5 E5 | A5 B5 C#5 | F#5 E5 | A5 B5 C#5 |
I got my head checked, by a jumbo jet…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Song 2 (Blur) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Steady, As She Goes | The Raconteurs
You can learn how to play Steady, As She Goes by The Raconteurs using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Bm F# | A E |
Find yourself a girl and settle down…
Take Me Out | Franz Ferdinand
You can learn how to play Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| Am7 | D/F# | G Bm/F# | Em |
So if you’re lonely, you know I’m here waiting for you…
Teenage Dirtbag | Wheatus
You can learn Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, TAB, and backing tracks.
| E B5 | E Aadd9 |
Her name is Noelle, I have a dream about her…
Teenage Kicks | The Undertones
You can learn how to play Teenage Kicks by The Undertones using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and backing tracks.
| D | D5 C#5 /A |
Are teenage dreams so hard to beat…
Use Somebody | Kings Of Leon
You can learn Use Somebody by Kings Of Leon using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C | C/E | Fsus2 F | Fsus2 F |
I’ve been roamin’ around, always lookin’ down at all I see…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Use Somebody (Kings Of Leon) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
What’s My Age Again? | Blink-182
You can learn What’s My Age Again? by Blink-182 using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| D#m/B D#m/F# | D#m/C# D#m |
I took her out, it was a Friday night…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: What’s My Age Again? (Blink-182) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
