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Greatest Guitar Riffs

05 April, 2008
By: fiona
Filed Under: guitar, tabs, vote

There was a poll recently from music students in London to nominate their top 25 guitar riffs of all time. I'm pretty impressed with the list. It would be almost the one's I'd have picked myself.

These are mostly like the riffs you learn to impress your friends. It's kind of weird when you sit with a guitar and someone yells "play something!" and you realise that you've only learnt your favourite bands songs (who happens to be some really obscure, unknown band). Pull out one of these riffs and you generally get the metal symbol salute along with the word "siiick".

I didn't say the praise was good....

In order from first to last :
1. Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple (1973)
One of the first I learnt. If you play guitar, you've GOT to learn this song!

2. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana (1991)
Ah, let us introduce the muted string. Anyone pulls this one out at a party and they become instant legend.

3. Walk This Way – Aerosmith (1975)
Meh. Never really been a fan of aerosmith. This song is ok, but i've never learnt it.

4. Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix (1967)
5. Sweet Child O Mine – Guns N Roses (1987)
I think Sheryl Crow ruined this one for me...

6. Paradise City – Guns N Roses (1987)
Two gunners songs? In a row? niiice.

7. Ace Of Spades – Motorhead (1980)
8. Enter Sandman – Metallica (1991)
The first riff that my mum recognised when I played it. It's very addictive. And because it's Metallica, you feel proud once you've learnt it. Actually, a heap of there songs should be on this list..

9. Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chilli Peppers (1992)
I HATE YOU ALL SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!

10. Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N Roses (1987)
11. Run To The Hills – Iron Maiden (1982)
12. Walk – Pantera (1992)
13. Johnny Be Goode – Chuck Berry (1958)
14. Back In Black – AC/DC (1980)
15. Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin (1970)
16. Wake Up – Rage Against The Machine (1992)
17. Highway to Hell – AC/DC (1979)
18. My Generation – The Who (1965)
19. 7 Nation Army – The White Stripes (2003)
20. Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf (1968)
21. Give It Away – Red Hot Chilli Peppers (1991)
22. Paranoid – Black Sabbath (1970)
23. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix (1967)
24. Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor (1982)
25. Money For Nothing – Dire Straits (1984)


So basically, no-one from this era can write amazing guitar riffs that will become "classic". There's only one from post 2000. Wow. It must be all downhill from here...

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Comments

1. Smoke on the water is definitely number one!!

   — Kate · Sat Apr 5, 02:41 PM · #

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