Here I’d like to present you of a list of some of the greatest rock guitar riffs. This is not meant to be an all inclusive list, but more of a conversation starter. I’d like to know what songs YOU think I should add to the list- and why. Just post your response in the comments!
Here’s mine:
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry: The opening lick to Johnny B. Goode is one of the single most important statements ever made on an electric guitar. It still screams Rock-And-Roll! to this day.
Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix: Here’s a great lesson in the many possibilities of rhythm guitar. Go beyond just playing chords and add some of these great rhythm phrases to your playing.
Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd: You’ve got to love the chops on Gilmoure. This tune sports plenty of wonderfully phrased lead lines that will have you wood shedding for days. Let David Gilmoure show you how to make your axe sing out.
Hotel California – The Eagles: Hotel California comes complete with layered guitar parts, wonderfully phrased leads, dual lead harmony, and a capoed rhythm part. There’s plenty to practice here!
Pipeline – The Ventures:You didn’t think you were going to get away without learning how to play some surf guitar, did you? This tune will bring you back to the days of sun and fun when instrumental guitar songs could be heard on the radio constantly.
Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones: Learning anything with Keith Richards playing on it and it can be considered Rhythm Guitar 101. Check out his open G tuning guitar part to this classic rocker.
Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan: This was one of Vaughan’s signature songs. It’s a great song to expose yourself to the blues shuffle and some of SRV’s great solo phrasing.
Crossroads – Cream: Eric Clapton tears the joint down with his modern rendition of the Robert Johnson classic.
Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd : There is always some drunk group at just about every rock show who screams out either: A)”play some Skynyrd dude!” or B)”FREE BIRD!” And with good reason. Free Bird is probably the quintessential southern rock song. A must-have for anyone’s song book!
Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin : This Zepplin epic will have you working overtime, but it’s well worth it. Every guitar player must first learn the into and then proceed to his/her local guitar shop to play it on all the guitars that they have on display. It’s a right of passage!
Revolution – The Beatles : A strong melody, good playing, and a song that actually has something to say.
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield : AKA the “stop, listen, what’s that sound” song. Just a fun pop rock song with a memorable hook and a nice easy hummable melody. The Fraggle Rock version was even cool!
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who : Townshend wrote this futuristic fist-pumper for an aborted concept album and film called Lifehouse. But many of that project’s songs were resurrected for Who’s Next, which started off with a week of demo sessions at Mick Jagger’s country house, Stargroves.
Street Fighting Man – The Rolling Stones : Jumpin Jack Flash and Brown Sugar have NOTHING on this song. This song just makes you want to get up and DANCE! This song embodies some of the best of the Stones’ uptempo numbers, period.
Everybody Hurts – REM : Here is a rather easy riff, but the styling of Peter Buck is quite interesting in the way he uses his guitar to provide a great deal of rhythm, much in the same way that Keith Richard’s can really drive a song.
Free Fallin – Tom Petty : I don’t know of a solitary soul who hates this song. That alone is enough to get it on the list. The fact that it’s just 3 simple chords strummed over and over for the most part means that Petty basically took the old adage and did the most he could with it: Keep it simple stupid!
Highway To Hell – AC/DC: Those opening chords just sound like you’re starting on a trip to hell. This is probably the song that most influenced the Back in Black album’s sound. And let’s face it, a whole lot of people can relate to being on a highway to hell.
Better Man – Pearl Jam : With this great song, you will learn standard chords, but there are quite a few major riffs in it that totally capsulate the song itself. The composition of writing both lyrically and musically are phenomenal.
All I Want Is You – U2 : This was an interesting part, complete with string arrangements by Van Dyke Parks. The Edge really sends this beautiful song over the edge with his quirky guitar playing as well.
Rock and Roll All Nite – KISS : What is undoubtedly the greatest pure rock and roll anthem ever written and put to record. Can’t we all relate to “rock and roll all nite, party every day?” Party on!
Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen : Probably the greatest epic “story” song ever written, Born to Run feels alive, passionate, and full of life.
Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones: This, folks, is by far one of the best song the Stones have ever written. It has a country-blues feeling to it in a lot of ways, and Mick Jagger doesn’t try to over-emote in his singing. Just a great great simple song.
Over The Hills and Far Away – Led Zeppelin : One of the best acoustic guitar lines ever. And when the rest of the band kicks in, it’s a moment that few rock bands could match. It’s just a splendidly put together song.
Walk This Way – Aerosmith: On influence alone, this song is top 10. That is probably the best known guitar riff ever. And while some people would say that what it did for rap/rock was a bad thing, most people realize that the doors it broke down were instrumental (no pun intended) for the style? Did we mention that the guitar riff is cool…real cool?
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd: This is probably the song that most challenges Walk This Way for the best known guitar riff or line ever. It’s a direct response to Neil Young’s “Southern Man.”
London Calling – The Clash : The most recognized formal anti-war and governments songs that is not only well written, but hard driving as well. This is a must for anyone to learn!
Baba O’Riley – The Who : From the keyboard/synthesizer introduction, to the power chords, to the drumming of Keith Moon, to the unforgettable lyrics inspired by Woodstock (“Teenage Wasteland…We’re All Wasted!”), Baba O’Riley is an anthem that will forever live on.
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen : In terms of scope, silliness, fun, and bravado, NO song has it over this one. This song has so many riffs and so many DIFFICULT phrasings that you could spend a year perfecting it!
Not even close to my list but a few.
“A)”play some Skynyrd dude!” or B)”FREE BIRD!” And with good reason. Free Bird is probably the quintessential southern rock song” Where did you steal that from? I’ve read it word for word before