Hard Rock guitar tones

Researched amp settings for 69 hard rock songs — then adapted to your gear.

Starting point for Hard Rock tone: gain 6 · bass 5.5 · mid 6 · treble 6.5 · presence 5.5 (out of 10)

Most-used amps: Marshall (×21) · high-gain amp (×6) · Marshall / Mesa (×4) · 100-watt Marshall Super Lead (×3)

Amp settings for this genre

Genre-specific EQ cheat-sheets — averaged dials plus the famous tones for each amp.

AmpegMarshall Plexi (Super Lead)Supro

Related Rock styles

All RockAlternative RockAnatolian RockBlues RockFunk RockGarage RockGlam RockIndie RockInstrumental RockPop RockProgressive RockPunk RockSouthern Rock
🎛️ Dial any of these in for YOUR rig — free →
Thunderstruck — AC/DCBack in Black — AC/DCHighway to Hell — AC/DCThunderstruck — AC/DCWhole Lotta Love — Led ZeppelinBlack Dog — Led ZeppelinImmigrant Song — Led ZeppelinWalk This Way — AerosmithSweet Emotion — AerosmithDream On — AerosmithBorn to Be Wild — SteppenwolfMagic Carpet Ride — SteppenwolfAll Right Now — FreeI Love Rock 'n' Roll — Joan JettBarracuda — HeartLivin' on a Prayer — Bon JoviPanama — Van HalenHot for Teacher — Van HalenWanted Dead or Alive — Bon JoviYou Give Love a Bad Name — Bon JoviIt's My Life — Bon JoviKickstart My Heart — Mötley CrüeDr. Feelgood — Mötley CrüeThe Boys Are Back in Town — Thin LizzyEntre Dos Tierras — Héroes del SilencioHighway Star — Deep PurpleParadise City — Guns N' RosesRock You Like a Hurricane — ScorpionsBack in Black — AC/DCThunderstruck — AC/DCWhole Lotta Love — Led ZeppelinHeartbreaker — Led ZeppelinWalk This Way — AerosmithBarracuda — HeartSil Baştan — Şebnem FerahCan Kırıkları — Şebnem FerahPhotograph — Def LeppardYou Shook Me All Night Long — AC/DCWanted Dead or Alive — Bon JoviLivin on a Prayer — Bon JoviSelamat Ulang Tahun — JamrudSilent Divide — Alter BridgeWhole Lotta Rosie — AC/DCDont Cry — Guns N' RosesCult of Personality — Living ColourJump — Van HalenRunnin with the Devil — Van HalenFigure It Out — Royal BloodLittle Monster — Royal BloodWoman — WolfmotherJoker and the Thief — WolfmotherOpen Your Heart — Crush 40Satanized — GhostSmoke on the Water — Deep PurpleRock and Roll — Led ZeppelinHere I Go Again — WhitesnakeRebel Yell — Billy IdolOnce Bitten Twice Shy — Great White18 and Life — Skid RowDear God — The Pretty RecklessHeaven Knows — The Pretty RecklessSound of Madness — ShinedownSecond Chance — ShinedownBurn It to the Ground — NickelbackI Miss the Misery — HalestormLove Bites (So Do I) — HalestormMonster — SkilletElectric Man — Rival SonsTrenches — Pop Evil

Hard Rock amp settings — FAQ

What are the best amp settings for hard rock?

Averaged across 69 researched hard rock tones: gain 6, bass 5.5, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 5.5 (out of 10). Start there, then fine-tune by ear and adapt to the amp you actually own.

What amp is best for hard rock?

The amps most used across these hard rock tones are Marshall, high-gain amp, Marshall / Mesa, 100-watt Marshall Super Lead. You don’t need the exact amp — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials any hard rock tone for the amp and guitar you already own, free in the browser.

How do I get a hard rock guitar tone with the gear I have?

Start with gain 6, bass 5.5, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 5.5 (out of 10), then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for your specific amp, guitar and pedals so it sits like the record — free, no new gear.