Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs


A British guitar magazine recently polled it readers to compile a list of the greatest guitar riffs. Guns 'N Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" came in at the number spot. Here's a link to the poll results. As you can see the list is entirely metal oriented.

My list would include:

The Chuck Berry intro
The Chuck Berry rhythm
The Bo Diddley beat
Temptations - My Girl
Kinks - You Really Got Me
Steely Dan - Reelin' In the Years
Sam & Dave (Steve Cropper) - Soul Man
Stone Temple Pilots - Plish
Beatles - I Feel Fine intro
Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze intro

Is it my fault that nearly all the great riffs are pre-1980?

What's on your list?
128x128onhwy61

Showing 2 responses by shadorne

Here are some repetitive ones of the simpler variety that you can never get out of your head (once you've heard the song). Some are mind numbingly simple but like Beethovens 5th - the simple ones stick.

Queen - Another one bites the dust
Queen - We Will Rock You
Queen - I want to Break free
Queen/Bowie - Under Pressure
Paul Mccartney - too many great bass riffs to mention "Come Together" is memorable
The Who - My Generation
Pink Floyd - Money
Lynrd Skynrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Eagles - Life in the fast lane
Eric Clapton - Cocaine
ACDC - TNT
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive
Doors - Riders of the Storm
Tom Petty - I won't back down
Clash - Should I stay or Should I go

Nice thread
good challenge - the one hit wonders great riffs

Tommy Twotone 867-5309
Devo - Whip It
Lipps - Funkytown
Gary Numan - Cars
Vapors - Turning Japenese