Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode - Guitar Tab

Berry Is On Top

1959 2:42

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About Johnny B. Goode

Few guitar intros are more immediately recognizable than the one that opens "Johnny B. Goode." Chuck Berry built the whole song around a repeating double-stop riff in Bb major, played with a sharp, punchy attack that sits right on top of the beat at 120 BPM. Getting that riff to snap the way Berry intended means keeping your pick attack consistent and your fretting hand relaxed enough to nail the slides and bends cleanly every single time through. The rhythm feel underneath is rooted in Classic Rock and blues, so the groove has to stay locked in even when your fingers want to rush. The biggest challenge for most players is not learning the notes but keeping the energy tight across the full three-minute runtime without losing momentum. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the intro riff at a slower speed until both hands are completely in sync, then gradually bring it back up to the full 120 BPM.

• The signature intro riff is built on double-stops and slides in Bb major, demanding a confident pick attack and clean left-hand articulation throughout.
• At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the song sits at a moderate pace that rewards solid right-hand rhythm control as much as lead accuracy.
• The riff repeats many times across the song, so practise it in short looped segments using the Practice Toolbar to build the stamina and consistency it requires.