14 Instantly Recognizable Acoustic Guitar Intros (with TAB)

A list of 14 instantly recognizable acoustic guitar intros with on screen tabs
Printable Tabs available on my Patreon! ► / nikolagugoski
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[@nikolagugoski]

How many did you get right?

[@remy-theorangeskyslasher6184]

Im surprised California Dreamin’ is here! Good job on the video. I got 13/15

[@time2cclear]

i missed 3 . mama and papas got me good .

[@Mustaine1ify]

11/15

[@carlosgarcia-zy6gj]

@@remy-theorangeskyslasher6184 me too

[@stb5150]

Got all but redemption song

[@ArthurHerman44]

"Instantly recognizable" *sweats nervously because i haven't heard 9 of them even once*

[@boldizsarolah3490]

Thats sad

[@tuffn00gies]

You're not alone.

[@cashway0420]

you must be a salamander

[@steakfilly5199]

That’s unusual but ok

[@Just_a_metal_head_]

Only 9? You're doing way better than me 😂

[@tannerjackson2926]

Did taught me 15 songs in 6 and a half minutes. Absolute god

[@tannerjackson2926]

Dude^

[@nikolagugoski]

Glad you found this helpful :)

[@johnsmith-jd1cd]

Theres only 14 as of now :/

[@robertromeromrpuffers1238]

“The most recognizable riffs” *literally plays A minor*

[@jsalvatori]

It was a recognizable A minor, 'cuz i got all of them except "I could have Lied"

[@Ravens_and_Lilies14]

One of the few I got lol.

[@justinmoraal4764]

@@jsalvatori for I could have lied, i knew it was a RHCP song, i just couldn't think of the name

[@pain.497]

'15 Instantly Recognizable Acoustic Guitar Intros' *Doesn't recognize a damn thing*

[@lightfeather9953]

I'd say that's kind of sad but maybe it's good that there's a lot of good music out there that you can discover in the future. I'm guessing most musically inclined people over 30 would recognize at least 7-10 of these. There's a couple relatively obscure RHCP songs that most people probably wouldn't guess.

[@pain.497]

@@lightfeather9953 I am on the younger side (21). I do love rock and all but Im too young for these or just an uncultured swine.

[@tylerreed610]

I'd say that's surprising but pretty much everything is around 20 years old or older so that's fair

[@filaaa2171]

@@pain.497 I'm 21 as well. got into guitar at 20. only reason I know some of these songs is because of that and my dad lol. so it's ight. just keep listening to these classics.

[@pain.497]

@@filaaa2171 I mean I played lots of guitar hero and listened to lots of rock and such back then. Eventually I got into playing real guitar 11 years ago I'm ok at it.

[@taylormoody3970]

Fun fact, the song Hurt was originally written and performed by Nine Inch Nails and Jonny Cash asked if he could cover it and being a huge fan they said yes of course and now it's the version everyone knows!

[@cadezcardz1256]

I thought everyone knew it was a cover, boy was I wrong I even found one person that thought the NIN version was a cover

[@taylormoody3970]

@@cadezcardz1256 yea it's crazy, I get that Jhonny Cash made it super well known but I feel like it was never mentioned that NIN was the original created

[@righty-o3585]

I know it as a NIN song. I don't even like the Jonny Cash version

[@ZetaFuzzMachine]

He pulled a full Jimi Hendrix with that one

[@UlfJayThatGoldenTeacher]

It was Rick Rubin who showed Cash that song. Cash dident think it was his style. But he made it his own.

[@remy-theorangeskyslasher6184]

Watching the video before it gets copyrighted 👍🏻

[@BlueberryRey]

Not yet

[@Turnaround72]

They’re covers though

[@albinospino3089]

@@Turnaround72 Covers are strikable how do you not know this.

[@Turnaround72]

@@albinospino3089 alright settle down mate didn’t know that’s all

[@albinospino3089]

@@Turnaround72 settle down? I was just asking...?

[@VintageGold]

To be fair, the better question may be: How many of these songs have you heard before? All jokes aside, this is a fun way to showcase these songs and possibly introduce them to people for the first time.

[@normanwhite6677]

Yeah, you're right on that. How can you say "recognizable acoustic intros" and not include even one Simon and Garfunkel or James Taylor song? How about "Falling In Out of Love With You" by Pure Prairie League? "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty? "Time in a Bottle" from Jim Croce? "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles? Those are instantly recognizable. Instantly recognizable to me means pretty much mainstream. I listen to a lot of different music, but I have to admit most of these were instantly unrecognizable to me. An even better title would be, "14 Acoustic Guitar Intros I Love."

[@nikolagugoski]

That's a fair point. But with this type of videos I try to be careful with the copyright thing. One riff can block the whole video

[@VintageGold]

@@nikolagugoski, I know. KZbin's copyright strikes are a killer. It's almost as if no one has ever heard of fair use! Rick Beato has an entire video where he talks about how difficult it can be to teach and talk about music when you can't play the content on your channel.

[@normanwhite6677]

@@VintageGold I was in radio for years and we always go flack from record companies and licensing agencies when we used various cuts behind commercials. What they didn't realize, and still don't, is that hearing the song allows people to be exposed to it, get curious about it, and possibly purchase it, which is the whole point. I would regularly get calls on the request line from people wanting to know the name of the track behind a commercial. The point in my comment is that these intros are not that recognizable, so the title of the video is misleading. However, I am now curious to hear some of these songs. 🙂

[@markalvarado4450]

@@nikolagugoski gotta love youtube

[@terrymiller111]

Great playing, and we appreciate your effort with the tabs.

[@davidxbjj2001]

I always follow the channel because it was one of the ones that helped me the most when I was starting out on guitar, with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers tabs☺️

[@svmatuza]

Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nails, not the other way around.

[@seilorks6610]

While this is true that was the tab for the Johnny Cash version

[@skinnymarauder333]

@@seilorks6610 He showed the tabs for the Nirvana cover of Man Who Sold the World when it was written by David Bowie

[@lightfeather9953]

because the NIN original isn't an acoustic guitar intro

[@skinnymarauder333]

@@lightfeather9953 you're joking, right? It's literally an acoustic guitar

[@ryer9646]

Let's be honest, Johnny Cash now owns that song.

[@BoringDudeOnCrek]

I love how he included tab so we can learn. Subbed because of that.

[@ethanfrancis4527]

If you've heard the song even once before, they're instantly recognisable.

[@graaau4582]

Redemptions song is one of the first song I’ve ever learned to play I could recognize this tab in the dark

[@redmetalpanda9051]

And mine was Fade to Black

[@interestedbystander196]

Check out the Max Bassani arrangement. You can find it on YT. Guitar only, but just beautiful.

[@paulleoleo]

I have never said OH I KNOW THIS so many times in my life... Great stuff.

[@alphawolf7390]

I only got Fade to Black, Wish You Were Here, and Wanted Dead or Alive Great video anyway I love listening to you play 🤘

[@lordofrims]

Those + the man who sold world and Hurt for me.

[@nikyt36]

Lush! Adding these to my acoustic noodle list 👍😀

[@to-xh9lk]

*plays Am chord* "Recognize it?"

[@renatolelis]

Nice man! You're a amazing player!

[@nikolagugoski]

Thank you for watching!

[@santorosario_solus]

"The Man Who Sold The World by Nirvana." David Bowie: *Why must you hurt me this way?*

[@tristanraine]

he didnt even put down NIN for Hurt, at least he credited David Bowie for the original for the Man Who Sold The World

[@santorosario_solus]

@@tristanraine Ohhhhh alright, thanks for pointing that out!

[@addisonsiburn6228]

In all fairness the hurt one kinda makes sense since it was the Johnny cash cover

[@ericamaese5340]

who knows? Not me.

[@u.v.s.5583]

One of them killed himself, the other got a Nobel prize. So don't complain Dave. Sorry, not sorry. The man who sold the World was made popular by Nirvana, period.

[@Blkac-pill-Black-Life]

lol nik knows he should keep rhcp fans happy

[@minh-tamduong4376]

😂😂So true

[@nikolagugoski]

Hahaha 😂 I think most of the people watching are rhcp fans, so I have to keep them here somehow 😁

[@JU57US]

I don't understand how the RHCP "instantly recognizable" song wasn't Under the Bridge.

[@pablogonzalez9447]

It’s not acoustic

[@yobb1n544]

it worked for me lmfao

[@AlmiNia]

love these! so fun to guess along

[@nikolagugoski]

Thank you! Glad you liked it 😁

[@klassen978]

Никола лучший, спасибо!

[@justinjozokos1699]

I haven't heard all these songs, but I remember Fast Car being one of the first songs I tried learning on guitar. Fastest song I recognized was definitely I Could Have Lied Great work as always

[@zheter7990]

Great video Nikola! I hope you keep this series going, it's great! :D Almost thought the Intro 4 at 1:21 was "He is" by Ghost xD

[@tanishqchakravorty4400]

I thought it was Why Georgia

[@morosleviwalker61]

The first two chords he hit made it sound like Still Counting by Volbeat, but the moment he continues it's lost. Ugh. Lol.

[@adammoffatt3832]

Glad you had that last chili song on there had forgotten all about it.nice one.

[@StealthFB22]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would 😆

[@ashbods8115]

Even more impressive when a single chord is recognisable After .3 seconds you can hear rebel rebel

[@hacklin1757]

Im suprised capo on 2nd fret wasnt here

[@jeremywade6986]

Maybe...

[@Lenon1924]

These are great

[@dannap8831]

really happy you got Road Trippin by RHCP in there, really great acoustic song :) I Could Have Lied is amazing too. the latter is the first song i learned on guitar :)

[@Axeman1980]

I could have lied is the first song I learned I was surprised and happy to hear it on here

[@jordankornienko5168]

im a teen and i was learning Fade to Black so I recognized it instantly :) its so fun. i can never get the super rapid part though.

[@noahgibson4233]

This just makes me realise how much I ignore the acoustic riffs

[@stb5150]

My favorite game. Thanks!

[@miguelramos-lk8qx]

5:17 rip for those who thought they were getting rick rolled (myself included)

[@jake.1775]

Plays 2 notes or 1 chord.. "ReCoGnIsE iT?" How tf??????😂😭

[@booboo.4463]

love it !

[@MucketyMuck]

i feel like as a guitarist i recognize these more, not cause i can play them, but because they always end up on “top best guitar songs for acoustic”

[@nathanfischer3551]

Cries in "Dust in the wind"

[@ryant246]

Video suggestion, tab for RHCP - Someone. I'd love one for the infamous Zephyr Song B-Side :D

[@zizoualex]

Cool video, Nikola! Got'em all 😀

[@nikolagugoski]

That's great man! Glad you liked it

[@zizoualex]

@@nikolagugoski it's easy when such a great player makes them sound exactly like the originals ✌

[@time2cclear]

thanks , this was fun !! sunday morning fun

[@nikolagugoski]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@SubieNinja]

i got 1 of em within the 1st second. but i recognized several after the first second. and then there were a few i knew but didnt recognize them played acoustically like this

[@silverrey7379]

I like how I could instantly recognize the song in the thumbnail (that's my favorite song, too)

[@diegomahoudeau934]

Guessed 9 only xD cool idea hope u do more of this!

[@nikolagugoski]

Thank you! I have one more for electric guitar intros 🙂

[@benguercho1363]

Litteraly knew only 2 of them. Guess I have New songs to listen to now ^^

[@britpieshop1146]

It makes a great exercise to go play riffs I've never hear before. Great idea to play out side of what you like and know. Learned a couple nice progressions and that never hurts.

[@kevtb874]

Anyone who didn't recognise or know many, take this as a first step into some time tested music of the 20th century. Johnny Cash. Pink Floyd. Metallica. David Bowie. Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Good music has no lifespan so long as people listen to and share it.

[@Tentin.Quarantino]

4:39 *strums an Am* “Can you guess what it is yet?” Um... gonna need a little more than just 1 second of audio for this one.

[@reidmiddleton6727]

Man who sold the world: David Bowie/ Nirvana, man Hurt: Johnny Cash, MAN

[@psychobrety18]

Make part 2 please ❤️

[@rafanavarro4597]

¡Gracias!

[@nikolagugoski]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate it

[@phsycresconquest6636]

It took me a moment to recognise the Man who sold the world as I had mostly listened to the Midge Ure cover.

[@levmade]

WHERESMY S T A I R W A Y T O H E A V E N

[@fabricio.almeida3]

Road tripping with my two favourite allies

[@marions.120]

Fairly easy, although I did miss The Redemption Song, not familiar with it. Great playing by the way! ✌️🤪 🎸 🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

Bob Marley is a great artist that you should check out!

[@zarzaparrilla67]

How you don't know redemption song?

[@marions.120]

@@zarzaparrilla67 - I played at a church this weekend and realized that I actually do know it! ✌️🤓🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@Ralph-ny1ey]

Only one I didn't recognize was the "California dreaming" intro. These are basically the first songs I learned on guitar when YT first started. I'm pretty good now (toot horn) thanks to YT.

[@bekacynthia]

The ones I knew I recognized almost immediately. Some others I knew but haven't really listened so kinda forgot :)

[@mbrsart]

I got Hurt and Wanted Dead or Alive. The other songs I'd never heard or hadn't heard enough to recognize the intros.

[@nathyngoss3132]

More Than a Feeling? Stairway to Heaven? 2 of the most iconic acoustic intros ever? Oh well great video and great playing anyways

[@TheWJimi]

Not acoustic I guess

[@gergelystechnicmodels8565]

@@TheWJimi yes, they are acoustic

[@TheWJimi]

@@gergelystechnicmodels8565 then I'm all out of ideas 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@johnsmith-jd1cd]

Didnt want the hassle of his video flagged or taken down by the crybaby record lawyers who dont understand internet videos and point of covers and lessons. That would be my guess

[@1700yungin]

Copyright issues

[@albertsciarronsky2251]

10!

[@Katie_OvO]

I’ve never said “I know this one” and be wrong so many times

[@jamestierney2531]

Hey, at least you gave it a try! Cheers…JT

[@rayhairston7582]

The harmonic note at the beginning of Angie gives it away

[@ziiofswe]

I only knew a few... maybe 4-5? Nailed two of those (More than words & Fade to black.)

[@ALeafOnTheWind42]

5 I knew within the first second (I qualify this as: if I thought of the correct song, even if I needed to hear more to confirm it) 2 I got before you revealed the title, but not within the first second 2 I should know well enough to recognize, but didn't until after the title. 5 I just don't know at all or at least well enough to have had a chance to get it

[@cloudwalker9572]

I'm proud to have recognized it was Metallica when my entire knowledge of their music is like 20 minute top in my whole life. Other than that I was terrible, counting metallica I scored 3 (Hurt, Green Day, Metallica)

[@limitededition3086]

I didn't recognize a lot of those, but I recognized Hurt and Redemption Song immediately.

[@RepairingSquash]

I recognized angie in a heartbeat and I was so proud for no reason lol

[@cyrildia]

NINE INCH NAILS ! 😄😘

[@birdayo]

Oh god the flashbacks to guitar class

[@robertoprestigiacomo253]

1) Recognized but don't know the title. 2) Wish you were here. 3) The Man Who Sold the World 4) More than words 5) Recognized but don't remember the title 6) Not enough notes to be recognizable 7) Wake Me Up When September Ends 8) Fade to Black 9) Don't remember the title but it's RHCP 10) Don't know 11) California Dreaming 12) Don't know 13) Don't remember the title 14) Again, Don't remember the title but RHCP Only 6/14 :( If I get half point for at least recognizing the song 8.5/14 :(

[@txgunguy2766]

I've only heard of 4 of these songs, 2 of which I recognized.

[@ThecrazyopmanGaming]

I may not be able to recognize all of it but that tone is so crisp

[@shanefreund6088]

Got all but 2 of them

[@Sandhi-M]

What a nice guitar.

[@nikolagugoski]

This is my first guitar ever 😁

[@barskarasahin2814]

This is nuts xd

[@samsemergencyvideos7791]

Wonderwall Crazy Little Thing Called Love & Stairway To Heaven Are Also Acoustic Intros. Should’ve Had Em On List 👍

[@nikolagugoski]

All of them would get me in copyright trouble 😁

[@lunchbagSSBU]

i had no idea what any of these were except for fade to black

[@Supertaldo916]

Angie could've been any song in existance lol, still thought of it faintly before the countdown finished. California dreamin caught me off guard, I tend to forget it has an intro, when he strang the first chord I realized what it was, that shit's iconic. Also, my brain farted and I confused Fade to black with Welcome home sanitarium. Momma I'm coming home was the only one I had no clue about. All these songs are bangers and really fun to play.

[@pschroeter1]

I was waiting for Roundabout.

[@qnightfall7878]

i have only ever heard of 2 of these

[@inferneo]

3:00 I can't be the only one who thought of "Goodbye Blue Sky" by pink Floyd

[@ethan2776]

Thanks Niko, fun stuff!

[@nikolagugoski]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@alitangiraukokiriandersong6952]

I only knew ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends - Greenday’

[@Mursto_]

The cover is Fade to Black :)

[@juandavidmenesescuartas2979]

Jajajja yea

[@exessex3522]

Got all the ones I'd heard before except one of the RHCP tracks which I couldn't remember the name of (I Could Have Lied). 4:39 Thought it was Hotel California but it was Angie. Wrong band, wrong country, wrong continent, wrong genre - but at least the right general era.

[@2020FLOYDMAN]

I missed 3 of them. Road trippin, mama I’m coming home( can’t believe I missed that one) and the last one.

[@danieledelman158]

Fast car is on the radio while you were playing it :)

[@evasiveupgrade]

More than words, wake me up when September ends, fade to black, wanted dead or alive, mama I'm coming home were the ones I got right.

[@linyarin]

I must be getting really old. I did recognise the first two, California dreaming and Angie but the rest, even when played on & title and player named, I had never heard of.

[@relic374]

2:58 I didn't recognize this one from metallica, because to me it sounded like a well known song that's in a lot of doom mods- though I can't put my finger on the name of it rn X/ (its something by Stuart Rynn)

[@DekkarJr]

Well the one in the thumbnail is Fade to Black right?:)

[@miguelgcone]

intro 4 sounds like wet sand by rhcp

[@jairsilveira991]

i thought the same thing

[@joeschmoe6516]

Hurt is by Trent Reznor of NIN. Cash covered it (wonderfully).

[@massposting6845]

Yeah but Johnny's is play a bit different he played Johnny's version

[@deezyboi6761]

Hey did you take down the chon peace video you did?? Cuz I can't find it

[@nikolagugoski]

Yes. KZbin deleted 3 of my Polyphia videos because there are official tabs available. I have to be careful with Chon songs. I left public only the songs from Homey

[@Iveraxi]

I got 2, Wake me up when September Ends and Fade to Black

[@terryhayward7905]

1, 2 and 4 were the only ones that got, most of the rest I have never even heard before. But then I am 74 and don't really take a lot of notice of modern songs.

[@rcengineer]

Acoustic intros I recognize: Metallica - Fade to Black Iron Maiden - Children of the Damned Metallica - One Yngwie Malmsteen - Disciples of Hell Sepultura - Beneath the Remains Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven (duh) Annihilator - Crystal Ann

[@aviladiazdanielalberto3222]

metalica - nothing else matters

[@MorsDengse]

Had you added "Ich liebe dich" by Hansi Hinterseer, I would have guessed one.

[@pau490]

Didn't even recognize any of them except 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' cause of how the tabs became a meme