Weekly survey: What’s the best guitar riff of all time?
Much of the rock music canon has been built on the foundation of the riff, that magical collection of notes and chords played on a guitar, the progression that anchors the song.
The riff is the thing that captures your attention and drags you into the song. It’s a reoccurring theme that shows up again and again within the track. It’s so identifiable that if you just hear the riff, you automatically know the song.
Think the opening bits of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” Kurt Cobain hammering E A G C at the beginning of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” or any one of a thousand AC/DC songs.
A “riff” is different than a “lick,” which is a cool guitar bit but isn’t as complete as a riff. (Here’s an attempt to explain the difference.)
But which riff is the best of all time? There’s no right answer to this question, obviously, but I’m looking to gather as many individual opinions as possible.
No rules here except that I’m looking for riffs, not licks. And yes, there is such a thing as a bass riff. And while there are keyboard bits that can be described as riffs, let’s just focus on the six- and four-string variety.
Here are some classics to get you thinking. They are examples only, not suggestions.
Ozzy – Crazy Train – RR was a wizard
GnR – Sweet Child – Such a memorable riff
Riffs-Gimme Shelter-Stones, gotta be right up there
Wolf Alice – Moaning Lisa Smile -I’m glad to see there are great new riffs.
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
Beat It by Michael Jackson
Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Pride and Joy
Not sure it’s the best riff ever, but the Rolling Stones’ “Monkey Man” is certainly the sleaziest.
Hi Alan. For me, David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” is the one that always makes me stop what I’m doing in order to crank it up to 11.
For additional brain fodder, you mentioned guitar riffs, bass riffs and keyboard riffs. I wonder if vocal riffs are an actual thing? Not just great verses and choruses… but actual vocal riffs, in the same sense that guitar riffs exist? In The Sweet’s “Fox on the Run”, it seems to me there’s more going on than just a great verse and chorus being sung. Brian Connelly really seemed to “riff” it out with his power voice.
Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello – Ghost of Tom Joad = EPIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-mq0uJ7rlM
Heart – Crazy on You
Sweet – Love is like Oxygen
Rolling Stones (so many choices) – Can’t you hear me Knocking
Just Got Paid by the one and only ZZ Top!
Therapy? – Screamager
White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
Led Zeppelin – Black Dog
Metallica – Enter Sandman
Black Sabbath – Paranoid or Iron Man
No More Tears- Ozzy for the 4 string variety.
The Tragically Hip – New Orleans Is Sinking
Can’t Stop- Red Hot Chili Peppers is my favourite
19 year old Zakk Wylde’s riff on Miracle Man on 1988 No rest for the wicked.
Pantera – Mouth For War , Cowboys From Hell
Metallica – Master Of Puppets
Anything White Lion’s Vitto Bratta has ever played.
Bad finger – Baby Blue
Xanadu by Rush.
The opening riff to The Hollies “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress”, which is only repeated as an intro, is no less recognizable as an integral part of the song so that it is indelibly linked to the song. Second favourite is the pounding riff of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” which recurs throughout the song.
The Hollies stole the riff from Marc Bolan and T.Rex. They even had the nerve to repeat “Get it on” several times at the end of the song.
Back In black ac/dc. Both 4 and 6 string riffs.
Plug in Baby – Muse
Sweet Child O’ Mine. Who can’t name that song in two seconds m?
Today – Smashing Pumpkins
My choice- Get It On (Bang A Gong)- Marc Bolan and T.Rex