At this year’s NAMM Show, I decided to ask every guitarist I could find the same question: if there’s one riff every guitar player has to learn, what would it be — and why?
The answers ranged from Hendrix to Metallica, from BB King to the O’Jays, and from classic rock anthems to fingerstyle masterpieces. What struck me most wasn’t any single answer, but the reasoning behind each one — because every choice said something about what that player values most about the guitar.
Here’s what they told me.
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room — John Mayer
Suggested by: Danish Pete | Difficulty: 5/10
Danish Pete’s pick was John Mayer’s Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.
“It’s about feel and about control and about emotion,” he said.
It’s a brilliant choice when you think about it. That song isn’t technically overwhelming, but playing it well — with the phrasing, the dynamics, the restraint — is genuinely hard. It forces you to slow down and actually express something rather than just execute notes.
Beat It — Michael Jackson
Suggested by: Rabea Massaad | Difficulty: 3/10
Rabea’s pick was Beat It by Michael Jackson — and it’s a perfect choice. Eddie Van Halen’s solo on that track introduced an entire generation to two-handed tapping. But the rhythm guitar throughout — the choppy, percussive feel — is just as instructive. There’s a reason that riff has lasted 40 years.
Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles
Suggested by: Samurai Guitarist | Difficulty: 7/10
“Just hearing that song is going to make everybody happy.”
That was Samurai Guitarist’s reasoning, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with.
Here Comes the Sun teaches you the kind of gentle fingerpicking and chord voicing that sits at the heart of folk-influenced playing. But more than that, the point he made really stuck with me: what’s the point of music if not to make people happy? Learn songs that do that.
Sweet Home Alabama — Lynyrd Skynyrd
Suggested by: Rhett Shull | Difficulty: 6/10
Rhett’s endorsement was refreshingly practical: “You’ll probably make more money playing that riff than any other.”
He’s not wrong. Sweet Home Alabama is one of those riffs that never leaves a setlist. It teaches you how to move between open chords with confidence and groove, and audiences respond to it every single time. If you want to get paid to play guitar, knowing this one is essentially mandatory.
BB King-Style Phrasing
Suggested by: Tomo Fujita | Difficulty: 3/10
Tomo’s answer wasn’t tied to a specific song — it was more of a concept. He demonstrated a classic BB King-style lick: simple, a couple of notes, steeped in feel.
This is something I think about a lot. Some of the most powerful guitar playing in history has been built on the fewest possible notes. Learning to make one note mean something is a skill that takes years to develop, and the blues is the best school for it.
Schism — Tool
Suggested by: Sean Daniel | Difficulty: 4/10
Sean suggested Tool’s Schism as the perfect technical workout — specifically for double hammer-ons with syncopated rhythm.
“If you just drill it for five minutes, it’ll make it seem like you actually know what you’re doing,” he told me.
What I love about this pick is that it’s not just a party trick. The syncopated feel in that riff trains your internal clock in a way that most rock riffs don’t. It’s deceptively musical while also being a genuine technique builder.
Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughan
Suggested by: Corey Congilio & Mimi Sounds | Difficulty: 7/10
Two people independently gave me this answer — Corey Congilio and Mimi Sounds — which feels like a pretty strong endorsement.
“The intro is iconic. The whole rhythm part is going to change your life.”
Pride and Joy is one of those foundational riffs that teaches you blues shuffles, double-stops, and the kind of driving rhythm feel that underpins so much great guitar playing. SRV was a defining influence for so many players, and this was the track that started it all for a lot of them.
Layla — Derek and the Dominos
Suggested by: Nathaniel Murphy | Difficulty: 6/10
A bit of bend, a bit of low-down feel — that was Nathaniel’s pitch for Layla.
It’s a great beginner-to-intermediate bridge. The main riff is accessible enough to learn quickly, but doing it justice requires real string bending technique and feel. It’s one of those riffs that sounds simple until you try to play it with the same emotion as the original.
Nothing Else Matters — Metallica
Suggested by: Pete Thorn | Difficulty: Nope/10
This was one of my favourite suggestions of the day, and Pete Thorn’s reasoning was spot on — though his difficulty rating was perhaps the most honest of anyone I spoke to.
“It’s all open strings, so anybody can play it. You could show someone that in 10 minutes and they’d be like — that sounds just like the song.”
Nothing Else Matters is genuinely one of the best first riffs you can learn. It builds finger independence, it introduces the concept of letting open strings ring, and it sounds immediately recognisable. If you’ve ever wanted to get a non-guitarist friend playing in under an hour, this is your tool.
Just Got Paid — ZZ Top
Suggested by: Rob Chapman | Difficulty: 3/10
“Chunky chords, a bit of slide — if you’re doing it properly.”
Rob’s pick, Just Got Paid, is pure Texas blues-rock swagger. It’s a fantastic lesson in how rhythm guitar can be the whole show — no solo required. The chunky, almost percussive approach to those chords is something that translates into a dozen other genres once you’ve got it under your fingers.
Erotomania — Dream Theater
Suggested by: Rudy Adobe | Difficulty: 3/10
Rudy Adobe’s pick of Erotomania by Dream Theater introduced him to chromaticism.
“I was like — I can play notes next to each other and it sounds good.”
It’s a fascinating entry point into progressive metal and a great demonstration of how chromatic movement can create tension and momentum without relying on traditional chord progressions.
Foxy Lady — Jimi Hendrix
Suggested by: Rotem Sivan | Difficulty: 5/10
Rotem put it beautifully: “It’s the sound of music and guitar and intention.”
There’s something about Hendrix’s playing that still feels unlike anything else. The combination of rhythm and lead, the way he made the guitar sing, the sheer emotional directness of it — Foxy Lady is a great entry point into all of that. Learning it introduces you to chromatic movement, feedback-inflected tone, and playing with real attitude.
Highway to Hell — AC/DC
Suggested by: Brittany Bowman | Difficulty: 2/10
“It’s classic. It’s simple enough to learn when you’re first starting, but still amazing after years of playing.”
Brittany’s pick is one of those perfect riffs. Malcolm Young’s rhythm playing is deceptively sophisticated — the feel, the groove, the economy — but the riff itself is accessible from day one. At a difficulty of 2/10, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly answers I got, and one of the most enduring songs in rock history.
Black Dog — Led Zeppelin
Suggested by: Trey Xavier | Difficulty: 7/10
Trey was very specific: it’s not just about playing Black Dog, it’s about playing it correctly — nailing the weird, uneven rhythmic pattern that sits underneath the whole thing.
“It’s a little bit of genius and it’s ultra fun to play.”
He’s right on both counts. Black Dog’s riff sits in an irregular phrase length that catches most players off guard the first time. Getting that rhythm locked in is a genuinely rewarding challenge, and understanding it opens up a whole world of rhythmic thinking.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond — Pink Floyd
Suggested by: Mick Taylor | Difficulty: 1/10
Mick Taylor’s suggestion of Shine On You Crazy Diamond might be the most deceptively simple answer on this list. At 1/10 difficulty, the notes themselves are entirely approachable — but capturing the atmosphere, the space, and the sheer emotional weight of that opening is another matter entirely. It’s a masterclass in how less is more.
Smells Like Teen Spirit — Nirvana
Suggested by: Mike Bradley | Difficulty: 4/10
Few riffs have had the cultural impact of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Mike’s pick is a rite of passage for an entire generation of guitarists — and at 4/10, it’s a satisfying early challenge that teaches power chords, palm muting, and the kind of raw, driving energy that defines grunge.
Johnny B. Goode — Chuck Berry
Suggested by: Cousin B | Difficulty: 6/10
Cousin B’s reasoning was hard to argue with: “It’s probably the most important riff you’ll ever learn. It teaches you the 12-bar blues form, and it teaches you to listen and replicate a rhythm. Once you can do those two things, you can start learning Clapton and Page and everything else.”
Johnny B. Goode is the foundation. Chuck Berry basically invented rock and roll guitar vocabulary, and this track contains so much of it — the intro lick, the double-stop bends, the driving rhythm feel. Every guitarist should have this one down cold.
Drive My Car — The Beatles
Suggested by: Jake Lizzio | Difficulty: 3/10
Jake’s pick of Drive My Car is a smart one. That riff has a slinky, almost funky quality that sets it apart from the Beatles’ more strummed material, and at 3/10 it’s very approachable. It’s a great introduction to how a well-crafted two-bar hook can anchor an entire song.
For the Love of Money — The O’Jays
Suggested by: guitaro5000 | Difficulty: 3/10
This was one of the more unexpected answers of the day, and I loved it for that reason. That bass-and-guitar intro riff is one of the most recognisable in soul music, and it’s a fantastic lesson in how a single hook can define an entire track. It’s funky, it’s rhythmic, and it sits in a pocket that most rock-trained guitarists don’t naturally inhabit.
Lost in Paris — Tom Misch
Suggested by: George Collins | Difficulty: 9/10
George Collins gave me the highest difficulty rating of the day with his pick of Lost in Paris by Tom Misch — and at 9/10, it’s clearly not for the faint-hearted. Misch’s playing sits at the intersection of jazz, neo-soul, and pop, with chord voicings and melodic ideas that will genuinely stretch any player. If you’re looking for a challenge, this one’s for you.
Mr. Brightside — The Killers
Suggested by: San Holo | Difficulty: 7/10
“The way the open string is incorporated is so beautiful. And it’s iconic — you play it anywhere and everyone knows it.”
San Holo’s pick of Mr. Brightside is a great modern choice. That opening riff is a lovely example of how open strings can be woven into a melodic line to give it a ringing, expansive quality. At 7/10 it’s more of a challenge than it first appears, which is part of what makes it so rewarding to finally nail.
Sunshine of Your Love — Cream
Suggested by: Perfecto de Castro | Difficulty: 2/10
One of rock’s most iconic riffs comes in at a very friendly 2/10 from Perfecto de Castro. Sunshine of Your Love is a perfect early milestone — it introduces pentatonic phrasing, the blues-rock feel, and that satisfying crunch tone. Simple to learn, endlessly fun to play.
Smoke on the Water — Deep Purple
Suggested by: Guitarraviva & Mike Cole | Difficulty: 0.5/10
I’ll be honest — I knew this one was coming. And sure enough, two people gave me this answer — Guitarraviva and Mike Cole — with full commitment, even with some pick-fumbling along the way.
Smoke on the Water is the riff. It’s the first thing millions of guitarists ever learned, and there’s a reason for that. At a near-impossible-to-beat 0.5/10 difficulty, it’s the most accessible answer on this entire list, and there is absolutely no shame in that.
Sweet Child O’ Mine — Guns N’ Roses
Suggested by: Leigh Fuge | Difficulty: 5/10
Leigh Fuge’s pick of Sweet Child O’ Mine is a classic for a reason. That opening riff is one of the most recognisable in rock history, and at 5/10 it sits right in that sweet spot — approachable enough to learn, satisfying enough to keep playing forever. Slash’s melodic sensibility is all over it.
Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin
Suggested by: Casper Esmann | Difficulty: 4/10
“It’s the one that everyone knows.”
Casper’s pick of the Stairway intro needs little introduction. At 4/10 it’s more achievable than many expect, and it introduces fingerpicking, movement through chord shapes, and a beautiful sense of musical arc. It’s a complete journey in one song.
Classical Gas / Any Tommy Emmanuel Song
Suggested by: Collin Hill & Eddie van der Meer | Difficulty: Varied Opinions / Impossible
Two people pointed me toward Tommy Emmanuel, though in slightly different ways. Collin Hill got specific, suggesting the opening lick to Classical Gas — “a Chet Atkins lick — fast, flashy, and actually easier than it sounds.”
Eddie van der Meer kept it broader, suggesting any Tommy Emmanuel song would do, rating the difficulty at a flat-out impossible.
Whether it’s impossible or just very hard probably depends on your fingerstyle background. Either way, if either answer gets you diving into Tommy Emmanuel’s catalogue, that’s a beautiful rabbit hole to fall down.
Jump — Van Halen
Suggested by: Brett Papa | Difficulty: Yes
The final answer I’ll leave you with came from Brett Papa, who remembered seeing the Jump video as a kid: “I was like — whatever that is, that’s what I want to do forever.”
Difficulty rating: Yes. I think that says it all.
That’s really what this whole question is about, isn’t it? The riff that makes someone fall in love with the guitar. For some people it’s Jump, for others it’s Stairway or Pride and Joy or Nothing Else Matters. The best riff every guitarist should know is probably the one that made you want to play in the first place.
So What’s the Verdict?
Every answer I got at NAMM reflected something different: technique, feel, accessibility, history, emotion. There’s no single right answer — but a few themes kept coming up. The best riffs teach you something. They introduce a technique, a harmonic concept, a rhythmic idea, or a way of phrasing that you carry with you forever. And the very best ones do all of that while also sounding absolutely incredible.
