[decal]

I did a quick search and didn't see this but if it's been up before feel free to disregard !!!!!!
50 Greatest Guitar Riffs in R'n'R
Some of these I agree with ,some not so much . Post your thoughts.

[orientalexpress]

1.smoke on the water by deep purple
2.paranoid by black sabbath
3.whole lot of love by Led zeppelin
4.birthday by Beatles
5.u really got me by the KINK
6.sweet child of mine by G&R
7.more then a feeling by Boston
8.paint it black by rolling stone
9.walk this way by aerosmith
10.purple haze by jimmi Hendrix
11.talk dirty to me by poison
12.rock"n roll all night by KISS
13.Don"t fear the Reaper by blue oyster cult
14.crazy train by Ozzie
15.Rocking Roll by Led Zeppelin
16.Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
17.back in Black by AC|DC
19.welcome to the Jungle by G&R
20.Sandman by Metallica
 
Lapsan

[Alexdad54]

I Can't Explain - The Who 

[HAITIMAN]

"How Soon is Now?" Johnny Mar (The Smiths)
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" The Edge
"Stranglehold" Ted Nugent
"Taxman" The Beatles

[thunderbrick]

Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
+1 on the Byrds, Roy Orbison, the Kinks and many others on the list and suggested.

Some of the groups I've never heard of.   

[jackman]

1.smoke on the water by deep purple
2.paranoid by black sabbath
3.whole lot of love by Led zeppelin
4.birthday by Beatles
5.u really got me by the KINK
6.sweet child of mine by G&R
7.more then a feeling by Boston
8.paint it black by rolling stone
9.walk this way by aerosmith
10.purple haze by jimmi Hendrix
11.talk dirty to me by poison
12.rock"n roll all night by KISS
13.Don"t fear the Reaper by blue oyster cult
14.crazy train by Ozzie
15.Rocking Roll by Led Zeppelin
16.Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
17.back in Black by AC|DC
19.welcome to the Jungle by G&R
20.Sandman by Metallica
 
Lapsan

I don't agree with all of your choices but at least most of the songs on your list have guitar riffs.  There are too many songs on the previous riff thread that do not have a riff. Eruption is not a riff. It's a great solo but not a riff. Smoke on the water, satisfaction, paperback writer, welcome to the jungle, most AC/dc songs have riffs.  A riff is usually a simple (can be complex) memorable guitar piece that is often repeated throughout the song. You can usually hum it and the song is instantly recognized. Try that with some of the songs on this thread!

Cheers
J

[Rclark]

The fact that the list is populated by ancient bands is quite telling. The riff has come a long way since then... Not that there's anything wrong with those songs there 

[Diamond Dog]

The fact that the list is populated by ancient bands is quite telling. The riff has come a long way since then... Not that there's anything wrong with those songs there 

As opposed to more current bands rehashing ancient riffs ?

D.D.

[jackman]

The fact that the list is populated by ancient bands is quite telling. The riff has come a long way since then... Not that there's anything wrong with those songs there 

I hate to say it but I'm not sure I agree with you.  The riff has not come a long way since the ones on the list of "ancient" bands were recorded.  I agree the list is quite telling but I don't think any new bands are cranking out riffs like the ones on the list.   Even though I like modern Rock bands, I don't think there are any out there cranking out riffs like the ones AC/DC, GNR, Led Zepplin, the Stones and Aerosmith cranked out during their primes. 

There are some modern bands who have decent riffs, like the White Stripes (or Jack White) and Green Day but I doubt their best stuff will ever compare (at least as far as riffs are concerned) with the likes of AC/DC, Stones, etc., when it comes to great riffs.  It's very difficult to write good, simple, catchy, original riffs.  I like the Black Keys but would have a hard time finding a single riff that belongs in my top 50. 

Riffs are specific, IMO, to a certain kind of Rock music and even great bands and guitarists like Gilmour (one of my favorites) have way less memorable riffs than people like Ted Nugent.  I can think of at least 10 Nugent riffs off the top of my head (the ones from Cat Scratch Fever, Strangle Hold, Free for All, Just what the Doctor Ordered, Wango Tango, Hey Baby, etc.) that are better than any riffs from Floyd (and I'm a bigger Floyd fan by far).  Same with Judas Priest.  They had so many songs with great riffs (Breaking the Law, You Got Another Thing Coming, Heading out on the Highway, Living After Midnight, Hell Bent for Leather, Green Manalishi, etc.). 

For me, if a riff is great, you should be able to hum a couple bars and the song is instantly recognizable.  Satisfaction, Hey Hey My My, and Smoke on the Water are some of the simplest and most recognizable, and great examples of memorable riffs.  All of the classic AC/DC songs had GREAT riffs, credit to Malcolm Young.  Modern music is not riff oriented, for the most part, and there are way less memorable riffs as a result. 

IMO there is a litmus test for a great riff.  If it makes me want to pick up my guitar and crank it to 11, it's a great riff.  Here is Deadly Tedley in his prime and Neil Young showing what great guitar riffs are all about.  Hey Baby is not a famous song but it's built around a simple and cool Rock riff.  Same with Cat Scratch Fever. Simple, cool riff oriented song.  These are simple riffs that are just cool sounding, IMO. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu3LTf7wGCs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCJux_7W2i8&feature=related

Neil Young:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs2-BH9_DMA

[arthurs]

Focus - Hocus Pocus

[thunderbrick]

Focus - Hocus Pocus

+1!

[HAL]

It maybe an ancient riff but:

The Who: Pinball Wizard

And I am OK with that! 

It is the song that started me in liking rock music!

[MttBsh]

When I think of guitarists (actual musicians) like Al Dimeola of like Return to Forerever and John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the fiery, virtuostic riffs they played, it amuses me that someone would list a band like KISS as playing one of the best 10 riffs. Give me a break. I have to admit when I was 15 I liked Black Sabbath and Grand Funk Railroad. But it's hard to imagine that those bands would appeal to anyone over about the age of 20 other than for nostalgia.

[Diamond Dog]

 Drop your riffs and get your hands up ! Everybody up against the wall  - The Music Police have arrived!   

D.D.

[orientalexpress]

I don't agree with all of your choices but at least most of the songs on your list have guitar riffs.  There are too many songs on the previous riff thread that do not have a riff. Eruption is not a riff. It's a great solo but not a riff. Smoke on the water, satisfaction, paperback writer, welcome to the jungle, most AC/dc songs have riffs.  A riff is usually a simple (can be complex) memorable guitar piece that is often repeated throughout the song. You can usually hum it and the song is instantly recognized. Try that with some of the songs on this thread!

Cheers
J

Maybe Not Your Riff,i grew up in the 80 .But That some of the songs every drumers or bass players know for warm up before we're actually play the original.


lapsan

[Mike Nomad]

Plenty of entries on the list weren't Rock 'n' Roll tracks, at the exclusion of a pair of obvious heavy hitters:

The Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter," and "Can't You Here Me Knockin'."

Personal taste has me including Procol Harum's "Simple Sister," and Jethro Tull's "With You There To Help Me."

[Chromisdesigns]

Hot Rod Lincoln, as played by Bill Kirchen -- not only the main theme ("hill climbin' music"...) but the extended live versions where he does riffs from 15 or 20 famous guitarists who "let him by!".

One of the truly great Telecaster masters.

[jackman]

Maybe Not Your Riff,i grew up in the 80 .But That some of the songs every drumers or bass players know for warm up before we're actually play the original.


lapsan

Sorry Lap, I don't understand your comment.  If it's about Eruption, I don't disagree it's a great, classic Rock song but not a riff. 

[*Scotty*]

I have to vote for the Gibson.com list of the top 50 Guitar Riffs of All Time
1. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” The Rolling Stones
2. “Smoke on the Water,” Deep Purple
3. “Whole Lotta Love,” Led Zeppelin
4. “Iron Man,” Black Sabbath
5. “Back in Black,” AC/DC
6. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
7. “You Really Got Me,” The Kinks
8. “Day Tripper,” The Beatles
9. “Walk This Way,” Aerosmith
10. “Sunshine of Your Love,” Cream
11. “Crazy Train,” Ozzy Osbourne
12. “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” Guns N’ Roses
13. “Layla,” Derek and the Dominos
14. “Purple Haze,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience
15. “Enter Sandman,” Metallica
16. “Heartbreaker,” Led Zeppelin
17. “Black Dog,” Led Zeppelin
18. “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Roy Orbison
19. “Johnny B. Goode,” Chuck Berry
20. “Foxy Lady,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience
21. “I Feel Fine,” The Beatles
22. “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love,” Van Halen
23. “Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes
24. “Ticket to Ride,” The Beatles
25. “Highway to Hell,” AC/DC
26. “Shakin’ All Over,” Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
27.  “Rebel Rebel,” David Bowie
28.  “Mannish Boy,” Muddy Waters
29. “Bo Diddley,” Bo Diddley
30. “Welcome to the Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses
31. “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” The Jimi Hendrix Experience
32. “Wild Thing,” The Troggs
33. “T.V. Eye,” The Stooges
34.  “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” Scorpions
35. “Rock and Roll,” Led Zeppelin
36. “Panama,” Van Halen
37. “Rumble,” Link Wray & His Ray Men
38. “Teenage Kicks,” The Undertones
39.  “Sultans of Swing,” Dire Straits
40. “I Can’t Explain,” The Who
41. “I Fought the Law,” Bobby Fuller Four
42. “Susie Q,” Dale Hawkins
43.  “Somethin’ Else,” Eddie Cochran
44. “Peggy Sue,” Buddy Holly
45. “Cat Scratch Fever,” Ted Nugent
46. “Revolution,” The Beatles
47. “Born on the Bayou,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
48. “Louie Louie,” The Kingsmen
49. “School’s Out,” Alice Cooper
50. “Guerilla Radio,” Rage Against the Machine
Scotty

[JeffB]

Too many great riffs to pick 50.  A few I thought of that haven't been mentioned.
Edgar Winter Group -- Frankenstein
Foghat -- Slowride
Montrose -- Rock Candy
Joe Walsh -- Rocky Mountain Way
Mountain -- Mississippi Queen
Saxon -- Denim and Leather

Heck all of 80s metal was pretty much riff based.