Unforgettable Guitar Riffs.

[JazzManJim]

You know the things I'm talking about, those lead guitar riffs that precede the lead vocal by just a few measures. They're the ones you sing in that silly "na na NA na na" voice while wailing on your air-strat, especially while you're drunk.

So which riffs are your favorite? Which guitarits consistently plays solid riffs that just anchor the song down?

For my money, the best guitar riff ever was the riff in "Satisfaction" by the Stones: singable, infectious, and timeless.

The group for me that I can always count on for just monster riffs is AC/DC. From Back in Black to Highway to Hell to Big Balls, there's virtually no song that doesn't have a riff that half a roomfull of people would recognize.

 

[Soblue]

You know that Satisfaction riff was voted the most recognizable riff in rock? I saw it on one of those VH1/MTV list shows.

I'll have to think about which one is my favorite. But it's gonna be a Led Zeppelin riff. There's too many to pick just one.

 

[MissTaken]

Led Zeppilin rocks with their riffs.

Classic riff being "It's been a long time..."

Then, the guitarist in me loves and appreciates the riffs of Pink Floyd, superb in their simplicity and Steve Howe with YES.

The opening to Roundabout is a hummer for me

 

[marksgirl]

A couple of Van Halen ones come to me.

 

[Guest]

A couple of Van Halen ones come to me.

Yeah, Eruption.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, Eruption.

Or was it Intruder.

 

[Guest]

Yngwie J. Malmsteen has some great ones as well.

 

[WaxNWane]

The main riff in "With Or Without You", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", and "Pride" by U2...Edge was amazing.

The opening riffs in REM's "Fall On Me" and "Talk About the Passion".

Most anything by Johnny Marr, but especially "This Charming Man", and the background arpeggios in "Girlfriend In a Coma". The Smiths are diety.

And Robert Smith doesn't get the attention he deserves for his guitar skills. Thinking of "Fascination Street", "Just Like Heaven", and a couple others on "Disintegration" ("Last Dance", "Plainsong" come to mind).

 

[Purple Haze]

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

 

[JennyOmanHill]

Enjoy all the riffs mentioned already!

Adding "Layla" and "Money for Nothing".

 

[Guest]

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

Ah, yes. Godzilla's was good as well.

 

[JazzManJim]

A couple of Van Halen ones come to me.

I was thinking about "Janie's Crying", later sampled in Tone Loc's "Wild Thing".

Aerosmith is good for a few also. I think that "Sweet Emotion" has one of the grooviest riffs you're going to find.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Mountain - Mississippi Queen.

Leslie something, forgot his name.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Aerosmith, Train kept a rollin'.

 

[glamorilla]

You know that Satisfaction riff was voted the most recognizable riff in rock? I saw it on one of those VH1/MTV list shows.

I'll have to think about which one is my favorite. But it's gonna be a Led Zeppelin riff. There's too many to pick just one.

i was thinking the same thing.

the end of the smiths song "london" and the guitar ending to "my sharona" (that lasts like five minutes) are great. the end of the The song "Giant" and urge overkills "back On Me" have amazing endings.

 

[Guest]

Metallica's Jump in the Fire is pretty good.

 

[Guest]

Frankenstein is good, but it's all riff.

 

[mbb308]

Mountain - Mississippi Queen.

Leslie something, forgot his name.

West. Now, don't forget again.

I always got a kick out of the Robert Palmer and Power Station version of "Bang a Gong". If you turned it up loud enough, you could hurt yourself.

 

[miles]

Eric Clapton - Bell Bottom Blues

 

[Dantetier]

there's one I like in Rammsteins song "Adios on their newest CD "Mutter". It's 2 minutes ten seconds in. Apparently it's not that hard to do, but I really like it

 

[Gil_Favor]

there are so many, but i like the beginning to Stormy Monday by the Allman Brothers off of Live at the Filmore, the bass lead on Whipping Post gets to the point also.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

there are so many, but i like the beginning to Stormy Monday by the Allman Brothers off of Live at the Filmore, the bass lead on Whipping Post gets to the point also.

That's a great one on Whipping Post. Been looking for that on Kazaa.

 

[riff]

There are too many to name, but the Green Acres theme, I think, inspired many.

 

[Guest]

Mountain - Mississippi Queen.

Leslie something, forgot his name.

love that song. Some other notables:
Dio-Rainbow in the Dark
Maiden-Run to the Hills
Nugent-Cat Scratch Fever
AIC- Man in the Box
Pink Floyd-Young Lust

 

[batter]

Deep Purple.....Smoke on the Water.

Ted Nugent......Cat Scratch Fever