Top Ten Greatest Guitar Riffs
DeathToMayo
Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.The Top Ten

amitcornelius1

-somebody on YouTube

suthrnbell0105
MasterThrasher
usmcmike43
More comments about Enter Sandman - MetallicaListen to sample
dltafrc21
Jedi99
Joyrider
More comments about Whole Lotta Love - Led ZeppelinListen to samplelezakattack
More comments about Back In Black - AC/DC
NightAntilli
bruceee15
More comments about Unholy Confession - Avenged SevenfoldListen to sampleNumber 2 For Sure!
Neosantana
More comments about Iron Man - Black Sabbath
pauler94

Nirmal1991USA
megatron12
More comments about Layla - Derek & The DominosListen to sample
It's the tone that sounds like a foghorn blasting you from a deep sleep.
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The Contenders
It's the hardest and the best guitar rift ever
ACDCRocks
No guitar riff can be better than this... Just too good
can't stop the spirits when they need you, this life is more than just a read-through
Psykosauron
John Frusciante Is A Beast In This Song
Dglass23
Listen to sampleThe guitar groove in the verse (not the main chorus riff) is next to impossible to play. I can barely do it an I've been playing for 20 years!
waex
Listen to sampleSo much more interesting than Smoke on the Water. Lets face it, a Jimmy Page riff must be number one, and this is the best Page riff.
The Only Riff In my opinion that gets better every time you here it. It just keeps on sounding more complex. In my opinion that is what a great riff needs!
Listen to sample2440080345
#1 is Smoke on the Water. Even if it is the most 'recognizable', that does NOT mean it's the best. In comparison with a lot of things, it's actually a really bad riff.
#3 is Enter Sandman. The Black Album (not to mention everything after it) sucks.
I don't feel like critiquing every "riff" before Master of Puppets, but here's a hint: ALMOST ALL OF THEM SUCK.
To quote another comment: "You people wouldn't know a riff if the guitar itself slapped you in the face. "
Whats weong with everyone this is way better than half of the ones in the top ten
Rudulf Schenker is brilliant songwriter and musician this song is an anthem. I grew up with this. Rock on guys.
Listen to samplerichie4life
ballaboi17
More comments about Raise Your Hands - Bon JoviListen to sampleThis is one easy song and still it rocks, and think how many covers this song has, so if you don't like the original, there somewere would one you would like. Vote for the best song ever
raiderfan372
Listen to sampleThis should be in the top 10, at least. One of the greatest riffs/solos ever. Better than 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine'
Slash on 39? Seriously? The best guitarist ever on 39?
please listen to this at least once!
This is his best guitar riff after Sweet child of mine.
The riff is awesome cause even thought Jphn Frusciante is playing really fast, it still sounds relaxing
RHCPfan
Most Songs are just written so the guitarist can show of his skill and they forget about making good music. RHCP is one of the only bands that make good music.
RHCPfan
Listen to sampleThen that epic solo that sounds like a turntable!
Incredible riff, fabulous song!
23delusions
Listen to sampleShould be higher up, probably lacks popularity because it's so hard to play but it is an awesome song.
Listen to sampleI love the the guitar work ihope tobe that good someday
Listen to samplec0mf0rta61ynum6
Listen to sampleHe should be in an higher rank! :)
It is also really good to play, and all the song is great ;)
When I go in Guitar shops I see everyone play this its so good.
GlonnAtronnAdonnAdict
Only recently released, the riff in this is bound to become a classic
i like 4.00 this song
juicymetaly
A7X rules! they've got two of the best guitarists in the world!
SyNyStErVaLeNtine247
VonHaggles
Listen to sampleprolly one of the catchiest riffs ever
wolf10
Listen to sampleI was blown away the first time I heard "The Trooper. " Really a great song.
Listen to sampleThis song is so fun to play it's something I try to play every time I perform. I think it's cool the inspration for the song was an aquatic dream!
Listen to sampleI love the song, great music, specially the guitar.
Viktor19
there's distortion and the weird guitar solo
ronluna
Listen to sampleamzing riff one of the ones that you just cant get out of your head and when you hear you just star rockin-out where ever you are
Listen to sampleGamenerd78
There should be more Queen songs here. They were the best ever, period. No one beats Brian May. And NO ONE beats Freddie Mercury.
One of the best riffs to ever begin a live show... And one of my favourite rock songs. Brian May has a few great ones to choose from; Queen didn't do a lot in that regard, so the few they did use were smokin.
This should be filled with QUEEN songs! Greatest band on Earth! Nobody beats Brian May! NOBODY! And Nobody Touches FREDDIE MERCURY! NOBODY! His genius is untouchable by any human! It is God-like what he can do, w/ the piano, HIS VOICE, w/ any song, his passion, his connection w/ the audience, his charisma, in his extraordinary writings & magical way of composing... Simply sensational, inhuman: totally God-like!
Then there's Roger! Wow! What backing vocals! And he can play any instrument too, but is phenomenal on the drums like no other!
And then there's Deacy... The icing on the cake.
QUEEN = THE PERFECT BAND!
I am surprised there is no Dream Theater on this list to this point. Petrucci writes some of the coolest riffs of the last 20 years.
fluntimes
Listen to sampleBest riff ever! So well done, tom morello is an expert guitarest!
its a catchy song not my fave song 4ever and the riff is easy to remember and is in tune with the song I played this whole song by just making a few changes to the riff and it was like you couldn't even tell the diffrence
I can't help falling in love with this acoustic guitar's sound!
The classic sound by a classic guitar just sounds awesome!
Green_Day
Listen to sampleAny Megadeth riff, dave mustaine was ranked number one rhythm metal guitarist in guitar one mag. i have no clue why there is no respect to him on this site, it's the overpowering metallica that makes megadeth get ignored when they are equals. Mechanix is the original four horsemen
the fastest riff I ever heard. fits about 100 chords in every second. the master - mustaine. megadeth ftw!
Listen to samplewhy is this not on the list?
the best intro of all time
richie4life
Listen to samplethe riff is bassiccly rushs theme song
Listen to sampleShould be in the top 10 because if you listen to the song you will hear the word "help" being tapped out in morse code.
thomasnirvanastroud
Why is this all the way down here?! It's one of the greatest guitar riffs EVER! AND one of the most recognisable, it should e in the top 20!
HenP
Listen to sampleThe best guitar rift of all time. He plays it straight, then slide, then wah wah, then back to straight. Not one other mentioned guitar rift has this variety or explosive energy. This should be Number One!
Listen to sampleone of the best riffs of richie sambora, the guitarist of bon jovi
ronluna
amazing riff! you can't get it out of your head
richie4life
Listen to sampleThis is a pretty scary, but good song. It's based on Romeo and Juliet, and the guitar is amazing.
Listen to sampleOne of the single most recognizable arpegiated riffs of all time. This song became a stadium anthem and it all started with this incredible riff!
Listen to sampleA crazy non-stop one minute solo, the solo of personality.
Listen to sampleThis Destroys enter sandman bollocks, bote for this now! ¬¬
C'mon! This riff is top 10 material!
This song is way underappreciated, the piano intro is beautiful, it may not be the best intro or whatever you want to say about it, but it is still beautiful. Then after you get that, Matt just breaks out in this crazy guitar riff, and your mind is just blown. Amazing song.
Listen to sampleHendrix influenced awesomeness right here.
Listen to sample'cause this band is everything and its music is incredibly amazing. Although many people may think it's nothing much, but this band made a significant influence on rock music. Thank you, pearl jam
Listen to sampleThe best of dimebagg darell althought R.I. P but it is one of the best pantera songs and a great riff to begin with with a great solo nothing can match it its heavenly
Listen to sampleAnother one of Slash's guitar magic
patch32
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Updated Tuesday, June 18, 2013