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Memorable Guitar Riffs

Gunn

Gunn

horror resident
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    What is the most memorable guitar riff of all time? For me, it's got to be one of these songs:

    Breaking the Law - Judas Priest
    Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
    Iron Man - Black Sabbath
    Paranoid - Black Sabbath
    Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
    Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
    Enter Sandman - Metallica
    The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
    Aqualung - Jethro Tull
    Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Back in Black - AC/DC

    Post your opinion and I can add them up here... maybe this will turn into a debate! :D
     
    Last edited:
    High Hopes by Pink Floyd

    <3
     
    My personal favourites that I can think of from the top of my head:
    At The Drive-In - One Armed Scissor
    Derek and the Dominos - Bell Bottom Blues
    King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man
    The Velvet Underground - Run Run Run (Most riffs by TVU are pretty awesome)

    Most memorable of all time: The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water.
     
    Great thread!

    High Hopes has a guitar riff? Isn't it mostly piano?

    My favorite would probably be Rock and Roll or Black Dog by Led Zeppelin. Then again, there's SWLABR by Cream... Starstruck by Rainbow, Machine Gun by Hendrix.

    I'd also throw in all the riffs from the suite 2112 by Rush. That's like a collection of the hottest riffs I've ever heard.
     
    Careful With That Axe said:
    Great thread!

    High Hopes has a guitar riff? Isn't it mostly piano?
    Click to expand...

    Lol, yes you're right. I was mainly thinking of the guitar solo at the end of the song.

    I suppose I should pick something else. :embarrass Dream Theater material has some really great ones. Hell's Kitchen, Lines in the Sand, Trail of Tears all have some great melodic riff's.
     
    Some of the most memorable to me are:

    • Boston - Smokin'
    • Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man
    • Led Zeppelin - Heartbreaker
    • Megadeth - Tornado of Souls
    • Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive
    • Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot
     
    If you're talking about the most recognized by people then I have to say Smoke on the Water or Crazy Train.

    My most memorable riffs are:

    Sweet Child O' Mine - GnR
    The Trooper - Iron Maiden
    La Grange - ZZ Top
    I Don't Wanna Stop - Ozzy


    These are just the ones I thought of off the top of my head and hadn't been mentioned yet, except Sweet Child O' Mine. Otherwise I agree with most of the songs already mentioned.
     
    Last edited:
    Vendak said:
    Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water.
    Click to expand...

    omg, I wanna shoot myself. I can't believe I forgot that one. >_<

    Careful With That Axe said:
    I'd also throw in all the riffs from the suite 2112 by Rush.
    Click to expand...

    Duuuude. Rush is amazing, and probably is the best thing that had spawned out of Canada. :P My choice from Rush probably has to be YYZ.

    Ben Kenobi said:
    • Boston - Smokin'
    Click to expand...

    Smokin' definitely has a fun riff. I still like More Than A Feeling, even though that seems more like vocal song.

    Samurai X said:
    The Trooper - Iron Maiden
    Click to expand...

    It was actually hard for me to pick an Iron Maiden song, but I will agree with you on this one too. Run To The Hills comes pretty close as well.
     
    Hmm this is quite interesting! I'm trying not to cross that border between riff and solo xD
    I'll make out a list in order of the ones that come to mind!


    1. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
    2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
    3. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
    4. Layla - Derek And The Dominos
    5. Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
    6. Iron Man - Black Sabbath
    7. Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
    8. Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
    9. You Really Got Me - The Kinks
    10. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
    11. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    12. Day Tripper - The Beatles
    13. Walk This Way - Aerosmith
    14. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
    15. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
    16. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    17. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    18. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
    19. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
    20. Back In Black - AC/DC
    21. Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    22. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter
    23. Aqualung - Jethro Tull
    24. Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood & Destroyers
    25. Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
    26. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
    27. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
    28. Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
    29. American Woman - Guess Who
    30. Wild Thing - The Troggs
    31. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
    32. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
    33. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
    34. Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
    35. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
    36. Breaking The Law - Judas Priest
    37. Runnin' With The Devil - Van Halen
    38. Enter Sandman - Metallica
    39. The Hellion/Electric Eye - Judas Priest
    40. Outshined - Soundgarden
    41. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
    42. Hells Bells - AC/DC
    43. La Grange - ZZ Top
    44. Master Of Puppets - Metallica
    45. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
    46. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
    47. Rusty Cage - Soundgarden
    48. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen
    49. Bring It On Home - Led Zeppelin
    50. Man On The Silver Mountain - Rainbow
    51. Panama - Van Halen
    52. Maybellene - Chuck Berry
    53. N.I.B. - Black Sabbath
    54. Pinball Wizard - The Who
    55. China Grove - The Doobie Brothers
    56. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
    57. Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
    58. Wipeout - The Surfaris
    59. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
    60. Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
    61. Five Minutes Alone - Pantera
    62. All Day And All Of The Night - The Kinks
    63. Up Around The Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
    64. Bulls On Parade - Rage Against The Machine
    65. Life In The Fast Lane - The Eagles
    66. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
    67. Walk - Pantera
    68. Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N' Roses
    69. I'm Broken - Pantera
    70. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    71. Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
    72. Working Man - Rush
    73. Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
    74. Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan
    75. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
    76. Whipping Post - Allman Brothers Band
    77. Aenima - Tool
    78. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
    79. School Day - Chuck Berry
    80. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
    81. Honey Don't - Carl Perkins
    82. Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
    83. Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young
    84. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
    85. Taxman - The Beatles
    86. The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
    87. Lola - The Kinks
    88. Hangar 18 - Megadeth
    89. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
    90. Thunderstruck - AC/DC
    91. Politician - Cream
    92. The Trooper - Iron Maiden
    93. I Feel Fine - The Beatles
    94. Spirit Of Radio - Rush
    95. Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden
    96. Man On A Mission - Van Halen
    97. Fear Of The Dark - Iron Maiden
    98. Raining Blood - Slayer
    99. Scuttle Buttin - Stevie Ray Vaughan
    100. Hysteria - Muse



    >.<

    There is so many more but I'll spare you the bother xD
     
    I'd have to say the riff from She's a Genius, by Jet. That is an amazing song, so long as you steer away from the video clip. That's weird. While I'm at it, Jet's Are You Gonna Be My Girl has a pretty epic riff, too.
     
    Through the fire and the flames by dragonforce
    walk all over you by ac/dc
    give it all by rise against
    war machine by ac/dc
    the flame of youth by dragonforce

    Theres more, but i cant fit it in a 5 second post
     
    Hmm..


    • The riff at the end of Bullet in the Head - Rage Against The Machine
    • Cochise - Audioslave
    • New Born - Muse
    • Jump In The Fire - Metallica
    • 5 Minutes Alone - Pantera
     
    MechaniKiLL! said:
    What is the most memorable guitar riff of all time? For me, it's got to be one of these songs:

    Breaking the Law - Judas Priest
    Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
    Iron Man - Black Sabbath
    Paranoid - Black Sabbath
    Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
    Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
    Enter Sandman - Metallica
    The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
    Aqualung - Jethro Tull
    Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Back in Black - AC/DC

    Post your opinion and I can add them up here... maybe this will turn into a debate! :D
    Click to expand...

    Just my opinion, the songs not crossed out = WIN.
    AND HOW COULD YOU NOT INCLUDE FREE BIRD?!
    That is one of the best Lynyrd Skynyrd songs EVA.

    Some of mine might not appeal to you guys but:

    *Obscure - Dir En Grey
    *What's up people?! - Maximum The Hormone
    *Baba O'Riley - The Who ((I know it isn't a guitar opening, but I DON'T CARE))
    * Ruin - Lamb Of God
    *Laid To Rest - Lamb Of God
    *Pathetic - Lamb Of God

    Told you some of them you might not like! XD


     
    Alinthea said:
    AND HOW COULD YOU NOT INCLUDE FREE BIRD?!
    That is one of the best Lynyrd Skynyrd songs EVA.
    Click to expand...

    Because no one said it yet. Hurrr.... </concert joke>

    *Baba O'Riley - The Who
    Click to expand...
    Ah, I should have included something from The Who, I think I pick Won't Get Fooled Again.
    * Ruin - Lamb Of God
    *Laid To Rest - Lamb Of God
    *Pathetic - Lamb Of God
    Click to expand...

    You deserve an e-cookie for mentioning Lamb of God. I love Laid to Rest. That was the first song they played at one of their concerts and... I went crazy. It was a really good show.
     
    Abnegation said:
    Hmm this is quite interesting! I'm trying not to cross that border between riff and solo xD
    I'll make out a list in order of the ones that come to mind!


    1. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
    2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
    3. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
    4. Layla - Derek And The Dominos
    5. Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
    6. Iron Man - Black Sabbath
    7. Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
    8. Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
    9. You Really Got Me - The Kinks
    10. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
    11. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    12. Day Tripper - The Beatles
    13. Walk This Way - Aerosmith
    14. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
    15. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
    16. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    17. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    18. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
    19. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
    20. Back In Black - AC/DC
    21. Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    22. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter
    23. Aqualung - Jethro Tull
    24. Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood & Destroyers
    25. Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
    26. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
    27. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
    28. Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
    29. American Woman - Guess Who
    30. Wild Thing - The Troggs
    31. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
    32. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
    33. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
    34. Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
    35. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
    36. Breaking The Law - Judas Priest
    37. Runnin' With The Devil - Van Halen
    38. Enter Sandman - Metallica
    39. The Hellion/Electric Eye - Judas Priest
    40. Outshined - Soundgarden
    41. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
    42. Hells Bells - AC/DC
    43. La Grange - ZZ Top
    44. Master Of Puppets - Metallica
    45. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
    46. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
    47. Rusty Cage - Soundgarden
    48. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen
    49. Bring It On Home - Led Zeppelin
    50. Man On The Silver Mountain - Rainbow
    51. Panama - Van Halen
    52. Maybellene - Chuck Berry
    53. N.I.B. - Black Sabbath
    54. Pinball Wizard - The Who
    55. China Grove - The Doobie Brothers
    56. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
    57. Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
    58. Wipeout - The Surfaris
    59. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
    60. Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
    61. Five Minutes Alone - Pantera
    62. All Day And All Of The Night - The Kinks
    63. Up Around The Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
    64. Bulls On Parade - Rage Against The Machine
    65. Life In The Fast Lane - The Eagles
    66. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
    67. Walk - Pantera
    68. Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N' Roses
    69. I'm Broken - Pantera
    70. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience
    71. Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
    72. Working Man - Rush
    73. Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
    74. Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan
    75. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
    76. Whipping Post - Allman Brothers Band
    77. Aenima - Tool
    78. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
    79. School Day - Chuck Berry
    80. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
    81. Honey Don't - Carl Perkins
    82. Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
    83. Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young
    84. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
    85. Taxman - The Beatles
    86. The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
    87. Lola - The Kinks
    88. Hangar 18 - Megadeth
    89. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
    90. Thunderstruck - AC/DC
    91. Politician - Cream
    92. The Trooper - Iron Maiden
    93. I Feel Fine - The Beatles
    94. Spirit Of Radio - Rush
    95. Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden
    96. Man On A Mission - Van Halen
    97. Fear Of The Dark - Iron Maiden
    98. Raining Blood - Slayer
    99. Scuttle Buttin - Stevie Ray Vaughan
    100. Hysteria - Muse



    >.<

    There is so many more but I'll spare you the bother xD
    Click to expand...

    WOAHWOAHWOAH.
    I guess you know your music.
    I'm gonna go with the one that I reconize the most, and that's probably Dani California by the Chili Peppers. But there are so many other memorable ones.
     
    hmm. I'd have to say:

    This War is Ours - Escape the Fate

    Two Weeks - All That Remains

    I have to agree with others about LoG, they are truly epic

    Cowbell's Makin' a Comeback - Memphis May Fire

    A Prophecy - Asking Alexandria

    There's a lot more, but those are some of the memorable ones I like.
     
    Abnegation said:
    Hmm this is quite interesting! I'm trying not to cross that border between riff and solo xD
    I'll make out a list in order of the ones that come to mind!


    Spoiler:



    >.<

    There is so many more but I'll spare you the bother xD
    Click to expand...

    Copypasta. I want your opinion.
     
    Well, this depends on your definition of "riff". Wikipedia says that a riff can either be a "short melodic phrase" or a "short rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic figure repeated to form a structural framework." If you mean the first definition, then I could go one for days listing off my favorite licks (don't get me started with Key To The Highway by Derek & The Dominos) but for the sake of concision, I'll list some of my favorite, "second-definition" riffs (the ones that provide the accompaniment for the rest of the song or are repeated a good number of times throughout the track):

    The Allman Brothers Band - Don't Want You No More
    The Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out (live)
    Eric Clapton - Cocaine
    Dire Straits - Down To The Waterline
    George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Who Do You Love?
    Led Zeppelin - How Many More Times (the beginning and ending sections)
    Lynyrd Skynyrd - T For Texas (live)
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)
    Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
    The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
    The Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar (of course...)
    Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Taxman

    Unfortunately, lot of my favorite songs can't be listed here because they don't have an accompanying riff :'( For example, Texas Flood is just an extended guitar solo with a few verses but it wouldn't fit this thread's criteria.
    Also, I'm aware that a lot of these tracks are covers but a lot of them have variations of the original riff(s) which I like better.
     
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