1958 Hit Ranked Among 'Best Guitar Riffs of All Time' Was Copied From Another No. 1 Song

Chuck Berry's iconic riff from "Johnny B. Goode" was ranked No. 2 on a list of the best guitar riffs ever written, but many fans may not know that it was actually copied from another song that Berry admired.

"Johnny B. Goode" is a rock and roll staple that was originally written, recorded, and released by Chuck Berry in 1958. It was among the first hit singles that turned Berry into a global rock star, and perhaps the one that he's most fondly remembered for today.

The track went to No. 2 on the Hot R&B Sides chart and peaked at No. 8 on the main pop charts, marking a huge success for Berry, as he continued to push traditional rock and roll into the mainstream.

The song's opening riff was instantly recognizable; Berry's electric guitar sings a melodic tune that immediately gets the energy flowing and sets the tone for the rest of the song. It was a very common feature in '50s rock and roll, and something that Berry emulated very closely in his other tracks, such as "Roll Over Beethoven".

This tune specifically, however, was a little more familiar than most. The melody is almost exactly the same as the intro to Louis Jordan's "Ain't That Just Like a Woman", though Berry's version drops the swing percussion and one-note guitar for a much more energetic rendition.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KTDjX6DCRzs

The riff on Jordan's track is played by guitarist Carl Hogan, whom Berry has since credited with giving him inspiration for the "Johnny B. Goode" intro. While today, it may seem like poor practice to copy another artist's melodies without proper credit, this kind of artistic back-and-forth was much more common in the '50s.

This was a decade of huge growth for rock and roll. Many of the genre's traditional songs used the same chord structures and basic melodies, before artists like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Little Richard began to experiment with the style and forge new paths for the genre.

This borrowed riff is a perfect example; while it maintains the same tune as Jordan's song, Berry's version plays with new sounds and attempts to breathe new life into a traditional rock and roll rhythm.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 5:47 AM.