50 Greatest Guitar Riffs in R'n'R

decal
decal Posts: 3,205
edited August 2011 in Music & Movies
50 Greatest Guitar Riffs in R'n'R
I agree with some of these, some not so much. What are your thoughts?
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited July 2011
    All in all, a pretty good list! I'm sure I could think of plenty of others. Made me want to listen to all of them right now, but right now I have to go to work! Maybe later... :smile:
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited July 2011
    edit
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited July 2011
    All in all I'd say that's a pretty decent list. Kinda surprised that no Pink Floyd's on it. You'd think something off DSOTM would have made it. Possibly Breathe or Time.

    I definitely agree with the top 5 for the most part. Can't Get No Satisfaction and Johnny B. Goode are no-brainers for this list. So are Iron Man and Voodoo Child.


    edit-Although, admittedly, David Gilmour was a lot more about leads and soloing than he was about straight rock and roll riffage.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited July 2011
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited July 2011
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    You'd think something off DSOTM would have made it. Possibly Breathe or Time.

    Eh, I don't really think Floyd is a "memorable riff" type of band. I like both of those songs but I can see why they didn't make the list - good guitar work but not like, catchy / memorable riffs.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited July 2011
    bobman1235 wrote: »
    Eh, I don't really think Floyd is a "memorable riff" type of band. I like both of those songs but I can see why they didn't make the list - good guitar work but not like, catchy / memorable riffs.

    I actually just edited my above post to reflect that point. I do more or less agree with you.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited July 2011
    Eh. Sunshine of Your Love is really a bass riff- I'd go w/ White Room over that.

    Same thing w/ 7 Nation Army, it's a bass riff. Ball and a Biscuit is a way more memorable for guitar.

    Alive has no business on there, if you ask me. Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out" would be my addition at the bottom of the list.

    Also, where's the Sweet Child o' Mine or Mr Brownstone?

    Pink Floyd: Wish you were here, for a guitar riff.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,329
    edited July 2011
    IMO the best Guitar Riff "album" is Van Halen S/T..

    There is a lot of good stuff on that list!!!!
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited July 2011
    unc2701 wrote: »
    ...

    Also, where's the Sweet Child o' Mine or Mr Brownstone?

    ...

    Sweet Chold o' Mine is number 7.

    I would like to have seen A Leah! by Donny Iris on the list.

    A couple of Scorpions renderings come to mind, too.

    Photograph by Def Leppard, anyone?
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited July 2011
    SCOM is_ on the list,it's #7:). Definitely would have had Pink Floyd on the list somewhere.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited July 2011
    Where is Joe Walsh with Life's Been Good So Far.....??
    Always glad to see a little RAtM on the list.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited July 2011
    unc2701 wrote: »

    Pink Floyd: Wish you were here, for a guitar riff.

    There ya go. I'm not sure why that one didn't pop into my head when I was trying to think of catchy Pink Floyd songs. That riff is one of the most widely known and memorable of all time IMO.

    Also, I think that Rage Against the Machine-Killing In the Name should have been much higher. That's one of the best guitar riffs to come out of the 90's IMO. That was actually one of the first songs I ever learned on electric guitar. It's a really fun song to play. Tom Morello is a badass...nuff said.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited July 2011
    DaveMuell wrote: »
    Sweet Chold o' Mine is number 7.

    Ha! Oops. See, told ya it belonged on there
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited July 2011
    I know they were only doing one song per band...but I think RATM's Bulls on Parade is every bit Killing in the Name's equal for memorable riffage. It's got that "wha-wha wacka wacka wha-wha" section that you just can't help but mouth out when you hear...lol
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  • saemark30
    saemark30 Posts: 146
    edited July 2011
    I would have placed Peter Frampton and the Police on the list.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited July 2011
    Steve Vai's Passion and warfare album should be on that list the whole album plenty of riffs and leads on that tasty morsel.
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited July 2011
    +1 for Steve Vai. Hands down Steve is the King!
    Too much **** to list....
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited July 2011
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    I actually just edited my above post to reflect that point. I do more or less agree with you.

    My thought process went the same way. Couldn't believe there wasn't any Floyd and then when I thought about it- they weren't so much about catchy hooks as great songs from start to finish. I also can't believe that Crazy Train wasn't higher up. That seems to be the most memorable riff ever to me. Also what about Enter Sandman?

    Anyway if you are missing Floyd check this out.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfdgOcDYD_4
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited July 2011
    Good read! Hard to argue with any of them. Would like to have seen Baba O'Riley on there. Not fancy but certainly iconic. I wonder if Queen's Under Pressure would be the number one Bass Riff?
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited July 2011
    What about Robin Trower, Carlos Santana ?
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  • Bababouey
    Bababouey Posts: 129
    edited July 2011
    I am thinking Chuck Berry has to be number one.
    Satisfaction probably wouldn't exist without Chuck's influence on Keith Richards.
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  • m1aman
    m1aman Posts: 143
    edited July 2011
    No cat scratch fever?
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  • nwohlford
    nwohlford Posts: 700
    edited July 2011
    I thought that the Smith's song choice was a little odd given how memorable the guitar in How Soon is Now is. But upon listen to This Charming Man and How Soon is Now back to back, I definitely agree with their choice. How Soon is Now may be memorable but This Charming Man is much more complicated and interesting guitar work.
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  • WGDB
    WGDB Posts: 162
    edited July 2011
    I'm thinking Stevie Ray Vaughn needs to be there, a little "Tin Pan Alley"
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,132
    edited July 2011
    For those of you that want some Floyd/Gilmour, Riffage and leads look no further than the Animals Album preferably Dogs, but the rest of the album is worthy also.
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  • Uilleann
    Uilleann Posts: 159
    edited July 2011
    I simply can''t believe Another Brick in the Wall (part 2) wasn't even mentioned.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited July 2011
    SDA1C wrote: »
    +1 for Steve Vai. Hands down Steve is the King!

    "King", yes. He is absolutely one of the best guitarists ever. He is like a machine he is so good at playing. However, some of his stuff is too mechanical for me. I really like "Flex-Able" though, not quite as mechanical on that one. Also, agree with "Passion and Warfare". "Blue Powder" is phenominal! I remember hearing this on a pull out plastic record from Guitar magazine about 1 1/2 years before Passion and Warfare came out and being blown away by it.

    As far as "riffs" go, I am not a "riff" kinda guy too much.

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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited July 2011
    Slap my **** and call me a eunuch, that Smiths song ain't half bad.
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  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,833
    edited July 2011
    I'd keep the choice of "Ironman" by Sabbath for a good riff, to be sure.

    But "Crazy Train" would be out, replaced by "Into the Void", IMO.
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  • 20hz
    20hz Posts: 636
    edited July 2011
    van halen "eruption" ..
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