Now that the fine art of air guitar has gone mainstream we would like to give the actual musicians who visit this site a leg up on the competition should they find themselves engaged in any future face-offs. (Not that we advocate that kind of thing.) Pick any of these songs and you can’t lose.
Jimi Hendrix “Foxy Lady”
Pulling off an awesome air guitar performance heavily depends on your source material and this classic not only gives you ample opportunity to do fancy stuff with your hands — like pretending you’re a left-handed player, for one — but also to make awesome faces during the bit when the guitar goes all, “widdly-widdly-weeeeaurrggh!”
Led Zeppelin “Black Dog”
Pretty much anything Jimmy Page touched would work just as well, but the massive riffage on “Black Dog” makes it the most obvious choice from the Zep catalog. Plus, you don’t have to wear a shirt.
Motorhead “Ace of Spades”
It might help to grow a handlebar mustache but the guitar parts on this song are so gnarly in and of themselves that no further embellishments are necessary. Just get on-stage and let it rip.
AC/DC “Back In Black”
Imagine you’re a 60-year-old midget in a school boy uniform and in possession of the most explosive riffs in the history of rock and roll — how can anyone else compete?
Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
Sure, it’s technically a power ballad but then that big solo kicks in halfway through and gives you the chance to display every single one of your air guitar tricks in one shot. It’s hard to think of a bigger crowd pleaser.
Van Halen “Panama”
Do not even attempt this if you can’t do a flying scissor kicks or move your fingers at the speed of light. Otherwise, this is another one of those can’t-fail-classics, especially when paired with Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”
Aerosmith “Walk This Way”
Pick any version — the original, the one with Run DMC, even the one with Fergie (well, maybe not so much). A little Joe Perry can make anyone look like a convincing air guitar guru.