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Best Opening Riffs?

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  • Best Opening Riffs?

    Here's my short list. Please add your own!

    No particular order:
    Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
    Sunshine of your Love - Cream
    Stairway to Heaven - Lead Zeppelin
    Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Sweet Child o' Mine - Guns n' Roses
    Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
    Name - Goo Goo Dolls
    Day Tripper - Beatles
    Life in the Fast Lane - Eagles
    So What - P!nk
    Layla - Eric Clapton
    Jump - Van Halen
    Don't Stop Believin' - Journey

    As you know, pretty much all of the above are guitar riffs. I could go on and on and on with piano riffs, especially because I play the instrument. That's probably a topic for another day, unless you don't mind or you have some of your own.
    'Alika

  • #2
    Re: Best Opening Riffs?

    It's a good list, and you hit most of the required mentions when this topic comes up. I would disagree with a few, especially "Jump," whose riff is kind of annoying. Recognizable doesn't mean good. I really like that you include "Don't Fear the Reaper" and "Daytripper," two that I think often get forgotten.

    A couple that you miss:

    "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones.
    "Found Out About You" by Gin Blossoms.
    "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit.
    "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits.
    "Limelight" by Rush.
    "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M.
    "Separate Ways" by Journey.
    "Enter Sandman" by Metallica.
    "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica.
    "Barracuda" by Heart.
    But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
    GrouchyTeacher.com

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Best Opening Riffs?

      I used to be obsessed with Journey and was toying with the idea of putting "Separate Ways" in there. And how could I forget "Satisfaction" and "Barracuda!" Duh!
      I'm unfamiliar with a few of those on your list. I may need to look them up!
      'Alika

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      • #4
        Re: Best Opening Riffs?

        Intro
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7GE_HMZxa0

        And Now.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq8VPYPzKHk

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        • #5
          How about ending riffs?

          Fleetwood Mac: Gypsy

          I can't imagine someones fingers moving that fast!
          Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!
          ~ ~
          Kaʻonohiʻulaʻokahōkūmiomioʻehiku
          Spreading the virus of ALOHA.
          Oh Chu. If only you could have seen what I've seen, with your eyes.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Best Opening Riffs?

            Side 3 of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music on 78 speed.
            https://www.facebook.com/Bobby-Ingan...5875444640256/

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Best Opening Riffs?

              Simple yet .... elegant .... sticks in your head bass rift:

              Money (Pink Floyd)
              Now run along and play, but don’t get into trouble.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                Originally posted by akrauth View Post
                Here's my short list. Please add your own!
                Words. We need links!
                Angelo Badalamenti
                Greg

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBbXKsKXyNU

                  Here comes the Sun.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                    When I started replaying the opening riffs in my head to songs like Smoke on the Water, Stairway to Heaven, Sweet Home Alabama and Day Tripper, they are SUCH a part of what music is to me that I almost kind of forget that I like them. Good choices.

                    The best opening riff from a recent song has GOT to be "Anastasia" by Slash. I think this girl's cover is the best video of the song on YouTube:

                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhRM868Oi2Q


                    I like most of the stuff listed in this thread, but other opening riffs I really like that haven't been mentioned yet:

                    Stranglehold by Ted Nugent
                    Hanuman by Rodrido y Gabriela

                    Even though it's a very short and very simple opening, one of my favorite opening riffs is from the Stones' Honky Tonk Woman.

                    If there was a category for least-liked song with the most-liked opening, it would have to be Prefabricated by Trust from the Heavy Metal movie soundtrack.

                    I'm sure there are plenty others, but that's all I can think of right now.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                      Which came first, Under Pressure or Ice,Ice,Baby?

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                      • #12
                        Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                        Money for Nothing ... Dire Straits
                        Hotel California ... Eagles
                        Simple Man ... Lynyrd Skynyrd
                        Over the Hills and Far Away ... LZ

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                        • #13
                          Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                          In addition to what was previously mentioned, whether they're good or not, I have liked over the years:

                          What I Like About You - The Romantics
                          Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood & the Destroyers

                          No Matter What - Badfinger
                          Revolution - The Beatles
                          I Fought the Law (and the Law Won) - Bobby Fuller Four
                          Just Like Heaven - The Cure
                          When I Come Around - Green Day
                          American Woman -The Guess Who
                          No Time - The Guess Who
                          You Really Got Me - The Kinks
                          Jumping Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones
                          Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
                          New Orleans is Sinking - Tragically Hip
                          I'm still here. Are you?

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                          • #14
                            Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                            Originally posted by GregLee View Post
                            Words. We need links!
                            Angelo Badalamenti
                            I'm sure you know some of mine. Are there any particular ones you'd like links for? Let me know!
                            'Alika

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Best Opening Riffs?

                              Originally posted by akrauth View Post
                              I'm sure you know some of mine. Are there any particular ones you'd like links for? Let me know!
                              Oh, I can look them up myself, I guess. I just think it would be more interesting if people posted links.
                              From the top, here's Smoke on the Water and Stairway to Heaven.
                              Greg

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