What makes a song a “signature song” for a band or artist? It’s a hit that the band/artist is best known for – to the point where it’s the first song you think of when you hear their name! Even if the artist has many other hits under their belt, they’ll always be expected to perform their signature song.
Here are some notable signature songs – and the stories behind them.
“Dancing Queen” became a worldwide hit for Swedish band ABBA, and they wanted it to be the follow-up single to “Mamma Mia” – but their manager insisted that the more mellow “Fernando” should be next instead.
Although AC/DC found success with songs like “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be”, “The Jack”, and “Highway to Hell”, and “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)” before 1980, their 1980 hit “Back in Black” was a milestone moment for the band. With an unmistakable opening riff, “Back in Black” was written in honor of AC/DC’s former singer Bon Scott who died in 1980.
Although AC/DC found success with songs like “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be”, “The Jack”, and “Highway to Hell”, and “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)” before 1980, their 1980 hit “Back in Black” was a milestone moment for the band. With an unmistakable opening riff, “Back in Black” was written in honor of AC/DC’s former singer Bon Scott who died in 1980.
The 1999 ballad “I Want It That Way” is the signature song for American boy band Backstreet Boys. However, the song’s memorable arpeggiated riff was inspired by a completely different group. The song’s co-writer, Swedish music producer Andreas Carlsson, said the riff was written at the end of the song’s recording session and was inspired by “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica.
Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi actually didn’t like the original recording of the band’s smash hit – it can be found as a hidden track on their album 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong. Guitarist Richie Sambora convinced Bon Jovi that the song was good, and they reworked it with a new bassline and different drum fills, as well as a talk box to include it onSlippery When Wet.
“Layla” was inspired both by a 12th century Persian poem and Eric Clapton’s secret love for Pattie Boyd, who was married to his friend George Harrison at the time.
Alice Cooper’s signature song was inspired by the feeling of the last day of school. Cooper said he was asked “What’s the greatest three minutes of your life?” and his thoughts were Christmas morning and the last three minutes of the last day of school. The song became the band’s first hit single, but it was banned from some radio stations whose management thought the song would incite rebelliousness in kids toward their education.
English band Def Leppard’s signature song was created toward the end of the recording of their 1987 album Hysteria. The band had already been working on the album for two and a half years when lead singer Joe Elliot said he showed their producer a hook he had been playing around with. Within two weeks, the song was completed and added on as the 12th track of the album.
Deep Purple was in Switzerland to record an album in 1971 in a casino. The casino was holding its last concert of the season before Deep Purple would be able to play there. Unfortunately, a member of the audience shot off a flare gun, causing a fire that destroyed the entire casino and left Deep Purple without a place to record. The title of the song refers to the smoke over Lake Geneva resulting from the fire, which the band watched from their hotel room window.
Songwriting team Taffy Nivert and Bill Danoff were driving through Maryland when the inspiration for “Country Roads, Take Me Home” struck. They were originally going to sell the song to Johnny Cash, but John Denver “flipped” when he heard that news, and had to have the song for himself. The song is one of West Virginia’s four official state anthems. It was selected to go in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2023.
The original working title for the instrumental demo of “Hotel California” was “Mexican Reggae”. The band decided to theme it “Hotel California” as a nod to The Beverly Hills Hotel, which was symbolic of Beverly Hills’ mystique to them at that time.
John Lennon was inspired to write “Imagine” by several poems from Yoko Ono’s 1964 book “Grapefruit” – so much that he later was quoted in a 2007 biography saying the song should be “credited as a Lennon/Ono song. A lot of it—the lyric and the concept—came from Yoko, but in those days I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted her contribution, but it was right out of Grapefruit.”
The first line for “Free Bird” came from Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins’s girlfriend, Kathy, who asked Collins “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?” The question became the first line of the band’s signature song and the band performed it for the first time during the reception at Collins and Kathy’s wedding.
The title for Nirvana’s 1991 grunge anthem came from a graffiti scrawl that Kurt Cobain’s friend and Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna put on his wall, “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit”. Hanna meant to make fun of Cobain for wearing his girlfriend’s Teen Spirit deodorant, but Cobain didn’t know what “Teen Spirit” meant and took it as a compliment.
This song, popularized by Darius Rucker, is made up of a simple four-chord progression. The chorus and melody were written by Bob Dylan in the 1970s, and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show wrote the verses 25 years later.
Guitarist Greg Leon (Motley Crue/Quiet Riot) said he helped Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist, Randy Rhoads, come up with the riff for “Crazy Train” after showing him the riff for “Swington” by Steve Miller. “I said: ‘Look what happens when you speed this riff up.’ We messed around, and the next thing I know he took it to a whole other level and end up writing the ‘Crazy Train’ riff”, Leon said in a 2012 biography on Rhoads.
The Police and Sting’s signature song, “Every Breath You Take” swept the summer of 1983, sitting on top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks. Sting penned the track in the Caribbean at James Bond author Ian Fleming’s Goldeneye estate.
He told The Independent in 1993, “I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn’t realize at the time how sinister it was. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.”
In May 2019, Broadcast Music, Inc. recognized the song for being the most-played song in radio history.
Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury began working on what would become “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the late 1960s. Mercury called the song a “mock opera” – it resulted from three separate songs he had written.
“Black Hole Sun” originated during a car ride. Released in 1994, it’s considered to be Seattle-based grunge rock band Soundgarden’s signature song. Lead singer Chris Cornell wrote the song – he said in 2014 that he came up with the concept and the melody while driving home from the studio after he thought he heard a radio news anchor say “Black hole sun”.
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Are you still new to guitar, but need something that sounds cool to show off your skills? Check out this list of songs that sound way harder to play than they actually are.
The verse and chord riffs for “Back in Black” rock pretty hard – but they’re based around power chords with an E minor pentatonic lick – meaning if you’ve mastered our 30 Day Beginner Challenge, it should be easy for you!
“Thunderstruck”’s iconic opening riff sounds like something only a seasoned guitar player could pull off – but it’s all played on one string. Play with a metronome and slow it way down at first, then build up speed as you get better! (If you’re using the Fret Zealot app, you can slow down the guitar tab as much as you’d like). Check out our Angus Young Player Study Course to really nail Young’s signature style.
The chord progression for this Pink Floyd fan favorite is fairly easy, and repeats itself. The opening solo may take you a couple of tries, but should be achievable for most beginners!
“Eleanor Rigby” – The Beatles
This Beatles song can be played with only C and Em (with the option to add Em6 and Em7). Lock down the correct rhythm and you’ll be sounding like a Beatle in no time.
Playing the iconic, bass-like guitar riff of “Come As You Are” involves some picking and tuning a whole step down, but it repeats, making it a fairly easy line to learn.
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Some songs have riffs that are so iconic, they’re instantly recognizable for even the most casual of music listeners. You might find yourself singing the riff, rather than the words!
Check out this list of what we think are some of the most memorable riffs of all time.
“Back in Black” was AC/DC’s tribute to their former singer, Bon Scott, who died suddenly in the same year the album was released. It was AC/DC’s first album with Scott’s replacement, Brian Johnson.
One of The Hendrix Experience’s best known songs, “Purple Haze” features Jimi Hendrix’s use of his signature chords and a blend ofblues and Eastern modalities.
Famously, Guns ‘n Roses guitarist Slash came up with the riff for “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as a joke, playing what he called “a circus melody” during a jam session warm up.Lead singer Axl Rose wrote lyrics for the song by the next day.
Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain said that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a result of trying to write a song that sounded like The Pixies. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band,” Cobain told Rolling Stone in 1994. “ We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”
Guitarist Greg Leon (Motley Crue/Quiet Riot) said he helped Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist, Randy Rhoads, come up with the riff for “Crazy Train” after showing him the riff for “Swington” by Steve Miller. “I said: ‘Look what happens when you speed this riff up.’ We messed around, and the next thing I know he took it to a whole other level and end up writing the ‘Crazy Train’ riff”, Leon said in a 2012 biography on Rhoads.
“Killing in the Name” – Rage Against the Machine
RATM guitarist Tom Morello wrote this iconic drop D riff while giving a guitar student a lesson in Drop D tuning. He told Triple J in 2009 that he briefly paused the lesson to go record it.
White Stripes singer and guitarist Jack White wrote the riff that would become “Seven Nation Army” while on tour in Australia. White originally wanted to save the riff in case he ever was called on to write a song for a James Bond movie – but thinking that the chances were slim, he incorporated it into a White Stripes song instead. Five years later, he did write a song for a Bond movie (“Another Way to Die” with Alicia Keys).
English band Free’s drummer, Simon Kirke, said that their hit “All Right Now” was written following a lackluster gig. “. We finished our show and walked off the stage to the sound of our own footsteps. The applause had died before I had even left the drum riser,” Kirke told a newspaper in 2008.. It was obvious that we needed a rocker to close our shows.”
“Beat It” – Michael Jackson
Jackson and producer Quincy Jones tapped Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen to add a guitar solo for a “rock song” for Thriller. The resulting riff is not only “fire” for how cool it is – according to a 2010 BBC piece on Jones, while Van Halen was recording his solo, the sound of his guitar caused the control room’s monitor speaker to catch fire. “This must be really good!” one of the sound engineers exclaimed.
“No One Knows” – Queens of the Stone Age
According to Queen of the Stone Age founding member Josh Homme, although the song “No One Knows” came out in 2002, the song’s iconic riff was created about five years prior. “We have patience with music, a year or five years down the road it may kind of rewrite itself and become what it’s supposed to be,” Homme said in a 2005 biography of the band.
The riff for Pearl Jam’s debut single predates the formation of the band. Guitarist Stone Gossard, who was then playing in a band called Mother Love Bone, wrote the music for the song, which was then called “Dollar Short”. The band unfortunately dissolved following the overdose death of Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood. Gossard, bandmate Jeff Ament and guitarist Mike McCreedy recorded the song along with four other tracks on a demo in hopes of finding a singer and drummer. Vocalist Eddie Vedder, who was then working as a security guard, got a hold of the tape, recorded some vocals, and sent it back to the band in Seattle. The rest is rock history.
“Walk This Way” was created during a soundcheck, while Aerosmith was opening for The Guess Who in Honolulu in 1974. Guitarist Joe Perry was fooling around with riffs, and singer Steven Tyler began scatting over the groove. They had the basics of a song by the time soundcheck was over.
Cream bassist Jack Bruce wrote the riff that would become the basis for “Sunshine of Your Love” after seeing Jimi Hendrix perform. “I don’t think Jack [Bruce] had really taken him in before … and when he did see it that night, after the gig he went home and came up with the riff,” Cream guitarist Eric Clapton told Rolling Stone in 1988. “It was strictly a dedication to Jimi. And then we wrote a song on top of it.”
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You’ll know when you’ve achieved these breakthroughs that you’re making progress.
Having scales memorized
If you’re learning guitar from scratch – with no prior musical education – learning and memorizing scales can feel like learning a foreign language. When you can start playing scales from memory with no help, you’re well on your way to mastering the guitar.
Chords are the building blocks of songs. Memorizing the shapes and names (and variations!) of chords takes time and practice – but when you’ve got them down, you’ll be able to play most songs.
One of the most satisfying moments of learning guitar is when you can play a real song, start to finish. Here are some of the easiest songs you can learn on guitar. Most people start with “Smoke on the Water”.
Once you’re confident in your playing abilities, it’s time to show them off! Playing at a local open mic night in your city is a great way to get comfortable playing in front of other people, as well as to meet other musicians to play with!
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Eddie Van Halen’s face-melting guitar solo on Van Halen’s 1978 debut album showcased his tapping and squealing guitar prowess – and it’s often considered the best guitar solo of all time. For a leg up on learning this song, check out our Eddie Van Halen Player Study Course.
“Through the Fire and Flames” was famously featured in Guitar Hero III – causing a lot of frustration for players, as it was one of the most difficult songs in the game. With a speed of 200 BPM, this song will give your fingers a real workout.
Another instrumental composition that shows off the skills of its guitarist, “Cliffs of Dover” starts with an ad-libbed guitar solo. This song was also featured on Guitar Hero III.
“CAFO” – Animals As Leaders
Most guitarists probably find Animals As Leaders songs punishingly hard, as AAL guitarist Tosin Abasi is one of the greatest technical guitarists around.
“Master of Puppets” – Metallica
The title track of Metallica’s 1986 album is difficult because of the odd meters used in the fast, heavy riffs. The song was prominently featured in Stranger Things 4 and – SPOILER – Eddie Munson must have been a musical genius to be able to play it front to back the same year it came out without online tabs or videos!
“Heartbreaker” – Led Zeppelin
If you’ve ever thought that Jimmy Page’s guitar solo on “Heartbreaker” sounds different than the rest of the track, you’re right. Page told Guitar World in 1998 that the track was recorded separately in a different studio than the rest of the song. It was also the first time he used his Gibson Les Paul/Marshall Stack combo for recording.
“Neon” – John Mayer
John Mayer has said his technique for playing his 1999 song “Neon” is a trick similar to “the kid at school turning his eyelids inside out”. In March 2021, Mayer uploaded a TikTok video sharing a “guitar tip” on how to play the song, which is to move your thumb and index finger back and forth on the guitar strings.
“U forgot to explain the step where u just dislocate your thumb,” one commenter pointed out.
“Free Bird” might be a bit of a punchline among guitarists – who hasn’t been hassled by a drunk audience member requesting it before? But the solo, which kicks in around the 4:55 mark, is a bona fide endurance contest of short licks that takes plenty of technique to master. Or, you can always troll the audience:
[TikTok video of Shane’s Free Bird request]
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If you’ve already mastered (or at least gotten pretty good at) one instrument, it might be worth considering picking up a new one. Not only will it be a new challenge for you, it will reinvigorate your interest in playing music by giving you a whole new device to explore.
Here are some reasons to learn a second instrument:
Learning a second instrument won’t be as difficult as learning the first one
If you already know scales, chords, rhythm and key signatures, you’re halfway there. Learning a new instrument will involve putting the principles you already understand to work – much easier than trying to learn the instrument and music theory at the same time.
It makes you more versatile as an artist and a performer
If you play multiple instruments, your musical possibilities are wider! Not only will you be able to play multiple instruments on any tracks that you record, but you’ll be a more attractive candidate to any band looking for a new member. Suddenly, you’re not just a guitarist – you’re a guitarist AND a bassist/keyboardist, etc. You may even find that you prefer the new instrument over the one you already know.
Learning a new instrument can freshen your perspective on music
Think back to how exciting it was when you were learning your first instrument – every milestone you hit felt like a huge breakthrough! You can recapture that feeling again by learning a new instrument.
It’s fun!
With Fret Zealot, learning the guitar, ukulele, or bass guitar is fun and easy. With step-by-step lessons and an optional LED system that shows you exactly where to put your fingers, you’ll be playing a second instrument in a couple of months.
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Oils and sweat from your hands, dust, and other contaminants can grime up your guitar. Use these tips to give your guitar a good cleaning and make sure that it lasts you a long time.
Wash your hands first
Even if your hands look clean, they’re a source of oil. Make sure that you scrub yourself up before getting to work cleaning your guitar.
Take off the strings
…and consider changing them if they look or sound dirty, discolored or dull.
Clean the fretboard
Wipe down the guitar’s fretboard using a soft cloth. You can use a clean T-shirt or another similar material, or a specially-designated cleaning cloth. Make sure to wipe down the front, back, and sides, clearing off any places your hands may have touched it during the process.
Clean the guitar
Repeat the process for the body of the guitar.
Use a polish on the guitar body
If your guitar’s finish is gloss (poly-finish), spray a guitar polish onto a soft cloth and wipe it down. Buff the polish out with a dry cloth.
Clean the hardware
Use a soft cloth and a small amount of guitar polish to remove dirt, dust and grime from your guitar’s hardware.
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Writing a new song but feeling stuck when it comes to chord progressions?
Chords are the building blocks of any song, and they can influence the mood of your song – and the mood of the listener.
Like all art, music is subjective, but here are some general associations between chord type and song mood.
Major chords: Brighten the mood of a song
Minor chords: Darken the mood of a song by creating “dissonance”, usually from the minor third or 5th note.
Using both major and minor chords in a song will enrich the texture and depth of a song. You can use either minor chords or major chords strategically to enhance the gravity or hopefulness of a certain lyric.
You can also substitute a minor chord for a major chord in a progression to darken the mood of a piece of music.
“Country Roads, take me home, to the place I belong”
GDCG
West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.”
The E minor chord in the first line of the song helps lend a note of melancholy to the overall upbeat nature of the chorus, lending the chorus an air of wistful homesickness that makes it a more dynamic song.
There’s a lot more to chords than simply major or minor. Chord variations such as 7ths, 9th, and suspended can also impact the mood of a chord.
Here are some general associations with other types of chords:
7th: Cool, jazzy
Dominant 7th: Mysterious
Minor 7th: Emotional, hopeful
Diminished: Dark
There’s no correct or wrong way to write a chord progression – but play around with different combinations of chords until you find the perfect one for your song! You can find every chord in the Fret Zealot app.
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Radiohead’s debut single “Creep” – and one of their most successful songs – wasn’t supposed to be released at all. The band recorded the song at the request of their producers and released it as a single in 1992. It didn’t become a hit until it was re-released in 1993.
“Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon
Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon’s comedy rock hit “Werewolves of London” features some big names on the track – Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and John McVie played drums and bass on the song.
The creepy bell featured at the start of this 1980 track is an actual 2,000 lbs. bronze bell. It was recorded using a mobile studio inside of the bell’s foundry in England.
“Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne said their 1977 hit was written with the idea of “Alice Cooper writing a Randy Newman-type ballad”. Although the song’s inspiration was purely creative, it was released around the same time as the Son of Sam killings – an eerie coincidence.
Alice Cooper (aka Vincent Furnier’s) co-writer on “Poison”, Desmond Child, worked with another theatrical act. Child also produced Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell III”. “It’s a fine line between somebody telling the true story of their life in a song and also what their character type calls for,” Child told Songfacts.
It wouldn’t be right to make a list of Halloween songs and not include the “Prince of Darkness”! “Crazy Train” was Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne’s debut solo single. With a maniacal laugh at the start of the track, an iconic riff, and lyrics dealing with the fear of annihilation during the Cold War, it’s a great song to get you in the mood for Halloween.
“Them Bones”, off of Alice in Chains’ 1992 album “Dirt”, deals with themes of death and mortality. Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, who wrote the song, told R.I.P. Magazine in 1993, “Death freaks me out. I think it freaks a lot of people out. It’s the end of life, depending on your views. It’s a pretty scary thing. ‘Them Bones’ is trying to put that thought to rest. Use what you have left, and use it well.”
Metallica’ 1984 version of “Am I Evil” popularized the song, but it was originally released by British heavy metal band Diamond Head. The song evolved over the course of 18 months with different parts being added on, Diamond Head’s co-founder/ guitarist Brian Tatler told Louder.
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It’s easy to dismiss superstitious beliefs – Stevie Wonder famously sang about it in one of the catchiest songs of all time. However, performing a ritual before a stressful task – like playing a sold-out show, for example – can actually help alleviate anxiety, helping promote a good performance, a study by Harvard Business Review found.
During the study, researchers conducted four experiments during which the participants performed a ritual before completing stressful tasks, which included singing “Don’t Stop Believing” for an audience and taking a math test.
They concluded that performing a “ritual” before a high-stakes situation can ease feelings of anxiety, allowing the ritual-performer to do better on the task.
Many famous musicians have pre-show rituals to help them perform their best. Here are some of them:
The Rolling Stones
Don’t touch Keith Richards’ Shepherd’s Pie! The legendary Rolling Stones guitarist has a rule that he must have a pre-show Shepherd’s Pie (an English pub favorite) and that he’s the one who breaks the crust. “Nobody touches the pie till I’ve been in there,” Richards wrote in his 2010 autobiography Life. “Don’t bust my crust, baby.”
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was famous for their hard-partying antics during the band’s heyday – but the remaining members have calmed down a bit. During their reunion show in 2007, lead singer Robert Plant requested a special spot to iron his shirts. He explained that the task of ironing his own shirts helps to get him into the mood to perform.
Foo Fighters
These rockers get ready for a show by listening to Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album and downing some Jager bombs (aka “David Lee Roth juice”, lead singer Dave Grohl said in 2007.
Coldplay
The British band has a quiet moment and a group hug together before they perform. Lead singer Chris Martin has some additional rituals of his own, including brushing his teeth. “For me, there are about 18 things I have to do before I can go out to perform—most of them are too ridiculous to repeat!” Martin told Clash Music in 2009.
Taylor Swift
Triskaidekaphobia, where? Any true Swiftie knows that Taylor’s lucky number is 13, and the singer/songwriter used to write the number on her hand or body before each performance. She doesn’t appear to do this ritual anymore – but she now has the most number one albums by a woman in history, so maybe it worked!
Mumford & Sons
Before a show, the members of Mumford & Sons light some palo santo wood, a type of wood native to South America and used in ritual purification there. Lead singer Marcus Mumford has said that the fumes of palo santo seem to be the only thing that can help his pre-show headaches.
Leonard Cohen
The late singer/songwriter used to prepare for shows with a whiskey and a Latin phrase – “Pauper sum ego, nihil habeo”, meaning “I am poor, I have nothing.”
Do you have a pre-show ritual? Let us know what it is in the comments!
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Signature songs of famous bands – and their stories
/by Kaley LynchWhat makes a song a “signature song” for a band or artist? It’s a hit that the band/artist is best known for – to the point where it’s the first song you think of when you hear their name! Even if the artist has many other hits under their belt, they’ll always be expected to perform their signature song.
Here are some notable signature songs – and the stories behind them.
“Dancing Queen” – ABBA
“Dancing Queen” became a worldwide hit for Swedish band ABBA, and they wanted it to be the follow-up single to “Mamma Mia” – but their manager insisted that the more mellow “Fernando” should be next instead.
“House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals
Although AC/DC found success with songs like “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be”, “The Jack”, and “Highway to Hell”, and “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)” before 1980, their 1980 hit “Back in Black” was a milestone moment for the band. With an unmistakable opening riff, “Back in Black” was written in honor of AC/DC’s former singer Bon Scott who died in 1980.
“What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
American jazz great Louis Armstrong recorded his iconic 1967 single overnight following a midnight show in Las Vegas, wrapping around 6 a.m.
“Back in Black” – AC/DC
Although AC/DC found success with songs like “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be”, “The Jack”, and “Highway to Hell”, and “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)” before 1980, their 1980 hit “Back in Black” was a milestone moment for the band. With an unmistakable opening riff, “Back in Black” was written in honor of AC/DC’s former singer Bon Scott who died in 1980.
“I Want It That Way” – The Backstreet Boys
The 1999 ballad “I Want It That Way” is the signature song for American boy band Backstreet Boys. However, the song’s memorable arpeggiated riff was inspired by a completely different group. The song’s co-writer, Swedish music producer Andreas Carlsson, said the riff was written at the end of the song’s recording session and was inspired by “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica.
“Livin’ on a Prayer” Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi actually didn’t like the original recording of the band’s smash hit – it can be found as a hidden track on their album 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong. Guitarist Richie Sambora convinced Bon Jovi that the song was good, and they reworked it with a new bassline and different drum fills, as well as a talk box to include it on Slippery When Wet.
“Layla” – Eric Clapton
“Layla” was inspired both by a 12th century Persian poem and Eric Clapton’s secret love for Pattie Boyd, who was married to his friend George Harrison at the time.
“School’s Out” – Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper’s signature song was inspired by the feeling of the last day of school. Cooper said he was asked “What’s the greatest three minutes of your life?” and his thoughts were Christmas morning and the last three minutes of the last day of school. The song became the band’s first hit single, but it was banned from some radio stations whose management thought the song would incite rebelliousness in kids toward their education.
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” – Def Leppard
English band Def Leppard’s signature song was created toward the end of the recording of their 1987 album Hysteria. The band had already been working on the album for two and a half years when lead singer Joe Elliot said he showed their producer a hook he had been playing around with. Within two weeks, the song was completed and added on as the 12th track of the album.
“Smoke on the Water” – Deep Purple
Deep Purple was in Switzerland to record an album in 1971 in a casino. The casino was holding its last concert of the season before Deep Purple would be able to play there. Unfortunately, a member of the audience shot off a flare gun, causing a fire that destroyed the entire casino and left Deep Purple without a place to record. The title of the song refers to the smoke over Lake Geneva resulting from the fire, which the band watched from their hotel room window.
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” – John Denver
Songwriting team Taffy Nivert and Bill Danoff were driving through Maryland when the inspiration for “Country Roads, Take Me Home” struck. They were originally going to sell the song to Johnny Cash, but John Denver “flipped” when he heard that news, and had to have the song for himself. The song is one of West Virginia’s four official state anthems. It was selected to go in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2023.
“Hotel California” – The Eagles
The original working title for the instrumental demo of “Hotel California” was “Mexican Reggae”. The band decided to theme it “Hotel California” as a nod to The Beverly Hills Hotel, which was symbolic of Beverly Hills’ mystique to them at that time.
“Imagine” – John Lennon
John Lennon was inspired to write “Imagine” by several poems from Yoko Ono’s 1964 book “Grapefruit” – so much that he later was quoted in a 2007 biography saying the song should be “credited as a Lennon/Ono song. A lot of it—the lyric and the concept—came from Yoko, but in those days I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted her contribution, but it was right out of Grapefruit.”
“Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
The first line for “Free Bird” came from Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins’s girlfriend, Kathy, who asked Collins “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?” The question became the first line of the band’s signature song and the band performed it for the first time during the reception at Collins and Kathy’s wedding.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
The title for Nirvana’s 1991 grunge anthem came from a graffiti scrawl that Kurt Cobain’s friend and Bikini Kill singer Kathleen Hanna put on his wall, “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit”. Hanna meant to make fun of Cobain for wearing his girlfriend’s Teen Spirit deodorant, but Cobain didn’t know what “Teen Spirit” meant and took it as a compliment.
“Wagon Wheel” – Old Crow Medicine Show
This song, popularized by Darius Rucker, is made up of a simple four-chord progression. The chorus and melody were written by Bob Dylan in the 1970s, and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show wrote the verses 25 years later.
“Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
Guitarist Greg Leon (Motley Crue/Quiet Riot) said he helped Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist, Randy Rhoads, come up with the riff for “Crazy Train” after showing him the riff for “Swington” by Steve Miller. “I said: ‘Look what happens when you speed this riff up.’ We messed around, and the next thing I know he took it to a whole other level and end up writing the ‘Crazy Train’ riff”, Leon said in a 2012 biography on Rhoads.
“Every Breath You Take” – The Police
The Police and Sting’s signature song, “Every Breath You Take” swept the summer of 1983, sitting on top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks. Sting penned the track in the Caribbean at James Bond author Ian Fleming’s Goldeneye estate.
He told The Independent in 1993, “I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn’t realize at the time how sinister it was. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.”
In May 2019, Broadcast Music, Inc. recognized the song for being the most-played song in radio history.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury began working on what would become “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the late 1960s. Mercury called the song a “mock opera” – it resulted from three separate songs he had written.
Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
“Black Hole Sun” originated during a car ride. Released in 1994, it’s considered to be Seattle-based grunge rock band Soundgarden’s signature song. Lead singer Chris Cornell wrote the song – he said in 2014 that he came up with the concept and the melody while driving home from the studio after he thought he heard a radio news anchor say “Black hole sun”.
Five guitar songs that sound harder to play than they are
/by Kaley LynchAre you still new to guitar, but need something that sounds cool to show off your skills? Check out this list of songs that sound way harder to play than they actually are.
“Back in Black” – AC/DC
The verse and chord riffs for “Back in Black” rock pretty hard – but they’re based around power chords with an E minor pentatonic lick – meaning if you’ve mastered our 30 Day Beginner Challenge, it should be easy for you!
“Thunderstruck” – AC/DC
“Thunderstruck”’s iconic opening riff sounds like something only a seasoned guitar player could pull off – but it’s all played on one string. Play with a metronome and slow it way down at first, then build up speed as you get better! (If you’re using the Fret Zealot app, you can slow down the guitar tab as much as you’d like). Check out our Angus Young Player Study Course to really nail Young’s signature style.
“Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
The chord progression for this Pink Floyd fan favorite is fairly easy, and repeats itself. The opening solo may take you a couple of tries, but should be achievable for most beginners!
“Eleanor Rigby” – The Beatles
This Beatles song can be played with only C and Em (with the option to add Em6 and Em7). Lock down the correct rhythm and you’ll be sounding like a Beatle in no time.
“Come As You Are” – Nirvana
Playing the iconic, bass-like guitar riff of “Come As You Are” involves some picking and tuning a whole step down, but it repeats, making it a fairly easy line to learn.
These are some of the most memorable riffs of all time
/by Kaley LynchSome songs have riffs that are so iconic, they’re instantly recognizable for even the most casual of music listeners. You might find yourself singing the riff, rather than the words!
Check out this list of what we think are some of the most memorable riffs of all time.
“Back in Black” – AC/DC
“Back in Black” was AC/DC’s tribute to their former singer, Bon Scott, who died suddenly in the same year the album was released. It was AC/DC’s first album with Scott’s replacement, Brian Johnson.
Purple Haze
One of The Hendrix Experience’s best known songs, “Purple Haze” features Jimi Hendrix’s use of his signature chords and a blend of blues and Eastern modalities.
Sweet Child o’ Mine
Famously, Guns ‘n Roses guitarist Slash came up with the riff for “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as a joke, playing what he called “a circus melody” during a jam session warm up. Lead singer Axl Rose wrote lyrics for the song by the next day.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain said that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a result of trying to write a song that sounded like The Pixies. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band,” Cobain told Rolling Stone in 1994. “ We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”
“Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
Guitarist Greg Leon (Motley Crue/Quiet Riot) said he helped Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist, Randy Rhoads, come up with the riff for “Crazy Train” after showing him the riff for “Swington” by Steve Miller. “I said: ‘Look what happens when you speed this riff up.’ We messed around, and the next thing I know he took it to a whole other level and end up writing the ‘Crazy Train’ riff”, Leon said in a 2012 biography on Rhoads.
“Killing in the Name” – Rage Against the Machine
RATM guitarist Tom Morello wrote this iconic drop D riff while giving a guitar student a lesson in Drop D tuning. He told Triple J in 2009 that he briefly paused the lesson to go record it.
“Seven Nation Army” – The White Stripes
White Stripes singer and guitarist Jack White wrote the riff that would become “Seven Nation Army” while on tour in Australia. White originally wanted to save the riff in case he ever was called on to write a song for a James Bond movie – but thinking that the chances were slim, he incorporated it into a White Stripes song instead. Five years later, he did write a song for a Bond movie (“Another Way to Die” with Alicia Keys).
“All Right Now” – Free
English band Free’s drummer, Simon Kirke, said that their hit “All Right Now” was written following a lackluster gig. “. We finished our show and walked off the stage to the sound of our own footsteps. The applause had died before I had even left the drum riser,” Kirke told a newspaper in 2008.. It was obvious that we needed a rocker to close our shows.”
“Beat It” – Michael Jackson
Jackson and producer Quincy Jones tapped Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen to add a guitar solo for a “rock song” for Thriller. The resulting riff is not only “fire” for how cool it is – according to a 2010 BBC piece on Jones, while Van Halen was recording his solo, the sound of his guitar caused the control room’s monitor speaker to catch fire. “This must be really good!” one of the sound engineers exclaimed.
“No One Knows” – Queens of the Stone Age
According to Queen of the Stone Age founding member Josh Homme, although the song “No One Knows” came out in 2002, the song’s iconic riff was created about five years prior. “We have patience with music, a year or five years down the road it may kind of rewrite itself and become what it’s supposed to be,” Homme said in a 2005 biography of the band.
“Can’t Stop” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
RHCP guitarist John Frusciante utilizes a reggae style – strumming only on the upbeat – during the bridge of this 2002 hit.
“Alive” – Pearl Jam
The riff for Pearl Jam’s debut single predates the formation of the band. Guitarist Stone Gossard, who was then playing in a band called Mother Love Bone, wrote the music for the song, which was then called “Dollar Short”. The band unfortunately dissolved following the overdose death of Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood. Gossard, bandmate Jeff Ament and guitarist Mike McCreedy recorded the song along with four other tracks on a demo in hopes of finding a singer and drummer. Vocalist Eddie Vedder, who was then working as a security guard, got a hold of the tape, recorded some vocals, and sent it back to the band in Seattle. The rest is rock history.
“Walk This Way” – Aerosmith
“Walk This Way” was created during a soundcheck, while Aerosmith was opening for The Guess Who in Honolulu in 1974. Guitarist Joe Perry was fooling around with riffs, and singer Steven Tyler began scatting over the groove. They had the basics of a song by the time soundcheck was over.
“Sunshine of Your Love” – Cream
Cream bassist Jack Bruce wrote the riff that would become the basis for “Sunshine of Your Love” after seeing Jimi Hendrix perform. “I don’t think Jack [Bruce] had really taken him in before … and when he did see it that night, after the gig he went home and came up with the riff,” Cream guitarist Eric Clapton told Rolling Stone in 1988. “It was strictly a dedication to Jimi. And then we wrote a song on top of it.”
Guitar milestones to look out for
/by Kaley LynchAre you starting to play guitar?
You’ll know when you’ve achieved these breakthroughs that you’re making progress.
Having scales memorized
If you’re learning guitar from scratch – with no prior musical education – learning and memorizing scales can feel like learning a foreign language. When you can start playing scales from memory with no help, you’re well on your way to mastering the guitar.
Course: Learn Every Scale In 60 Minutes with RelationShapes!
Having chords memorized
Chords are the building blocks of songs. Memorizing the shapes and names (and variations!) of chords takes time and practice – but when you’ve got them down, you’ll be able to play most songs.
Course: 50+ Chord Progressions and Styles: Strumming Simplified
Learning your first song
One of the most satisfying moments of learning guitar is when you can play a real song, start to finish. Here are some of the easiest songs you can learn on guitar. Most people start with “Smoke on the Water”.
Lesson: Smoke on the Water
Mastering your first riff
Once you’ve played through your first song, it’s time to start working on mastering riffs and licks – your first foray into playing leads.
Course: 10 Must Know Rock Guitar Licks
Showing off your skills!
Once you’re confident in your playing abilities, it’s time to show them off! Playing at a local open mic night in your city is a great way to get comfortable playing in front of other people, as well as to meet other musicians to play with!
Scary-hard songs to learn on guitar
/by Kaley LynchIt’s the scariest time of the year.
We know you’re up for a challenge, so why not take on a new guitar song that’s terrifyingly challenging?
“Eruption” – Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen’s face-melting guitar solo on Van Halen’s 1978 debut album showcased his tapping and squealing guitar prowess – and it’s often considered the best guitar solo of all time. For a leg up on learning this song, check out our Eddie Van Halen Player Study Course.
“Through the Fire and Flames” – Dragonforce
“Through the Fire and Flames” was famously featured in Guitar Hero III – causing a lot of frustration for players, as it was one of the most difficult songs in the game. With a speed of 200 BPM, this song will give your fingers a real workout.
“Cliffs of Dover” – Eric Johnson
Another instrumental composition that shows off the skills of its guitarist, “Cliffs of Dover” starts with an ad-libbed guitar solo. This song was also featured on Guitar Hero III.
“CAFO” – Animals As Leaders
Most guitarists probably find Animals As Leaders songs punishingly hard, as AAL guitarist Tosin Abasi is one of the greatest technical guitarists around.
“Master of Puppets” – Metallica
The title track of Metallica’s 1986 album is difficult because of the odd meters used in the fast, heavy riffs. The song was prominently featured in Stranger Things 4 and – SPOILER – Eddie Munson must have been a musical genius to be able to play it front to back the same year it came out without online tabs or videos!
“Heartbreaker” – Led Zeppelin
If you’ve ever thought that Jimmy Page’s guitar solo on “Heartbreaker” sounds different than the rest of the track, you’re right. Page told Guitar World in 1998 that the track was recorded separately in a different studio than the rest of the song. It was also the first time he used his Gibson Les Paul/Marshall Stack combo for recording.
“Neon” – John Mayer
John Mayer has said his technique for playing his 1999 song “Neon” is a trick similar to “the kid at school turning his eyelids inside out”. In March 2021, Mayer uploaded a TikTok video sharing a “guitar tip” on how to play the song, which is to move your thumb and index finger back and forth on the guitar strings.
“U forgot to explain the step where u just dislocate your thumb,” one commenter pointed out.
“Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynryd
“Free Bird” might be a bit of a punchline among guitarists – who hasn’t been hassled by a drunk audience member requesting it before? But the solo, which kicks in around the 4:55 mark, is a bona fide endurance contest of short licks that takes plenty of technique to master. Or, you can always troll the audience:
[TikTok video of Shane’s Free Bird request]
Reasons you should learn a new instrument
/by Kaley LynchIf you’ve already mastered (or at least gotten pretty good at) one instrument, it might be worth considering picking up a new one. Not only will it be a new challenge for you, it will reinvigorate your interest in playing music by giving you a whole new device to explore.
Here are some reasons to learn a second instrument:
Learning a second instrument won’t be as difficult as learning the first one
If you already know scales, chords, rhythm and key signatures, you’re halfway there. Learning a new instrument will involve putting the principles you already understand to work – much easier than trying to learn the instrument and music theory at the same time.
It’s a challenge for your brain and your body
Learning another instrument is similar to switching up your routine in the gym. Learning something new will challenge both your mind and your body to help keep you in the best shape possible!
It makes you more versatile as an artist and a performer
If you play multiple instruments, your musical possibilities are wider! Not only will you be able to play multiple instruments on any tracks that you record, but you’ll be a more attractive candidate to any band looking for a new member. Suddenly, you’re not just a guitarist – you’re a guitarist AND a bassist/keyboardist, etc. You may even find that you prefer the new instrument over the one you already know.
Learning a new instrument can freshen your perspective on music
Think back to how exciting it was when you were learning your first instrument – every milestone you hit felt like a huge breakthrough! You can recapture that feeling again by learning a new instrument.
It’s fun!
With Fret Zealot, learning the guitar, ukulele, or bass guitar is fun and easy. With step-by-step lessons and an optional LED system that shows you exactly where to put your fingers, you’ll be playing a second instrument in a couple of months.
How to clean your guitar
/by Kaley LynchWhat’s the last time you cleaned your guitar?
Oils and sweat from your hands, dust, and other contaminants can grime up your guitar. Use these tips to give your guitar a good cleaning and make sure that it lasts you a long time.
Wash your hands first
Even if your hands look clean, they’re a source of oil. Make sure that you scrub yourself up before getting to work cleaning your guitar.
Take off the strings
…and consider changing them if they look or sound dirty, discolored or dull.
Clean the fretboard
Wipe down the guitar’s fretboard using a soft cloth. You can use a clean T-shirt or another similar material, or a specially-designated cleaning cloth. Make sure to wipe down the front, back, and sides, clearing off any places your hands may have touched it during the process.
Clean the guitar
Repeat the process for the body of the guitar.
Use a polish on the guitar body
If your guitar’s finish is gloss (poly-finish), spray a guitar polish onto a soft cloth and wipe it down. Buff the polish out with a dry cloth.
Clean the hardware
Use a soft cloth and a small amount of guitar polish to remove dirt, dust and grime from your guitar’s hardware.
For more tips for overall guitar maintenance, check out this Ultimate Guitar Maintenance Guide.
How chords can influence the mood of a song
/by Kaley LynchWriting a new song but feeling stuck when it comes to chord progressions?
Chords are the building blocks of any song, and they can influence the mood of your song – and the mood of the listener.
Like all art, music is subjective, but here are some general associations between chord type and song mood.
Major chords: Brighten the mood of a song
Minor chords: Darken the mood of a song by creating “dissonance”, usually from the minor third or 5th note.
Using both major and minor chords in a song will enrich the texture and depth of a song. You can use either minor chords or major chords strategically to enhance the gravity or hopefulness of a certain lyric.
You can also substitute a minor chord for a major chord in a progression to darken the mood of a piece of music.
For example, in John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, the chorus chord progression is:
G D Em C
“Country Roads, take me home, to the place I belong”
G D C G
West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.”
The E minor chord in the first line of the song helps lend a note of melancholy to the overall upbeat nature of the chorus, lending the chorus an air of wistful homesickness that makes it a more dynamic song.
There’s a lot more to chords than simply major or minor. Chord variations such as 7ths, 9th, and suspended can also impact the mood of a chord.
A 2010 German study charted several different chord types and their associated emotions.
Here are some general associations with other types of chords:
7th: Cool, jazzy
Dominant 7th: Mysterious
Minor 7th: Emotional, hopeful
Diminished: Dark
There’s no correct or wrong way to write a chord progression – but play around with different combinations of chords until you find the perfect one for your song! You can find every chord in the Fret Zealot app.
Scary songs to learn on guitar for Halloween
/by Kaley LynchSpooky season is here. Check out these creepy songs to learn on guitar to get you in the Halloween spirit!
“Monster Mash”
You can either learn the original 1962 version of this Halloween novelty song by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, or The Misfits’ 1997 cover!
“Creep” – Radiohead
Radiohead’s debut single “Creep” – and one of their most successful songs – wasn’t supposed to be released at all. The band recorded the song at the request of their producers and released it as a single in 1992. It didn’t become a hit until it was re-released in 1993.
“Werewolves of London” – Warren Zevon
Singer-songwriter Warren Zevon’s comedy rock hit “Werewolves of London” features some big names on the track – Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and John McVie played drums and bass on the song.
“Hell’s Bells” – AC/DC
The creepy bell featured at the start of this 1980 track is an actual 2,000 lbs. bronze bell. It was recorded using a mobile studio inside of the bell’s foundry in England.
“Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne said their 1977 hit was written with the idea of “Alice Cooper writing a Randy Newman-type ballad”. Although the song’s inspiration was purely creative, it was released around the same time as the Son of Sam killings – an eerie coincidence.
“Poison” – Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper (aka Vincent Furnier’s) co-writer on “Poison”, Desmond Child, worked with another theatrical act. Child also produced Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell III”. “It’s a fine line between somebody telling the true story of their life in a song and also what their character type calls for,” Child told Songfacts.
Ozzy Osbourne – “Crazy Train”
It wouldn’t be right to make a list of Halloween songs and not include the “Prince of Darkness”! “Crazy Train” was Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne’s debut solo single. With a maniacal laugh at the start of the track, an iconic riff, and lyrics dealing with the fear of annihilation during the Cold War, it’s a great song to get you in the mood for Halloween.
“Them Bones” – Alice in Chains
“Them Bones”, off of Alice in Chains’ 1992 album “Dirt”, deals with themes of death and mortality. Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, who wrote the song, told R.I.P. Magazine in 1993, “Death freaks me out. I think it freaks a lot of people out. It’s the end of life, depending on your views. It’s a pretty scary thing. ‘Them Bones’ is trying to put that thought to rest. Use what you have left, and use it well.”
“Am I Evil” – Metallica/Diamond Head
Metallica’ 1984 version of “Am I Evil” popularized the song, but it was originally released by British heavy metal band Diamond Head. The song evolved over the course of 18 months with different parts being added on, Diamond Head’s co-founder/ guitarist Brian Tatler told Louder.
Pre-show superstitions and rituals of famous musicians
/by Kaley LynchIt’s easy to dismiss superstitious beliefs – Stevie Wonder famously sang about it in one of the catchiest songs of all time. However, performing a ritual before a stressful task – like playing a sold-out show, for example – can actually help alleviate anxiety, helping promote a good performance, a study by Harvard Business Review found.
During the study, researchers conducted four experiments during which the participants performed a ritual before completing stressful tasks, which included singing “Don’t Stop Believing” for an audience and taking a math test.
They concluded that performing a “ritual” before a high-stakes situation can ease feelings of anxiety, allowing the ritual-performer to do better on the task.
Many famous musicians have pre-show rituals to help them perform their best. Here are some of them:
The Rolling Stones
Don’t touch Keith Richards’ Shepherd’s Pie! The legendary Rolling Stones guitarist has a rule that he must have a pre-show Shepherd’s Pie (an English pub favorite) and that he’s the one who breaks the crust. “Nobody touches the pie till I’ve been in there,” Richards wrote in his 2010 autobiography Life. “Don’t bust my crust, baby.”
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was famous for their hard-partying antics during the band’s heyday – but the remaining members have calmed down a bit. During their reunion show in 2007, lead singer Robert Plant requested a special spot to iron his shirts. He explained that the task of ironing his own shirts helps to get him into the mood to perform.
Foo Fighters
These rockers get ready for a show by listening to Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album and downing some Jager bombs (aka “David Lee Roth juice”, lead singer Dave Grohl said in 2007.
Coldplay
The British band has a quiet moment and a group hug together before they perform. Lead singer Chris Martin has some additional rituals of his own, including brushing his teeth. “For me, there are about 18 things I have to do before I can go out to perform—most of them are too ridiculous to repeat!” Martin told Clash Music in 2009.
Taylor Swift
Triskaidekaphobia, where? Any true Swiftie knows that Taylor’s lucky number is 13, and the singer/songwriter used to write the number on her hand or body before each performance. She doesn’t appear to do this ritual anymore – but she now has the most number one albums by a woman in history, so maybe it worked!
Mumford & Sons
Before a show, the members of Mumford & Sons light some palo santo wood, a type of wood native to South America and used in ritual purification there. Lead singer Marcus Mumford has said that the fumes of palo santo seem to be the only thing that can help his pre-show headaches.
Leonard Cohen
The late singer/songwriter used to prepare for shows with a whiskey and a Latin phrase – “Pauper sum ego, nihil habeo”, meaning “I am poor, I have nothing.”
Do you have a pre-show ritual? Let us know what it is in the comments!