Image Credit: Peter Francis/Retna Ltd.Spinner has posted an agreeably catholic-minded list of the 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs in Rock ‘n’ Roll. True, most of the usual suspects are present, from “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos to that scourge of guitar store employees, Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” However, the list also finds space for a slew of great but less obviously riff-tastic tracks, including The Smiths’ “This Charming Man,” The Meters’ “Look-ka Py Py,” and Chic’s “Le Freak.”
Do I agree with all of the choices? I do not! Frankly, it will be a cold day in hell before I willingly listen again to Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-Gadda-da-Vida.” And I’m certainly not convinced that list-topper “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” features the greatest guitar riff of all-time. I’m not even convinced it’s the greatest riff by the Rolling Stones (I’m more of a “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” man, myself).
But check out the list for yourself, and tell us what you think. What in your opinion is the greatest guitar riff of all-time?
See also:
What’s your favorite guitar solo?
Supernaut by Black Sabbath.
Mr E is a god of rock!
Pink Floyd “Comfortably Numb”.
Anything from the early years of Floyd-they used no synthasizors (sp)
That’s not a riff, that’s a solo.
Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent
REM’s Begin the Begin
The fact that he put Plug In Baby at #46 when Guitar Magazine named it as the best riff of the decade last year made me ignore the rest of the list.
AGREED!!!!
As soon as I read the headline, the riff from “Plug in Baby” jumped into my head. It’s great!
Agreed! Plug in baby came to my mind right away. Everyone here should listen to it before they die.
“Plug-in Baby” is one of the few memorable riffs of the past decade.
Hello? Are you kidding? They missed All Along the Watchtower. For me, most recognizable riff for Jimmi and so totally great you forget it’s really a Dylan tune.
Uh…..Let’s Go Crazy by Prince??
Thank YOU!!!!! And the opening riff of “When Doves Cry”
I was going to say Purple Rain, but all three are great.
That’s not a riff.
Where’s Led Zep, or Pink Floyd?
I want to add yes Steve Howe is AMAZING!
Pretty solid list. I might put “20th Centruy Boy” right at the top. Definitely needs some Pantera. Also The Pixies. How about “Here Comes Your Man?”
That’s what I thought about 20th Century Boy, too! And that might be my favorite Pixies song.
Anything by Jad Fair.
Elmo, you sir know great guitar riffs!
Richie Blackmore made it-should have been higher
Not a bad list at all, ok just one more where is Jeff Beck?
Yeah, some of these are just a little too subjective. I agree with you about Satisfaction–it’s great, but for the Stones I’d have to go for Start Me Up, Beast of Burden, or Paint it Black.
I would have put Hendrix at #1. You’re dead if that riff doesn’t move you a little
These lists are invariably ridiculous and reek of lazy “journalism”. Easy pageviews! Controversy! bleah. Having said that, maybe it will inspire some people to buy new stuff.
Though I would love to mention a riff from The Rolling Stones, my pick for greatest guitar riff of all-time is the opening riff to Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”. Unbelievable!
Yet a far more interesting question would be for greatest modern guitar riff, perhaps from the last 25 years – well that would be a toss-up between Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, Pearl Jam’s “Alive”, and The White Stripes’ “Ball and Biscuit”.
I would agree, I would add world wide-see what we get.
Avantasia-Wicket Symphony
Firewind-Heads up
so many
For me, it’s either “Whole Lotta Love” or “When the Levee Breaks” from Led Zeppelin. Definitely agree with “Killing in the Name” being on the list – would argue it should be a bit higher.
It is a pretty hard toss-up. They’re all pretty damn good, but I’m preferential to Led Zeppelin.
The opening riff from The Temptations’ “My Girl”.