Keith Mack
If you're interested in learning how to play the guitar riff from Judas Priest's Breaking the Law, you've come to the right place. This famous heavy metal song, written by Halford, Tipton, and Downing, is a great one to add to your repertoire. The tabs for the song are available online, and there are also video lessons to help you master the guitar chords and riffs. So, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned guitarist, you'll be able to find the resources you need to start playing this iconic song.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | Breaking the Law |
| Artist | Judas Priest |
| Album | The Essential Judas Priest |
| Writers | Halford, Tipton, Downing |
| Guitar | Distortion |
| Keys | D#EF, F#G, G# (half step down), A, A# (half step up), B, C, C#, D |
What You'll Learn
How to play the intro riff
To play the intro riff of 'Breaking the Law' by Judas Priest, you'll need to use the following tablature:
Guitar 1:
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-0-2-3---0-2-3---0-2-3-------0------0----3-2-----------------|
E|-------------------------1-3----1-3----3---------------------|
Guitar 2:
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--7-9-10--7-9-10--7-9-10-----------------------10-9----------|
A|--------------------------8-10-12--8-10-12--10---------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
The intro riff is played twice at the beginning of the song. It is also played twice in the bridge section of the song.
To play the riff, start by placing your middle finger on the second fret of the A string, then your index finger on the first fret of the same string. Then, play the open E string before moving back to the A string and playing the second and third frets. Continue by playing the D string open, followed by the A string open again. Finish the riff by playing the E string, first fret, then the A string open once more.
On Guitar 2, you'll be playing a similar pattern, but with some variations. Start by placing your index finger on the first fret of the D string, then play the G string open. Next, move your index finger to the first fret of the G string and play the D string open again. Then, move your index finger back to the first fret of the D string and play the A string open. Finish the riff by playing the G string open, followed by the B string open.
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The chords for the verse
To play the chords for the verse of "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest, you'll need to know the following chords: A5, C5, and E5. These chords are played in the following sequence: A5, A5, C5, E5, A5, E5, C5, E5.
Here's a breakdown of how to finger those chords:
- A5: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string and your index finger on the 1st fret of the G string.
- C5: Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the A string.
- E5: Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the A string and your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.
Now, let's put it all together. The chords for the verse go as follows:
- A5: Strum the chord once as you sing, "There I was, completely wasting, out of work and down."
- A5: Again, strum the A5 chord for the next line, "All inside, it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town."
- C5: Move to the C5 chord and strum once as you sing, "Feel as though nobody cares if I live or die."
- E5: Switch to the E5 chord and strum once for the line, "So I might as well begin to put some action in my life."
Repeat the sequence of chords (A5, C5, E5) for the next part of the verse:
- A5: "So much for the golden future, I can't even start."
- E5: "I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart."
- C5: "You don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue."
- E5: "If you did, you'd find yourself doing the same thing too."
And that's the chords for the verse of "Breaking the Law"! Remember to practice each chord individually and ensure that each string rings out clearly before moving on to the next chord in the sequence.
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The chords for the chorus
The first chord is A5, which is played by putting your middle finger on the second fret of the D string and your ring finger on the third fret of the G string. The second chord is C5, which is played by putting your middle finger on the third fret of the A string and your index finger on the first fret of the B string. The third chord is E5, which is played by putting your index finger on the second fret of the G string.
For the chorus, you will strum these chords in the following sequence: A5, C5, E5, A5, C5, E5, A5, C5, E5, A5, C5, E5. This sequence is repeated once.
The chorus of the song contains the lyrics: "Breaking the law, breaking the law / Breaking the law, breaking the law / Breaking the law, breaking the law / Breaking the law, breaking the law."
It is worth noting that the song can be played in various keys, and chord charts and tabs may differ slightly depending on the source.
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The chords for the bridge
For Guitar 1:
- E:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- B:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- G:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- D:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- A|-0-2-3---0-2-3---0-2-3-------0------0----3-2-----------------|
- E|-------------------------1-3----1-3----3---------------------|
For Guitar 2:
- E:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- B:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- G:-------------------------------------------------------------|
- D|--7-9-10--7-9-10--7-9-10-----------------------10-9----------|
- A|--------------------------8-10-12--8-10-12--10---------------|
- E:-------------------------------------------------------------|
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The chords for the riff
To play the riff of "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest, you'll need to know the chords in the key of A#A# (original key). The song's riff primarily uses the A5, C5, and E5 chords.
For the A5 chord, you'll need to fret the following:
- Guitar 1: -0-2-3---0-2-3---0-2-3-------0------0----3-2----------------- on the A string
- Guitar 2: --7-9-10--7-9-10--7-9-10-----------------------10-9-- on the A string
For the C5 chord, the fretting is as follows:
- Guitar 1: -----------------------------------------1-3----1-3----3--- on the E string
- Guitar 2: --8-10-12--8-10-12--10------------------------------- on the A string
And for the E5 chord:
- Guitar 1: -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 on the A string
- Guitar 2: -----------------------------------------10--------------- on the G string
The riff for "Breaking the Law" is iconic and instantly recognisable. It's a great riff to learn for beginners and experienced guitarists alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The chords are D#EFF#G (Full key step down), G# (Half key step down), A (original key), A# (Half key step up), B (Full key step up), C, C# and D.
The intro is known as Riff 1.
The first verse is: "There I was completely wasting, out of work and down, all inside it's so frustrating as I drift from town to town".
The chorus is: "Breaking the law, breaking the law, breaking the law, breaking the law".
The second verse is: "So much for the golden future, I can't even start, I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart".
