The last riff?
Guitar heroes have made us jump, headbang, scream our lungs out, and shred invisible guitars in sync with their songs. Riffs are the backbone of countless tracks. They drive the rhythm, carry the melody, and grab the listener by the ears. You might forget the lyrics, but you’ll hum the riff. New music is being made all the time. So the question arises: will there come a day when every possible guitar riff has already been played?
A finite number
Technically, there’s only so many ways to arrange notes and chords on a guitar. But the number of potential riff combinations is still astronomical. The more music that’s made, though, the harder it becomes to come up with something truly original.
Great riffs get copied—sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. It’s been happening for decades. Think Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” vs. Spirit’s “Taurus,” or The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA” and Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen.” Sometimes it’s a nod to the legends, like Foo Fighters’ “Something from Nothing” echoing Dio’s “Holy Diver,” or Extreme’s “Rest in Peace” slipping in a Hendrix riff. And yeah, sometimes it’s just accidental. But listeners tend to notice.
Recycling and repetition
Riff recycling isn’t new. It’s everywhere, especially in rap and hip-hop. Compare Run-D.M.C.’s “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith’s original, or Puff Daddy’s “Come with Me” with Led Zeppelin’s version. But it’s not just hip-hop. Remember The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony”? That’s built on an orchestral take of The Rolling Stones’ “The Last Time.” Guitar solos do it too—Pearl Jam’s “Alive” borrows a lick from Kiss’s “She,” which itself lifted from The Doors’ “Five to One.”
The future of riffs
Sure, the number of possible riffs is technically limited but creativity isn’t. Musicians keep pushing the boundaries. Think Hendrix with the wah pedal, Tom Morello with the whammy, Van Halen’s tapping, or Andy McKee using his guitar like a drum kit. New tech, genres, and cultural influences keep reshaping the musical landscape—and riffs along with it. Even if every riff’s been written, the way they’re used can breathe new life into old patterns.
Then there’s the human element—emotion, expression, individuality. That’s what keeps music alive. Every guitarist brings their own touch, making even familiar riffs sound fresh and exciting.
Maybe one day, the last guitar hero will write the final riff. Maybe our descendants will be there to witness it, hopefully playing air guitar, rocking out like we did. A great riff? That’s pure magic.
