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50 of The Greatest Guitar Riffs of all Time
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March 27, 2014 By Klaus Crow / 98 Comments
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There’s something about playing guitar riffs. Creating that cool sound with your own bare fingers while sliding down and bending up those strings feels just like pure magic. Ain’t nothing like it.
CATEGORIES Fingerpicking
Also the excitement of learning and eventually mastering a challenging riff is unbelievably
Beginner
fulfilling.
Intermediate Advanced
Let alone playing that riff with a real band will give you a true adrenaline rush. Yes that’s
Practice
why we love to play riffs.
Music theory
A little while ago I created a list with “50 of The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time”. After that I got a lot of requests for a “Greatest Riffs of all Time” list. And I thought ‘yeah why not?’ So here you are.
Motivation Lifestyle Design Songwriting Performing
As most of you know the lists on Guitarhabits are in no particular order and they are never
Uncategorized
complete. The lists are here to inspire and to motivate. You might discover a riff or song on the list that you haven’t thought of before and would really like to learn. Maybe you’ll get some new ideas for practice or encounter a “mustknowriff” for your repertoire. It’s all here. I was thinking about my personal favorite and it’s just too hard to choose only one. There are
AnalogMan Analog Delay
too many brilliant creations and all unique in their own way. I love the simplicity of “highway to hell”, the beautiful, mysterious, wah wah riff of “Voodoo child”, I have a weak spot for almost every guitar riff by John Frusciante or Slash and not to mention the zillion riffs that aren’t even on the list. Thank god it never stops. Enjoy the list! 1 – Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix – Tabs 2 – Satisfaction – Rolling Stones – Tabs 3 – Smoke on the water – Deep Purple – Tabs 4 – Sunshine of your love – Cream – Tabs 5 – Sweet child o’ mine – Guns ‘n Roses – Tabs 6 – Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry – Tabs 7 – Whole lotta love – Led Zeppelin – Tabs 8 – Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix – Tabs 9 – Walk This Way – Aerosmith – Tabs 10 – Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana – Tabs 11 – You Really Got Me – The Kinks – Tabs 12 – Day Tripper – The Beatles – Tabs 13 – Paranoid – Black Sabbath – Tabs 14 – Highway to hell – AC/DC – Tabs 15 – Layla – Derek And The Dominos – Tabs 16 – Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Tabs 17 – Iron Man – Black Sabbath – Tabs 18 – Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison – Tabs 19 – Money For Nothing – Dire Straits – Tabs 20 – Enter Sandman – Metallica – Tabs 21 – Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes – Tabs 22 – Back In Black – AC/DC – Tabs 23 – Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne – Tabs 24 – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love – Van Halen – Tabs 25 – Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits – Tabs 26 – Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor 27 – Rebel Rebel – David Bowie – Tabs 28 – Paperback writer – The Beatles – Tabs 29 – Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC – Tabs 30 – Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tabs 31 – Money – Pink Floyd – Tabs 32 – Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz – Tabs 33 – Wild Thing – The Troggs 34 – Roadhouse Blues – The Doors – Tabs 35 – Rockin’ in a free world – Neil Young – Tabs 36 – Always on the run – Lenny Kravitz – Tabs 37 – Kashmir – Led zeppelin – Tabs 38 – Killing in the name of – Rage against the machine – Tabs 39 – Pride And Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tabs 40 – Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf – Tabs 41 – Alive – Pearl Jam – Tabs 42 – Master Of Puppets – Metallica – Tabs 43 – The trooper – Iron Maiden – Tabs 44 – Pinball wizard – The Who – Tabs 45 – All right now – Free 46 – Ace Of Spades – Motorhead 47 – Welcome to the jungle – Guns ‘n Roses – Tabs 48 – Beat it – Michael Jackson – Tabs 49 – La Grange – ZZ Top – Tabs 50 – Can’t stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tabs If I missed out on your personal favorite guitar riff, please share it in the comments. I’d appreciate it. Join Guitarhabits' awesome subscribers and receive exclusive content, free guitar lessons, videos and the "150 Essential Chords Ebook" Enter your email here
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Related Posts: 1. 50 of The Best Acoustic Guitar Songs of all Time 2. 50 of The Best Alternative Guitar Songs of the 90s 3. Top 150 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time 4. 50 of The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time
Comments eatnosenuggets says March 27, 2014 at 4:45 pm 50 greatest riffs of ALL TIME and you didn’t even include Alice In Chains – Man In The Box. For shame.
George Baia says March 27, 2014 at 5:01 pm You left off Ted Nugent’s Stranglehold and/or Cat Scratch Fever. Thin Lizzy’s BABIT or China Town…
Joe Black says March 27, 2014 at 5:06 pm Considering that Nirvana borrowed that entire riff from Boston should automatically exclude them from this & all lists.
John Allen says March 27, 2014 at 5:33 pm One of my favourites and also one I consider an anthem rock guitar riff of all time is ‘She sells sanctuary’ by The CULT. One of the simple yet amazingly powerful riffs you’ll ever hear I think.
Klaus Crow says March 27, 2014 at 6:10 pm Hi Eatnosenuggest, And don’t forget “Them Bones” by Alice in Chains. Love that riff!
Astra d'Oudney says March 27, 2014 at 7:37 pm Bitch by the Stones is a great one!
Psmith says March 27, 2014 at 10:50 pm Ha. Now we know that you are over 40. Almost nothing from the last 20 years
Parms says March 28, 2014 at 3:37 am How bout Rush’s Working Man?
Paul says March 28, 2014 at 3:39 am Breakdown from GNR and Can’t you hear me Knocking, stones with Mick Taylor
AC Frio says March 28, 2014 at 4:21 am ‘Barracuda’ and ‘Magic Man’ by Heart ‘Life in the fast lane’ by Joe Walsh/Eagles ‘Cult of Personality’ by Living Colour
AskForJMD says March 28, 2014 at 5:11 am Steely Dan, Reeling in the Years.
Matt Barrett says March 28, 2014 at 5:25 am Brontosaurus
Rob says March 28, 2014 at 5:46 am “Ghost” by Slash is an incredible riff as is “Flying High Again” as played by Randy Rhodes.
Jason says March 28, 2014 at 6:06 am Rolling Stones monkey man
Angela says March 28, 2014 at 6:09 am Hi, unreal riff but lesser known is Battle Cry by Saxon. Would love someone to tell me the tablature of the main riff as I can’t find it anywhere. It surely makes the song
Flew says March 28, 2014 at 6:19 am one way out by the Allman Brothers. Guaranteed to make you drive faster, which should be the litmus test for any riff
Andcertile says March 28, 2014 at 6:29 am Funkadelic/Maggot Brain. Sly and the Family Stone/Sex Machine
Wes says March 28, 2014 at 6:38 am What about Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin?
Ilias says March 28, 2014 at 8:30 am Wish you were here” by pink floyd i think it one of the top classic which should be included
Steve says March 28, 2014 at 9:22 am Doobie Bros. “China Grove” ?
Astra d'Oudney says March 28, 2014 at 2:41 pm Ah, I’ve just thought of You Can’t Do It Right by Deep Purple from Stormbringer and what about Live With Me by the Stones — the riff was played on the bass on Let It Bleed, but it was turned into a super guitar riff on Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out!
Tom Hunt says March 28, 2014 at 4:24 pm Pink Floyd – comfortably Numb
Nate says March 28, 2014 at 4:59 pm Agree with AC Frio! ‘Barracuda’ and ‘Magic Man’ by Heart ‘Life in the fast lane’ by Joe Walsh/Eagles ‘Cult of Personality’ by Living Colour
Sean says March 28, 2014 at 5:24 pm No Prince?! Let’s Go Crazy….Purple Rain….I could go on.
John parry says March 28, 2014 at 11:02 pm Free bird Lenard skynard
Klaus Crow says March 29, 2014 at 12:22 am Thanks everyone for sharing your favorites. I really appreciate that. Best regards, Klaus Crow
Malteseterp says March 29, 2014 at 12:23 am Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young Road Runner – The Modern Lovers Green River – Credence Clearwater Revival One Way or Another – Blondie
Phil says March 29, 2014 at 2:20 am Frank zappa willy the pimp
Tony Cutrone says March 29, 2014 at 6:21 pm “Slither” by Velvet Revolver “Lil’ Devil” by The Cult “Limelight” by Rush
DW @ My First Axe says April 1, 2014 at 2:21 am I hate to bias the list to Pink Floyd, but there are so many good riffs missing from here that belong to them: Another Brick in the Wall, Young Lust, Wish You Were Here, … they’re all so good! Seriously though – great list! Any guitarist should strive to learn all of these licks.
Tom says April 8, 2014 at 12:53 pm A lot of these aren’t even riffs, just chord progressions. Example: smells like teen spirit is great and all, but there aren’t any real monumental riffs in it. I would have picked heart shaped box, or even come as you are over smells like teen spirit any day.
Con says April 11, 2014 at 5:34 pm Hi Klaus Rory Gallagher’s intro riff to “What’s Going On” has to be one of the most unknown great guitar riffs ever. Please listen to it!!
billy b says April 17, 2014 at 2:09 am what about hotel california?
miguel vf says May 10, 2014 at 1:57 pm “Love Like a Man” – Alvin Lee / Ten Years After
Fred Orcutt says May 24, 2014 at 8:19 pm I know their not fashionable to mention, but what about Aqualung by Jethro Tull. The local Guitar Center has banned it, because so many played it trying out new guitars.
Duane Lindstrom says June 23, 2014 at 7:04 pm “Tell Mama”, Savoy Brown still gives me chills when I hear it.
Bill Bonson says June 28, 2014 at 7:53 am Only a lucky few even know of this one from an early Lou Reed Live album. Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner team up and slay the intro on this version of “Sweet Jane” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FdWPeHFAMk
Guy says July 3, 2014 at 2:07 am The Beautiful People, Marilyn Manson. Renown, widely recognized.
riffrocker says July 3, 2014 at 5:38 am In Bloom-Nirvana
riffrocker says July 3, 2014 at 5:53 am I wouldn’t consider it a “riff” but we can’t forget about Black Magic Woman by Santana
riffrocker says July 3, 2014 at 5:55 am Impulse by An Endless Sporadic. Fairly new but absolutely amazing
A Person says July 11, 2014 at 2:13 am Plug In Baby and MK Ultra by Muse should have been on here…
Stefan says July 21, 2014 at 9:42 pm Hmmmm, missing Queen here, like Bohemian Rapsody or I want to break free or ….
darren M says July 31, 2014 at 4:07 pm How about Bruce Springsteen’s reworking of ‘The Ghost Of Tom Joad’ with Tom Morello off his album ‘High Hopes’ ?
Rick says August 6, 2014 at 4:45 pm Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know, I’ll let it speak for itself
john a says August 8, 2014 at 5:19 pm over the mountain, rock bottom and just got paid!
E Double says August 8, 2014 at 7:43 pm Banned in D.C. where is it at?
Jordan Hatounian says August 18, 2014 at 2:43 am Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill Landslide – Fleetwood Mac Give A Little Bit – Supertramp No Rain – Blind Melon
Larry Toole says August 20, 2014 at 2:15 am Gary Moore…Still Got The Blues ??????? Are you kidding?
Bob says August 26, 2014 at 12:07 am Gotta be Peter Frampton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7rFYbMhcG8
ST Williams says August 28, 2014 at 10:19 am What about “Rambling Man” by the Allman Brothers near the end of the song?
Kathleen says August 30, 2014 at 8:15 pm I’d Love to Change the World by Ten Years After (Alvin Lee) Can’t Find My Way Home by Blind Faith (Eric Clapton) Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult Tied to the Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers Eighteen by Alice Cooper
Aurelian says September 4, 2014 at 10:09 pm Runnin on a Dream-tom petty and heartbreakers long riff at the end is so good it’s scary!
JP says September 17, 2014 at 5:49 am Without a doubt Steely Dan’s Reelin in the Years IS the best guitar riff of all time – any list that excludes that rock n roll masterpiece is rubbish.
David says November 15, 2014 at 2:08 am How is it possible that Keith Richards gets only one mention in the top riffs of all time????? – He is the ‘Human Riff’ ……..he wrote hundreds of the most iconic riffs of alltime..
Celia says November 24, 2014 at 3:07 pm “Everyone’s A Winner” by Hot Chocolate
Sharon says December 3, 2014 at 6:57 pm Snow by Red hot chili peppers
Reason and Knowledge says December 17, 2014 at 6:37 pm Hendrix, Santana, Carlton, Clapton…apparently not significant.
Lincoln says December 27, 2014 at 11:07 am you should put Message in a bottle by The Police
Jackie says January 27, 2015 at 12:21 am What about Mississippi Queen? Or perhaps Hot For Teacher? And definitely needs something from Santana!
Ariel says February 4, 2015 at 9:26 pm Great list, but you missed DON’T FEAR THE REAPER, Blue Oyster Cult, by far my favorite
Ron says February 7, 2015 at 4:22 am Are you all smoking weed ????????? John forgerty !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Syd says February 8, 2015 at 7:39 pm Pretty Things – ‘Modnight to Six’ … Dick Taylor’s handiwork should be the stuff of ringtones. Easily top 5…
Syd says February 8, 2015 at 7:41 pm Sorry, ‘Midnight to Six’
Todd Richardson says March 7, 2015 at 2:21 am “My Girl” “Brown-Eyed Girl” “I’m Your Captain”
Todd Richardson says March 7, 2015 at 2:38 am “My City Was Gone”-Chrissy Hynde
David Hunt says March 17, 2015 at 5:45 am “Fool For The City” – Foghat “Journey To The Center Of The Mind” – The Amboy Dukes “I Like To Rock” – April Wine “Runaway” – Bon Jovi “White Room” – Cream “Born On The Bayou” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
hongsang says March 27, 2015 at 2:01 am Very great list and enjoy “Money For Nothing” :)
Ronnie says April 27, 2015 at 3:46 am Judas Priest
Brian W says May 2, 2015 at 8:39 pm The intro to Over the Hills and Far Away is my favorite … so mellow, so perfect. Cool list, thanks!
Tina Marie says May 21, 2015 at 4:50 pm ACDC “Thunderstruck”
Charles L. says June 7, 2015 at 4:11 pm In My Life by the Beatles Already Gone by the Eagles
Charles L. says June 8, 2015 at 2:24 am In My Life by the Beatles Already Gone by the Eagles The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy
Brian says June 17, 2015 at 11:17 am Wasted by Def Leppard. Steve Clark used to come up with some great Riffs and was part of what made early leppard so good. I also love Riff Raff by AC/DC.
Rick says July 23, 2015 at 7:23 pm I know 80’s hair metal is generally ostracized, bu Fastway’s “say what you will” had one hell of a catchy riff.
K says August 5, 2015 at 5:27 pm Always surprised that the bridge from Slayer’s “Angel of Death” doesn’t make these lists. When that came out it was like someone had discovered a new way to play guitar. Later sampled by groups as diverse as Public Enemy and KMFDM. And it’s all riff.
Curt says August 20, 2015 at 12:00 am I would like to have seen “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” by the Stones. Good list though.
Berni says September 5, 2015 at 9:04 pm Whisky in the Jar – Thin Lizzy Hotel California – Eagles
John says September 22, 2015 at 4:59 am Thanks. Very useful information. I only know 20 greatest, now I know more 30
You_Poser says March 15, 2016 at 2:08 am Iggy Pop not once on list, can’t take it seriously.
Guy says March 31, 2016 at 3:17 am Everybody Wants You by Billy Squier
Alison says June 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm Photograph ~ Def Leppard
D00D says June 16, 2016 at 3:40 pm Oh c’mon! Where’s Cowboys From Hell and Slither?
John says July 22, 2016 at 4:36 am Stranglehold – Ted Nugnet! The whole songs a riff! Lol
Ginger-lyn says August 4, 2016 at 12:24 am I can’t believe you left out CSNY’s”Ohio”! That opening riff is one of the most recognizable and memorable riffs in any song, imho.
Squatch says September 19, 2016 at 12:46 am Bridge of Sighs – Robin Trower
James says October 27, 2016 at 10:29 am I think Love Spreads by The Stone Roses at least needs an honarable mention. It’s killer
Davros says November 4, 2016 at 12:59 pm I think some folk don’t know what a ‘riff’ is and confuse it with ‘song’ or ‘solo’. What is the ‘riff’ in ‘Comfortably Numb’? Heavy Metal is the most riff-orientated genre there is. Candlemas, for example, are a riff machine.
Sean Nash says January 9, 2017 at 9:04 am Man in the Box
JustAGirl says February 22, 2017 at 10:01 pm Rick Derringer “Rock ‘N Roll Hootchie Koo
Guy says April 22, 2017 at 10:40 am I think that you should’ve included: Hotel California-Eagles Who’s That Lady-Isley Brothers Let’s Go Crazy-Prince
natblak says June 8, 2017 at 9:33 pm how in the hell did November Rain not make it? Slash makes a guitar speak…
Hunter says August 8, 2017 at 11:08 pm No raining blood that’s disrespect
Mike says October 7, 2017 at 5:05 am “Home Sweet Home” By Motley Crue has such a memorable riff
Jocelyn says December 10, 2017 at 8:04 am I think “another brick in the wall” from Pink Floyd has the most perfect riff of all time. Man, I jack that up so loud! It’s so pure!
pat says January 23, 2018 at 12:39 am All the tab links take me to Amazon?
joe mumford says February 12, 2018 at 5:46 am wheres im going home byalvin lee and ten years after …. are you kidding meit should be number one
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