what is the forbidden riff

The forbidden riff is a term used to refer to a list of songs that are not allowed to be played in guitar stores. The list consists of many well-known songs that have been overplayed and are considered annoying or disruptive to other customers. One of the most famous forbidden riffs is the intro to "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, which has been nicknamed the "forbidden riff" due to its popularity and complicated and controversial copyright issues. Despite the nickname, the term "forbidden riff" is not an official term and is used more as a joke among guitarists.