[AdamCalifornia]

Thre are many guitar riffs but only some of them are Immortal.
Also, mention your favourite riffs.
Post links to google, yahoo, YouTube, etc. so that we have those riffs here!
Who are the most prolific Gitar Riff composers?

The list below is not complete by any means - you will post many more riffs!


"Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry (1955), released 1958 Johnny B. Goode

(Also see the renditions: Johnny B Googe renditions ...)


"You Really Gor Me" - The Kinks, 1964 You Really Gor Me

Perhaps the key moment in pop's gradual metamorphosis into Rock.
Paul MacCartney (The Beatles) said that this was an outstanding heavy rock guitar riff.
Absolutely new back then in 1964!

There exists a fabulous rendition of this song by Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
on their self-titled album Van Halen. Van Halen

"(I Can't get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones, 1965 Satisfaction
"Brown Sugar", The Rolling Stones, 1971 Brown Sugar


"Sunshine of My Love" - Cream, 1967 Sunshine Of My Love


"Purple Haze - Star Spangled Banner" - Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock 1969 Purple Haze
"Voodoo Child" - Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock 1969 Voodoo Child


"Whole Lotta Love" - Led Zeppelin, 1969 Whole Lotta Love
"Heartbreaker" - Led Zeppelin 1969 Heartbreaker


'Black Sabbath" - Black Sabbath, 1970 Black Sabbath
"Paranoid", "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath, 1970 Paranoid
"Iron Man" - Black Sabbath, 1970 Iron Man

Those and other juggernaut riffs were written by Tony Iommi.
I've wartched the "OzzFest - 10th Anniversary" (DVD) and one of the guitarists of one
of the bands paricipating said:
'Those riffs were not composed by a human!'

I also read somewhere that a guitarist of one of famous heavy metal bands said that
the Riff from the Black Sabbath track (song) is still the most frightening noise ever
to have emerged from a fretboard. Ever! ... it's just heavines in its purest form ...


"Smoke On the Water" - Deep Purple, 1972 Smoke on the Water

This is arguably the most famous Rock Riff and was composed by Ritchie Blackmore.

... and so on .....

"Back in Black" - AC/DC, 1980 Back in Black

"Sweet Child Of Mine" - Guns N' Roses, 1987 Sweet Child Of Mine


"Enter Sandman" - Metalica, 1991 (Woodstock'99) Enter Sandman


Formidable Rock Guitar Riff Composers
(in no particilar order)

Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
Jimi Hendrix
Angus Young (AC/DC)
Eddie Van Halen
Eric Clapton

There is also a thread: Guitar Gods: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, ...


This is just a starting point. In your posts you will add many more riffs,
including your favourite ones!

Creedence Clearwater Revival, ...., Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Pantera,
.... and many more!

P.s.
I've changed the title because there's a band called Immortal and
some people think that we mean the Guitar Riffs by this band.

 

[tw0k1ngs]

I think I might be blind... because I am not seeing SRV on your list

 

[SONGsanmanwah]

I'll chime in with...

"Rock Bottom" - UFO, 1974 Phenomenon/1979 Strangers in the Night (Live)
Michael Schenker was 19 when they first recorded it :O

 

[braker218]

Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing (Really anybody who had done that song, SRV, Clapton etc...)

Duane Allman - Layla

Slash - Sweet Child O' Mine

So many more, I could go on forever.

 

[Thelonious Monk]

the main riff from "In The Name Of God" by Dream Theater. painfully heavy, tons of throat...

Quote:

Duane Allman - Layla

honestly i have no idea how slide guitar can possibly be considered a riff.

 

[roadtonowhere08]

When it comes to riffs, nobody, and I mean NOBODY touches Tony Iommi.

 

[Lumient]

Essential stuff (and fun to play):

Aerosmith & Run DMC - "Walk This Way"
Van Halen - "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"
Lenny Kravitz - "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Sweet Home Alabama"

 

[braker218]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelonious Monk /img/forum/go_quote.gif the main riff from "In The Name Of God" by Dream Theater. painfully heavy, tons of throat... honestly i have no idea how slide guitar can possibly be considered a riff.

I don't know, maybe because the definition of a riff directly fits. Let's see, it is a repeated melodic piece of music that is not the centerpiece of the song. Um yeah, that would be a riff.

 

[Gatticus]

The Smiths (Johnny Marr on guitar) - How Soon Is Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NrIALcNOw

David Bowie (Mick Ronson on guitar) - Jean Genie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA29BVtCCpM

 

[Comfy]

The intro to "Can't you hear me knocking" by the Rolling Stones.
It's on the Sticky Fingers album, and I would assume it's Mr. Keith Richards who plays it.

 

[Febs]

A couple off the top of my head:

The Beatles - Day Tripper

ZZ Top - La Grange

Georgia Satellites - Keep Your Hands to Yourself (this one has always fascinated me. It's just a variation on the same riff on an A chord that has been recorded a thousand times. In fact, it's basically the Johnny B. Goode riff slowed down. Yet it's instantly recognizable as being this song.)

 

[Rempert]

Smoke on the Water and La Grange are two of my favorites, but I'm really surprised nobody has mentioned anything from Nirvana yet. I don't even like Nirvana that much, but anyone my age or a bit younger who plays guitar probably learned those riffs before anything else.

I notice that legendary riffs tend to make a prominent appearance as an intro or mini solo instead of being buried in the background for the entire song. I wonder if the prominent role is what makes them become so popular, or if being so good is what made them turn into a prominent part of the song.

 

[Leporello]

John Mellencamp's 'Hurt so good'.

Alice Cooper's 'No More Mr Nice Guy'

And finally a true guilty pleasure: Ted Nugent's 'Cat Scratch Fever'


Regards,

L.

 

[NightWoundsTime]

When I think massive riffs I always go straight to Voodoo Child. I love it because Jimi keeps it fresh throughout the song instead of the recitation that most riffs suffer.

 

[papomaster]

Even if it's not the energical, highly distorted riffs we are usually accustomed to, i think the guitar play during the first part of Stairway to heaven by Led Zep if one of the immortal ones...