mad_mac Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Was watching some top 100 Hard Rock Songs countdown recently, and like all countdowns there were the great, the obscure, and the sublimely ridiculous. However, in lots of them there were just some fantastic riffs. Three or four Chords, that as soon as you hear them you know immediately what song it is, and by whom. So, it got me to thinking, and please try and limit it to just one....and it has to be a riff, not a solo.... what are some of the most noticeable, greatest guitar riffs of all time? For me, and yes there are so many, but I'm sure many of the ones I am thinking of will be mentioned hereafter by other posters, it has to be Sunshine of Your Love by Cream. Great song, great power, and just simple blues rock. Yours? SCott
clubhappy Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Love Johnny Marr's guitar riff on 'Heaven knows im miserable now '
sexelk Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 bon jovi - dry county (ritchie sambora on the 12 string)
Maksimov Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 David Bowie - Rebel Rebel --- Well, that was the first that came to mind...
The Moos Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin Edited March 9, 2009 by The Moos
cassiya Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Driving South by The Stones Roses. The riffs are just mad on that record.
Liam Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 I want you (she's so heavy) by John Lennon (supported by The Beatles).
sexelk Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 I want you (she's so heavy) by John Lennon (supported by The Beatles). Never heard of that song is it a rip off of Big Girls You are Beautiful by Mika?
Ruh Buh Juh Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 There's a riff about half way through Tie My Rope - Children Of Bodom that's pretty awesome... And Whiskey In The Jar is right up there with the best. And Money - Pink Floyd.
dkw Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Driving South by The Stones Roses. The riffs are just mad on that record. ooohhh, i want to use this one. can we share?
bjd Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Is How Soon Is Now a riff ? Im never really sure... Anyway, other nominations... Roadhouse Blues - The Doors Debaser - Pixes More Than A Feeling - Boston Love Removal Machine - The Cult Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin Supersonic - Oasis No Fun - The Stooges and er, Shout At The Devil - Motley Crue and no riff thread is complete without these bad boys...
Ruh Buh Juh Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 dire straits...money for nothing Surprisingly, motorhead didn't put a song by Motorhead...:lol:
PloKoon13 Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 Scorpions - Sails of Charon That's a hefty riff if I ever heard one.
mad_mac Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) A lot of you are spot on, but I have to reiterate: It's not really about parts of songs that are "cool" or a continuing solo (Stairway to Heaven really has no Riff until the main solo where it is backed by the A-G-F backing chords), it's more about a selection of Chords or continuing "jungle", at the begining of a song, that usually continues the whole way through, that you immediately recognize a song by. Another example... Smoke on the Water Scott Edited March 9, 2009 by mad_mac
loz Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 If the criteria is 'a song where you know the song as soon as you hear the guitar riff' then 'Seven Nation Army' by The White Stripes certainly has to be a modern day contender in amongst the rock 'classics'
Maksimov Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 If the criteria is 'a song where you know the song as soon as you hear the guitar riff' then 'Seven Nation Army' by The White Stripes certainly has to be a modern day contender in amongst the rock 'classics' I think "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age is another one that fits that description.
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