Greatest Guitar Riffs?

[pzarquon]

The UK's Total Guitar (http://www.futurenet.com/totalguitar/) magazine recently published its list of the "Top 100 Greatest Riffs." Guns N' Roses' anthem Sweet Child O' Mine took top honors, followed by Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, and Deep Purple's Smoke On The Water.

From BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3677965.stm), the rest of the top 25 are:

5. Enter Sandman - Metallica
6. Layla - Derek & The Dominoes/Eric Clapton
7. Master Of Puppets - Metallica
8. Back In Black - AC/DC
9. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix
10. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
11. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
12. All Right Now - Free
13. Plug In Baby - Muse
14. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
15. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen
16. Walk This Way - Aerosmith w Run DMC
17. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
18. No-One Knows - Queens Of The Stone Age
19. Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
20. Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine

Good picks? Bad picks? What's missing? And what are your favorites?

[scrivener]

Good picks? Bad picks? What's missing? And what are your favorites?

Oh my gosh, this is right up my alley. It's not a bad list, for the most part, but not only is the greatest guitar riff not listed here in the number one spot, it didn't even make the top twenty-five!

Okay, not put aside your prejudices for just a second. Close your eyes. Hum the opening lick to the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." It's the most instantly recognizable guitar riff in the history of rock and roll. Sure, it's cliche now, and the song has been overplayed to death, but not only is it catchy, there's nothing else like it.

I'll have to think about the rest, but I'm sure number 1 is "Satisfaction."

[Albert]

This brought to mind the recent Rolling Stone magazine list of the "top fifty". Well, they did have the decency to put Chuck Berry in the number five spot, although I think he deserved number one. And talking about riffs .....

[LikaNui]

>> Hum the opening lick to the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." It's the most instantly recognizable guitar riff in the history of rock and roll. <<

Ditto for the opening riff of "Smoke On The Water".

[scrivener]

>> Ditto for the opening riff of "Smoke On The Water".

Yes, there's no doubt that everybody recognizes that riff, but casual rock 'n roll listeners won't be able to identify it as "Smoke on the Water." On the other hand, you can hear "Satisfaction" every day on 107.9FM--everybody knows that song.

Don't get me wrong--I absolutely love Deep Purple and "Smoke on the Water," but GREATNESS carries a certain responsibility that "Satisfaction" definitely meets more satisfactorily than does "Smoke on the Water."

[YoungNeil]

Anything that Richard Thompson plays.

[kukui_nut]

Yes, there's no doubt that everybody recognizes that riff, but casual rock 'n roll listeners won't be able to identify it as "Smoke on the Water." On the other hand, you can hear "Satisfaction" every day on 107.9FM--everybody knows that song.

Don't get me wrong--I absolutely love Deep Purple and "Smoke on the Water," but GREATNESS carries a certain responsibility that "Satisfaction" definitely meets more satisfactorily than does "Smoke on the Water."

Nah. I definitely think that "Smoke" is in the GREATNESS ala HALL OF FAME catagory. But then again, I don't consider myself as just a "casual listener" either... :p

Well, howz about (Sorry if previously mentioned; I'm too lazy to read all the posts):

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
Bang a Gong - T-Rex (?)
You Really Got Me - Kinks and Van Halen
Layla - Clapton (not the acoustic one)
Rock N Roll - Boston

kukui_nut

[skchai]

Depends what exactly qualifies as a "riff". A three-chord intro? A guitar solo?

Seems to me that Hendrix should have at least six or seven in there. "Purple Haze" ranks up with "Satisfaction" as something that everyone can recognize instantly. The solo in "All Around the Watchtower" is probably the most stunning one ever written in how it goes from bombast to weirdness to elegance and back again.

And there's so much "AOR" in there and not much else. How about Ernie Isley's solo in the Isley Bros. "Who's That Lady"? Or if you're talking about notable chord progressions, howcome Bo Diddley isn't in there? Like at No. 1?

They should also award a prize for "most irritating guitar riff". Like the intro to "My Sharona".

[pablo137]

I thought about this and came up with my top 5, interestingly, only 1 made the top 25 earlier mentioned

1) Satisfaction, Rolling Stones
2) Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple
3) You Really Got Me, The Kinks
4) Bad to the Bone, George Thoroughgood
5) Jumpin Jack Flash, Rolling Stones

[melorama]

Depends what exactly qualifies as a "riff". A three-chord intro? A guitar solo?


Good point, actually. An example that immediately comes to mind is the Ramones. They have recorded some of the most memorable and instantly recognizable chord progressions in rock history (i.e. "Blitzkrieg Bop", "I Wanna Be Sedated"), but for some reason, calling them "riffs" doesn't seem exactly right. "Beat on the Brat", however, is a quintessential rock-guitar "riff".

I think that to qualify as a "riff", it has to be more rhythmic in nature than melodic. Repetition is a major defining factor, as well. When I think about it, I have *never* thought of Jimi's intro soloing on "All Along the Watchtower" as a "riff", even though it's just as memorable as the opening chords to "You Really Got Me". In the former, the solo is a melodic passage, not a rhythmic passage, and cannot stand alone without the rhythm track underneath it.

You are absolutely right about "Purple Haze", though. It's one of the most overrated Hendrix songs ever, but you can't deny that the main guitar line is timeless and completely memorable.


Or if you're talking about notable chord progressions, howcome Bo Diddley isn't in there? Like at No. 1?


Holy crap, you couldn't be more right. Bo Diddley is a walking riff machine!!!!




They should also award a prize for "most irritating guitar riff". Like the intro to "My Sharona".

I actually like that riff a LOT! It's almost Devo-esque. It's a really fun song to play on guitar, too. The Knack are a hugely underrated band!

Aloha,
mel

[pablo137]

I think that to qualify as a "riff", it has to be more rhythmic in nature than melodic. Repetition is a major defining factor, as well. When I think about it, I have *never* thought of Jimi's intro soloing on "All Along the Watchtower" as a "riff", even though it's just as memorable as the opening chords to "You Really Got Me". In the former, the solo is a melodic passage, not a rhythmic passage, and cannot stand alone without the rhythm track underneath it.

I don't know about it having to be more rhythmic in nature than melodic. While they might not be the greatest riffs ever, Dire
Straits, Sultans of Swing and Blue Oyster Cults, Don't Fear the Reaper are melodic and great riffs.

[mel]

16. Walk This Way - Aerosmith w Run DMC

Good picks? Bad picks? What's missing? And what are your favorites?

Come on, the original "Walk This Way" that Aerosmith recorded in 1975 is way better than the hybrid.

Missing? "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who, the opening intro riff to "A Hard Days' Night" by The Beatles.... I am sure there are many more.

Yes, Eric Clapton's "Layla" has a classic riff! Love that one.

[Moto]

China Grove - Doobie Brothers

[alohabear]

AC/DC's Black in Black or Highway to Hell

[kimo55]

led zepp

bring it on home.

travelling riverside blues.



or am i repeating myself?

[FreaknHaole]

Barra-barracuda!

[lurkah]

Barra-barracuda!
Egads. Now the dang thing's stuck in my head.

[lavagal]

hmmph. my favorite isn't mentioned on the list, which is quite extensive here:

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarriff.html

Here's something else to get stuck in your head. And no, I certainly would admit that I am not someone who would look like this, LOL!

Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)

Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sitting in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high

Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the DA man
When I heard this woman singing a song

A pair of 45s made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise
She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5-9 beautiful tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all

I saw her heading to the table
Well a tall walking big black cat
When Charlie said I hope that you're able, boy
Well I'm telling you she knows where it's at
Well then suddenly we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
Well I heard somebody shooting a gun

Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And she was holding my right
Well I told her, "Don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared"
Well I'm gonna be forgiven
If I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5-9 beautiful tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all, had it all, had it all...

[shaveice]

personally, i'm with skchai. hendrix is the best in my book. all along the watchtower... yeah.....

[melorama]

led zepp

bring it on home.

travelling riverside blues.

or am i repeating myself?

Two great songs.

Only one problem though, Jimmy Page didn't write either of those songs or riffs.

[kimo55]

Two great songs.

Only one problem though, Jimmy Page didn't write either of those songs or riffs.


coluld be a problem for you. dunno why tho.
some people wanna find a problem in erryting in life.




it aint a problem for me. to any degree.
cuz he played them. dass enuff.

[melorama]

coluld be a problem for you. dunno why tho.
some people wanna find a problem in erryting in life.

it aint a problem for me. to any degree.
cuz he played them. dass enuff.


Lighten up, brah.

I was just making a clarification that those aren't Mr. Page's riffs, but in fact somebody else's.

It was mentioned in the same spirit that it would have been if someone had said "I love Vanilla Ice's bass riff in Ice Ice Baby!" (it--as everyone in the universe knows--was ripped off from Queen), or "The Brothers Caz's song Just Like Living in Paradise is one of the best songs they've ever written!" (it wasn't written by them, of course...it was written and recorded by Ex-Van Halen crotch-grabber, David Lee Roth)

Apologies if my attempt to clear up the facts offended you.

Aloha,
mel

[Linkmeister]

How could anyone over forty forget "Day Tripper?" That opening riff is just as recognizable as "Satisfaction."

[kimo55]

>Lighten up, brah.

"lighten up"
huh.
you are the particular individual creating a "problem".
YOU lighten up.

>Apologies if my attempt to clear up the facts offended you.


there is no need to "clear up the facts" to most anyone who is familiar with Led Zepp. Not any need to bring it up at all, for that matter.
no need at all to "clear up the facts" cuz all the facts (the whole history, source, provenance and all its minutiae) are not at all in question here.

for the thread is:
"guitar riffs".
NOT "guitar riffs, and the origin from wence they were ripped off."


All those in the know, or as you have it: "(it--as everyone in the universe knows"
are cognizant of the fact led zep borrowed, or as you would have it; "ripped off from" the mississippi delta blues men.

[melorama]

>Lighten up, brah.

"lighten up"
huh.
you are the particular individual creating a "problem".
YOU lighten up.

>Apologies if my attempt to clear up the facts offended you.


there is no need to "clear up the facts" to most anyone who is familiar with Led Zepp. Not any need to bring it up at all, for that matter.
no need at all to "clear up the facts" cuz all the facts (the whole history, source, provenance and all its minutiae) are not at all in question here.

for the thread is:
"guitar riffs".
NOT "guitar riffs, and the origin from wence they were ripped off."


All those in the know, or as you have it: "(it--as everyone in the universe knows"
are cognizant of the fact led zep borrowed, or as you would have it; "ripped off from" the mississippi delta blues men.


Yay! I finally get to join the illustrious group of HawaiiThread'ers to get their head bitten off by the ever irritable Kimo55! (Not that I was intentionally holding out any type of bait in front of my head or anything ;P;P;P)

Believe it or not, Kimo, your no-holds-barred, no bull$hit approach is pretty damn refreshing to see on a Hawaii-oriented forum. Generally, most Hawaii forums or IRC channels are so friggen saccharine and non-critical that they are rendered completely boring. Troll or not, you're at least entertaining.

You rule, Kimo. *SMOOOCH*

[melorama]

Oh and just to address the last point...the only people who really know about Led Zep's plagiaristic tendencies are either fans of the band (like you and I), or rabid hatas of the band.

Virtually everyone else I have known, however, who only casually "like" Led Zep (i.e. only when they hear them played on the radio, etc) have absolutely no clue about this. But they are generally glad to learn about this fact when informed about it, and several have gained an newfound appreciation for the very bluesmen who influenced Jimmy Page so much.

Bringing the thread back on topic, I'm partial to "Achilles Last Stand", "Custard Pie" and "The Ocean" as far as Zep riffs go.

Rock 'da Casbah.....

[kimo55]

You rule, Kimo. *SMOOOCH*



luv ya too!

[kimo55]

...and several have gained an newfound appreciation for the very bluesmen who influenced Jimmy Page so much.




exactly. and I appreciate LZ all the more because of that.
without zepp, would not have known about many who influenced what we grew up with and also, we now, know as rock.

lz borrowed. and subsequently, others were very heavily influened by lz.

[jdub]

as a poorly paid professional, let me put my two cents in here...there are iconic riffs (satisfaction, day tripper, etc) and there are the greatest riffs ever...i'd suggest to anyone interested that the greatest riffs ever played are to be found on jimi hendrix's "band of gypsies" album...the songs included are culled from 2 separate performances recorded at the fillmore east on new year's eve 1969-70...hendrix mastered the 3-piece format with the experience, and due to mounting pressure from the black community, he joined up with billy cox and buddy miles to form BOG...recorded without the net of playback, overdubs and retakes, this performance tops even clapton's legendary achievement with his 6-grammy "unpluggged" gig at mtv...

i have never wavered from my position that BOG is the most amazing live performance ever captured to magnetic tape, and am not likely to now...just get the CD and listen...you WILL understand...

and as far as "iconic" riffs go, lets not forget Freebird...playing at clubs around town, i'm inevitably assailed with request for the old chestnut...it costs $20, and the donkeys that shout it out always cough it up...

[alohabear]

I always loved "Do you feel like we do" from Frampton Comes Alive. When I hear the opening notes ...I crank it up!

[cezanne]

Not the greatest, but recognizable: "Iron Man" Black Sabbath

[tvguy]

If we're talking orgins of where stuff came from, we gotta mention "Boogie Chillen" by John Lee Hooker as a very important place to start.

I can think of a few songs off the top of my head that derive from that riff;

Bad To The Bone - Geoerge Thorogood
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
La Grange - ZZ Top
Hot for Teacher - Van Halen
Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin

[kimo55]

much blossomed from da mastah; Robert Johnson.
crossroads/cream.
traveling riverside blues...
squeeze my lemon till...etc.



more sources and influences:

Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
folk song by Anne Bredon

Black Mountain Side
traditional folk tune Bert Jansch.

Bring It On Home
Willie Dixon

How Many More Times
Howlin' Wolf song / Albert King's "The Hunter."

In My Time Of Dying
traditional folk/blues song


The Lemon Song
Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor"


Nobody's Fault But Mine
Blind Willie Johnson



but of course, the riffs... the magical guitar work was all Pagey.

[LikaNui]

Another great riff I don't recall seeing mentioned yet is on "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers Band in 1969.
Somebody parked in front of my home over the weekend and had that song cranked up... ah, the memories. (g)
Googled it just for fun and one website had these notes about it:

"Gregg Allman wrote this in Jacksonville in 1968, just after he returned from Los Angeles.
Gregg wrote this on an ironing board using burnt matches. He got the idea in the middle of the night and couldn't find a pen.
This became a staple of their live shows. They usually played it as an extended jam, often improvising so it did not sound the same twice.
This was the last song on the first Allman Brothers album.
Berry Oakley came up with the bass line, which the band worked around. Oakley died in a motorcycle accident in 1972.
A 22-minute live version appears on At Fillmore East. Since this took up almost an entire side, it became a double album. The band insisted on keeping the price close to that of a single album.
The chorus is written in 11/8 time, but the verses are written in 12/8."

[MadAzza]

Another great riff I don't recall seeing mentioned yet is on "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers Band in 1969.


That's a good one. My favorite from them is "Jessica," which also has a pretty good riff, I think. Melodic and rhythmic at the same time. One of my favorites.

[mel]

I went through all of these posts again, and I'll add to my earlier list, the opening riff to The Beatles' "Revolution". And from the top 40 oldies side of things, Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man." Finally, may not be very well known, but Dick Dale's "Misrilou" also comes to mind. Great instrumental and used near the opening of the movie Pulp Fiction.

[AuntieNellieKulolo]

How about Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung'? Slightly OT, but the worst synth riff has to be Europe's 'The Final Countdown'. Someone had it as their cellphone ringtone the other day and I felt like strangling them... :mad:

[kimo55]

How about Jethro Tull's 'Aqualung'?


how about it?
can't see how that is a great guitar riff....
it is one o my fave songs...but a great guitar riff?

[cezanne]

how about it?
can't see how that is a great guitar riff....
it is one o my fave songs...but a great guitar riff?

I think Auntie is talking about this part:
Duhduh duh duh duh duh duuuuuh, duhduh duh duh <repeat>
:D
Not great but recognizable. Or maybe she was talking about a flute riff? :D

[Moto]

Here's one that doesn't come to mind at first, but Herman's Hermits Silhouettes started with a great guitar rift. It was later reported that it was Jimmy Page (of Led Zepplin fame) that was playing that intro.

[kimo55]

It was later reported that it was Jimmy Page (of Led Zepplin fame) that was playing that intro.
as opposed to the other... Jimmy Page.

[Moto]

Yes, the Jimmy Page of the Yardbirds..

[kimo55]

Yes, the Jimmy Page of the Yardbirds..

well, Jimmy had a few "incarnations" but he didn't do hermits stuff while in Yardbird's or Zepp;
In 1965 when he was a one of the most accomplished session musicians in Britain, he collaborated on some hermits stuff, as did John Paul Jones.
(Pagey was a much in demand session musician from 63 to 66 and beyond... and his work can be heard on many popular favorites that we grew up with or know today, much of it, uncredited)
Eric Clapton was guitarist for the yardbirds but left as he felt it going in too commercial a direction. Eric was replaced by the moody jeff beck, whose tantrums caused him a shortlived turn in the yardbirds, at which juncture, Jimmy page stepped in;
In June 1966, Pagey joins the yardbirds as bassplayer. in November of that year, Jeff Beck takes off, leaving Pagey in the lead guitar position.
(you can be witness to this pivotal moment in a good scene in Antonioni's 1966 "Blowup", wherein we have the obligatory spaced out swingin london hipsters at a rock event scene where they are gazing at keith relf and da boys on stage. The director wanted beck to do some Townsend/Who guitardestructo stuff, and beck obliged. Watch him get pissed at amp/cabinet feedback and pound it with a quickly splintering guitar)
http://tinyurl.com/co8mg
In 1967 Robert plant and John Bonham create a group called band of joy. August of 68, Pagey asks Plant to sing in the new yardbirds.
1968 Jimmy Page changed the name to "the new yardbirds" for contractural obligations and subsequently, this became Led Zeppelin.

[cezanne]

well, Jimmy had a few "incarnations" but he didn't do hermits stuff while in Yardbird's or Zepp; In 1965 when he was a one of the most accomplished session musicians in Britain, he collaborated on some hermits stuff, as did John Paul Jones.
(Pagey was a much in demand session musician from 63 to 66 and beyond... and his work can be heard on many popular favorites that we grew up with or know today, much of it, uncredited)
Eric Clapton was guitarist for the yardbirds but left as he felt it going in too commercial a direction. Eric was replaced by the moody jeff beck, whose tantrums caused him a shortlived turn in the yardbirds, at which juncture, Jimmy page stepped in;
In June 1966, Pagey joins the yardbirds as bassplayer. in November of that year, Jeff Beck takes off, leaving Pagey in the lead guitar position.
(you can be witness to this pivotal moment in a good scene in Antonioni's 1966 "Blowup", wherein we have the obligatory spaced out swingin london hipsters at a rock event scene where they are gazing at keith relf and da boys on stage. The director wanted beck to do some Townsend/Who guitardestructo stuff, and beck obliged. Watch him get pissed at amp/cabinet feedback and pound it with a quickly splintering guitar)
http://tinyurl.com/co8mg
In 1967 Robert plant and John Bonham create a group called band of joy. August of 68, Pagey asks Plant to sing in the new yardbirds.
1968 Jimmy Page changed the name to "the new yardbirds" for contractural obligations and subsequently, this became Led Zeppelin.

Wow I didn't know that! Thanks!

[YoungNeil]

Wow I didn't know that! Thanks!

And Keith Moon gave the band their name because he said they would "go down like a le(a)d zeppelin".

[kimo55]

It was in an interim session with Entwhistle, bassist for the Who... when John and Keith were feeling estranged from Townsend and Daltry, and they almost broke from the Who (and thankfully did not).
They were trying to create a 'supergroup'
That's when Entwhistle said: "This band will go over like a Lead balloon!" and keith corrected him; "No, this will go over like a Lead Zeppelin!"


It was peter grant the manager who later, changed the name (spelling) from lead to Led cuz the "Thick Americans" would pronounce it as "Leed" rather than
"Ledd".

[tvguy]

I may be wrong, but I recall reading somewhere that as a session musician, Jimmy Page is responsible for playing the Kinks' "You Really Got Me"....

[kimo55]

I may be wrong, but I recall reading somewhere that as a session musician, Jimmy Page is responsible for playing the Kinks' "You Really Got Me"....

the band denies this, tho Pagey did play on other cuts from the LP The Kinks

[Moto]

wow, Kimo, you get em'.

[Moto]

Fire by Jimi Hendrix

[AuntieNellieKulolo]

how about it?
can't see how that is a great guitar riff....
it is one o my fave songs...but a great guitar riff?

Maybe 'memorable' is a better word for it...
:)

I think Auntie is talking about this part:
Duhduh duh duh duh duh duuuuuh, duhduh duh duh <repeat>
:D
Not great but recognizable. Or maybe she was talking about a flute riff? :D

Exactly! <starts headbanging and playing air guitar at desk>

Maybe not 'great' in terms of quality, but definitely recognizable.

'Sitting on a park bench...'

[toeknee]

Here are few to ponder, although I think most everybody's nailed most of the best:
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straights
Here Comes the Sun - George Harrison
Do You Feel Like We Do - Peter Frampton

[lavagal]

Here are few to ponder, although I think most everybody's nailed most of the best:
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straights
Here Comes the Sun - George Harrison
Do You Feel Like We Do - Peter Frampton


yo Toe-Knee we must be contemporaries! Class of 76!

[cezanne]

Hotel California - Eagles
Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh
Long Train Running - Doobs
China Grove - Doobs

[lavagal]

Hotel California - Eagles
Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh
Long Train Running - Doobs
China Grove - Doobs


uh-oh! Another 70s grad surfaces!


Shut yo mouth!
We can DIG IT!

[toeknee]

yo Toe-Knee we must be contemporaries! Class of 76!


'77, girlfriends!

[lavagal]

'77, girlfriends!


Boston: "More than a Feeling"

Man, that just popped into my head tonight!

Must be all this rain and thunder and the flash flood watch in effect!

[craigwatanabe]

Okay I had to go to the initial post to find it and yes it was...Sweet Child of Mine by GnR!!!

But one I hadn't seen is from Ten Years After...I'd love to Change the World...But I don't know what to do. Fantastic Riff in there that you just gotta pound the heck out of your JBL's.

And the Stones live version of Satisfaction from the Steel Wheels tour! Oh man the Imax movie of Steel Wheels was just like being there. Ears ringing and all. :D

[Moto]

Heartbreaker - Led Zepplin
Magic Man - Heart

[cezanne]

Random thought...

Dead or Alive -Bon Jovi

[kahalabrah]

heartbreaker, led zeppelin

anything led zep.

[pzarquon]

20 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever, With Videos (http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2007/01/100_greatest_gu.html)
Guitar World (http://www.guitarworld.com/) has complied a list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos (http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatest.htm)". Over the last few days the Howard Stern Show (http://www.howardstern.com/) has been playing clips from the list. We've found listening to these great classics a very moving experience, so we took it a step further and dug up a video link (http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2007/01/100_greatest_gu.html#more) for each of the top 20! Listen and watch (http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2007/01/100_greatest_gu.html#more) the musical genius and mastery that made these classics famous!

[jdub]

20 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever, With Videos (http://cityrag.blogs.com/main/2007/01/100_greatest_gu.html)
Brilliant link, PZ!! Mahalo long time, brah!

[DiverDown808]

Hmmmmm I don't know

I'm more partial to that local guy that plays rock guitar here on the island. His link is in my signature :D

......I'm so pathetic...........

[tikiyaki]

Yes, there's no doubt that everybody recognizes that riff, but casual rock 'n roll listeners won't be able to identify it as "Smoke on the Water." On the other hand, you can hear "Satisfaction" every day on 107.9FM--everybody knows that song.

Don't get me wrong--I absolutely love Deep Purple and "Smoke on the Water," but GREATNESS carries a certain responsibility that "Satisfaction" definitely meets more satisfactorily than does "Smoke on the Water."

Scriv....Gotta disagree with you there. "greatness" and "recognizability" are 2 different things. I know as a kid growing up in the 70's, "Smoke on the Water" was the first thing you learned how to play. So archaic, so heavy. "Sunshine of your love" was another.

I'll add to this list, just the same.

greatness, not recognizability is the idea here...and maybe a little less obvious.

"Deuce", "Rock and Roll all Nite" "Shock Me" "Cold Gin"...almost anything up to 1977 by KISS

"Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath, aka the ground zero "HEAVY METAL" guitar riff ...before this song, it was just called "rock"

also to that "Symtom of the Universe"

people don't usually associate riffs with the Beatles but...
I wanna Hold Your hand
Paperback Writer
Day tripper


Zeppelin has so many, but here goes.

Communication Breakdown
The Ocean
Kashmir
Custard pie
Dancin Days
ok...all of it.

Funk #49 by the James Gang (Joe walsh before the Eagles) - my number one go-to riff whenever I pick up a guitar.

"Slow Ride" by Foghat

"Adam's Apple" by Aerosmith

"We're an American Band" by Grand Funk

And one no one will mention...

"Go All the Way" by the Raspberries.

"Wipe Out" by the Surfaris

"Say What you Will" by fastway

"Ace of Spades" by Motorhead

"Godzilla" "Don't fear the reaper" "E.T.I" by Blue Oyster Cult

"Rainbow in the Dark" by DIO

"Everlong" by the Foo Fighters

"Brown Sugar" "JJFlash" "Honky Tonl Woman" - Stones

"Do You feel like we Do" - peter Frampton

"Cat Scratch fever" - Ted Nugent

"man on the silver Mountain" - Rainbow


man, it's just endless....

[na alii]

'77, girlfriends!
Same here 77'.


Scriv....Gotta disagree with you there. "greatness" and "recognizability" are 2 different things. I know as a kid growing up in the 70's, "Smoke on the Water" was the first thing you learned how to play. So archaic, so heavy. "Sunshine of your love" was another.

I'll add to this list, just the same.

greatness, not recognizability is the idea here...and maybe a little less obvious.

You have a few songs that we perform in our band.

"Do You feel like we Do" - Peter Frampton
"Brown Sugar" "JJFlash" "Honky Tonl Woman" - Stones (open G tuning)
"We're an American Band" by Grand Funk
Funk #49 by the James Gang


This is our song list. Of course it's so long so we can't play all of the songs in 3 sets.

Last Child – Aerosmith
Same Ole’ Song & Dance - Aerosmith
Come Together – Aerosmith
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Roller – April Wine
Takin’Care Of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive
Can’t Get Enough – Bad Company
Movin’ On – Bad Company
Rock N Roll Fantasy – Bad Company
No Matter What – Bad Finger
I Am The Walrus – Beatles (Styx version)
Just What I Needed - The Cars
I Want You To Want Me – Cheap Trick
Ain’t That A Shame – Cheap Trick
Shine – Collective Soul
Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
Badge – Cream
White Room – Cream
Strange Brew – Cream
Crossroads – Cream
Born On The Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer
Life In The Fast Lane – The Eagles
Free Ride – Edgar Winter Group
Frankenstein – Edgar Winter Group
Fool For The City - Foghat
Drivin’ Wheel - Foghat
Do You Feel Like We Do – Peter Frampton
All Right Now – Free
We’re An American Band – Grand Funk Railroad
Centerfold - J. Geils Band
Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
Fire – Jimi Hendrix
I Don’t Need No Doctor – Humble Pie (Styx version)
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
Funk #49 – James Gang
Walk Away – James Gang
Saturday Nights All Right For Fighting - Elton John
All Day And All Of The Night – The Kinks
Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Gimme Three Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Junior’s Farm – Paul McCartney & Wings
Live And Let Die – Paul McCartney & Wings
Two Tickets To Paradise – Eddie Money
Hair Of The Dog – Nazareth
Money – Pink Floyd
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Honkytonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
Jumping Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Everybody Wants You – Billy Squier
Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Jenny Jenny 867-5309 - Tommy Tutone
I Will Follow - U2
Pride(In The Name Of Love) – U2
Unchained – Van Halen
Ain’t Talkin Bout Love – Van Halen
And The Cradle Will Rock – Van Halen
Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen
Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughn
Pride & Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughn
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
Pinball Wizard – The Who
Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
Waiting For The Bus – ZZ Top
Jesus Just Left Chicago – ZZ Top
Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers – ZZ Top
Arrested For Driving While Blind – ZZ Top
Cheap Sunglasses – ZZ Top

[tikiyaki]

Same here 77'.




You have a few songs that we perform in our band.

"Do You feel like we Do" - Peter Frampton
"Brown Sugar" "JJFlash" "Honky Tonl Woman" - Stones (open G tuning)
"We're an American Band" by Grand Funk
Funk #49 by the James Gang


This is our song list. Of course it's so long so we can't play all of the songs in 3 sets.

Last Child – Aerosmith
Same Ole’ Song & Dance - Aerosmith
Come Together – Aerosmith
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Roller – April Wine
Takin’Care Of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive
Can’t Get Enough – Bad Company
Movin’ On – Bad Company
Rock N Roll Fantasy – Bad Company
No Matter What – Bad Finger
I Am The Walrus – Beatles (Styx version)
Just What I Needed - The Cars
I Want You To Want Me – Cheap Trick
Ain’t That A Shame – Cheap Trick
Shine – Collective Soul
Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
Badge – Cream
White Room – Cream
Strange Brew – Cream
Crossroads – Cream
Born On The Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer
Life In The Fast Lane – The Eagles
Free Ride – Edgar Winter Group
Frankenstein – Edgar Winter Group
Fool For The City - Foghat
Drivin’ Wheel - Foghat
Do You Feel Like We Do – Peter Frampton
All Right Now – Free
We’re An American Band – Grand Funk Railroad
Centerfold - J. Geils Band
Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
Fire – Jimi Hendrix
I Don’t Need No Doctor – Humble Pie (Styx version)
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
Funk #49 – James Gang
Walk Away – James Gang
Saturday Nights All Right For Fighting - Elton John
All Day And All Of The Night – The Kinks
Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Gimme Three Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Junior’s Farm – Paul McCartney & Wings
Live And Let Die – Paul McCartney & Wings
Two Tickets To Paradise – Eddie Money
Hair Of The Dog – Nazareth
Money – Pink Floyd
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Honkytonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
Jumping Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Everybody Wants You – Billy Squier
Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Jenny Jenny 867-5309 - Tommy Tutone
I Will Follow - U2
Pride(In The Name Of Love) – U2
Unchained – Van Halen
Ain’t Talkin Bout Love – Van Halen
And The Cradle Will Rock – Van Halen
Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen
Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughn
Pride & Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughn
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
Pinball Wizard – The Who
Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
Waiting For The Bus – ZZ Top
Jesus Just Left Chicago – ZZ Top
Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers – ZZ Top
Arrested For Driving While Blind – ZZ Top
Cheap Sunglasses – ZZ Top


Damn, where is your band playing ? Can I sit ?
That's a nice list !

Did I forget to mention "Takin' Care of Business" By BTO....if not, you did.
Add to that "Not Fragile" by BTO...now THAT'S a RIFF.

I had a stoner rock cover band for about 6 months...we played "Balinese" by ZZ TOP...that was a good one too. And "SHE" by KISS...ANOTHER great riff. Like I said, the list is endless.

How about "Spirit of Radio" by RUSH ?

[scrivener]

Scriv....Gotta disagree with you there. "greatness" and "recognizability" are 2 different things. I know as a kid growing up in the 70's, "Smoke on the Water" was the first thing you learned how to play. So archaic, so heavy. "Sunshine of your love" was another.
Recognizability is a part of greatness, but there's a lot more to greatness than that. Ulysses may be the greatest novel ever written, but if it's only accessible to the intellectual elite, then I say it's not as great as an artistically lesser work like The Grapes of Wrath. Yes, the riff in "Satisfaction" is more recognizable, but it's also a great riff. So all things being equal (and I agree that "Smoke on the Water" is a better riff; I'm the only person I know who owns The Battle Rages On, so I consider myself a real lover of Purple), you have to give the edge to "Satisfaction," because nobody has to ask who that is or what song it is.

I've been asked A LOT about that Deep Purple riff. "Who is that?" people will ask, and I'll say, "Deep Purple," and they'll say, "Oh. Who?" And then I'll say, "It's from 'Smoke on the Water,'" and they'll say, "I don't know that song."

[tikiyaki]

Recognizability is a part of greatness, but there's a lot more to greatness than that. Ulysses may be the greatest novel ever written, but if it's only accessible to the intellectual elite, then I say it's not as great as an artistically lesser work like The Grapes of Wrath. Yes, the riff in "Satisfaction" is more recognizable, but it's also a great riff. So all things being equal (and I agree that "Smoke on the Water" is a better riff; I'm the only person I know who owns The Battle Rages On, so I consider myself a real lover of Purple), you have to give the edge to "Satisfaction," because nobody has to ask who that is or what song it is.

I've been asked A LOT about that Deep Purple riff. "Who is that?" people will ask, and I'll say, "Deep Purple," and they'll say, "Oh. Who?" And then I'll say, "It's from 'Smoke on the Water,'" and they'll say, "I don't know that song."

Agreed...Satisfaction is an Icon Pop Hit. Smoke is a classic rock song. Lesser known for sure.

I have to say, my one regret about the HT X-mas party is that I didn't get to talk to you other than to say hello. I know we would have closed the bar talking about rock n roll.

Next one, for sure.

[na alii]

Our band is called Steppenstone and we play at the Hideaway Club at the U.S.Coast Guard Station at Barber's Pt. Check out the Hideaway's MySpace page for the schedule. We are looking getting gigs at Tropics in Kailua.

http://www.myspace.com/uscghideawayclub

[Fat Jeff]

"Deuce", "Rock and Roll all Nite" "Shock Me" "Cold Gin"...almost anything up to 1977 by KISS

Whew! That took balls...and I totally agree. No matter how clownish some may think Kiss is, those first few albums had the riffs for sure.

"Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath, aka the ground zero "HEAVY METAL" guitar riff ...before this song, it was just called "rock"

And probably the heaviest riff of all time...crushes anything the kids call (whatever)core. I'd put Metallica's Wherever I May Roam right behind it.

"Say What you Will" by fastway

"Ace of Spades" by Motorhead

Kudos on these two picks, especially the Fastway song, that CD was all out C**K Rock.

I'll agree with you about Zeppelin...if you put a gun to my head to pick one, I'd go with The Ocean.

The Beatles did have their share, and I'd nominate Daytripper.

[tikiyaki]

Whew! That took balls...and I totally agree. No matter how clownish some may think Kiss is, those first few albums had the riffs for sure.



And probably the heaviest riff of all time...crushes anything the kids call (whatever)core. I'd put Metallica's Wherever I May Roam right behind it.



Kudos on these two picks, especially the Fastway song, that CD was all out C**K Rock.

I'll agree with you about Zeppelin...if you put a gun to my head to pick one, I'd go with The Ocean.

The Beatles did have their share, and I'd nominate Daytripper.

Fat Jeff, I always knew you had great taste.

Funny, in my part of the world (LA) , and where I come from originally(NY) people are FAR from ashamed to admit they like KISS. They wear it like a medal of honor. Most guitarists that play rock and roll who grew up on the classics will usually wax poetically about Ace Frehely, truly one of the most discreditied and underrated guitarists.

I'll take one of his Chuck Berry laden solos over any berkeley schooled, uber fast shredasaurus any day.

[Altivec]

I'd go with Randy Rhoades riff of Mr. Crowley, Goodbye to Romance, and of course Crazy Train.

He died so young, I could only imagine what other works he would have had.

[Pomai]

Here's a few more (many of them commercial) metal songs with maybe not the "greatest", but certainly very memorable riffs...

Accept:
Balls to the Walls
Princess of the Dawn

Judas Priest:
Heading Out to the Highway
The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)
You've Got Another Thing Comin'

Iron Maiden:
To Tame a Land
Power Slave

Ratt:
Round and Round
Lack of Communication
You're in Love
Lay it Down

Scorpions:
The Zoo
Blackout
No One Like You
Big City Nights
Rock You Like a Hurricane

AC/DC (Bon Scott rules!):
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
TNT
Highway to Hell

Megadeth:
Symphony of Destruction

Yes (rock):
Owner of a Lonely Heart

Man, Na Alii really put some thought into this one, even naming the bands in alphabetical order. Awesome!

[na alii]

Man, Na Alii really put some thought into this one, even naming the bands in alphabetical order. Awesome!

That's actually all the songs we do in our band.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

"Crazy On You" by Heart

*closes eyes and feels its memory in my soul*

[PoiBoy]

Once Were Warriors Theme - Tama Renata *gives me goosebumps*

(yes, proceed to download)

[CranBeree]

so im biased :p but click here:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=408342

and take a listen to Battle March.

im darned proud! :D

[craigwatanabe]

Like I said earler...GnR/Slash/Sweet Child of Mine.

[Fat Jeff]

This morning I have the riff from "Lights Out" by UFO stuck square in the middle of my head. In fact the whole "Strangers in the Night" album should be required listening for anyone wanting to learn rock guitar. So much good playing on that one...

Some country songs have great riffs too. "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" by the Mavericks has a great rolling/stop riff with a cool 1/2 country 1/2 early rock feel. Gotta make some time to learn that one...I bet it will be one of those fun ones to play.

[tikiyaki]

This morning I have the riff from "Lights Out" by UFO stuck square in the middle of my head. In fact the whole "Strangers in the Night" album should be required listening for anyone wanting to learn rock guitar. So much good playing on that one...



Man, we must be the same age. That was the album I learned lead guitar from. Alex Lifeson,Michael Schenker and Ace Frehley pretty much taught me how to play guitar.

I had UFO AND RUSH 2112 painted on my denim jackets in high School...remember when you used to get album covers painted on the back of your denim jackets ?

[tikiyaki]

"Crazy On You" by Heart

*closes eyes and feels its memory in my soul*

Add "barracuda" to that as well.

[craigwatanabe]

Add "barracuda" to that as well.

Talk about a great bass riff. Makes you wanna ride that pony!!:D