It’s rare for a new song to crack the list of essential beginner guitar tunes, but Vance Joy’s 2014 breakthrough single Riptide did just that. Hitting just as school ukulele orchestras were becoming popular, the uke-powered folk-pop number proved an ideal starting point for strummers of all ages. It made Joy not just one of the world’s most visible young guitarists, but also one of the major inspirations for new beginners. Vance is still pleased at the impact it’s had.
“When I’m learning a song I go on tab websites. Sometimes there’s a list of all the most tabbed songs and’s in the top few,” he smiles. “I’ve walked past people busking it, and I’ve walked past kids playing it in little groups if one of the kids plays guitar. It’s cool that it’s had that effect. It feels like some people’s first song they learn either on ukulele or guitar,
