Top 10 Best Guitar Riff Creators
The world of rock and roll, metal, and various other genres is laden with these vibrant musical phrases, often serving as the iconic signatures of the songs they inhabit.These short, repeated, catchy chord progressions are the backbone of countless iconic songs and are often the elements that stick with listeners the longest, creating a tune you find yourself humming long after the song has ended. The creators of these riffs, the maestros of melody and rhythm, are revered figures in the music world, shaping the soundscapes of the genres they inhabit.
Led Zeppelin is probably my favorite band after Pink Floyd, but Iommi is a better riff-writer than Page.
Page stole MANY riffs. He didn't write a riff that is as iconic as Iron Man. Take a song like "Into the Void," which has like five iconic Sabbath riffs in it. And all songs on the albums are like that. Page doesn’t have this ability. Page is a main riff, while Iommi is a main riff, then a groovy verse riff, then a series of three iconic groovy riffs, two outro riffs, and you get the idea.
He should be higher. The riffs he created in the 70s were some of the heaviest riffs at the time. People didn't know what to think. They had never heard such heaviness before. A critic said, "Like Cream, but worse." If it wasn't for Iommi, a lot of great metal guitarists would have never even picked up a guitar.
Yes, this man should top the list, he has created all Metallica riffs and solos, and Kirk plays them. There are no words to describe this genius!
Of course, he is not the best guitarist on the list. But I think he is one of the best metal riff creators of all time.
Thanks, Mr. Hetfield!
For me, Page is the best riff machine. Page and Iommi, both of them are matched. But still, Jimmy is the best because the sound of his riffs is amazing, plus his stage presence. He moved his body according to his guitar riffs.
The stuff he came up with over the years with the Yardbirds, that they didn't use, wow.
Jimmy Page is by far the best riff creator of all time, not to mention the greatest guitarist ever. Every single song has an awesome spot in rock history…
Jimmy is the best at riffs. Iommi and Page are just totally matched, but despite Page’s stage presence, he moved his body according to his guitar sounds.
"Many of the Megadeth riffs weren't created by him."
What? He's the primary songwriter for both Megadeth's music and lyrics. He wrote the entire "Rust In Peace" album other than the lyrics on "Tornado of Souls" (which he co-wrote with David Ellefson), music on "Lucretia" (which he also wrote with Ellefson), and "Dawn Patrol," which is less than 2 minutes and the music was written by Ellefson.
That means, Mustaine has single-handedly written the riffs for "Holy Wars," "Hangar 18," "Take No Prisoners," "Five Magics," "Poison Was The Cure," "Tornado of Souls" (again, Ellefson only helped with LYRICS), and "Rust In Peace." And that's only one of the best Megadeth albums. He also wrote all the music and lyrics for the "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" album, excluding one "cover" song.
Cemetery Gates (both the clean and distorted riffs are highly underrated), Walk, Cowboys From Hell. These are not ordinary riffs.
Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most... read more
Just to say, Back in Black was made by Malcolm, so they both deserve it.
All AC/DC songs have amazing riffs! Angus Young & Malcolm Young are geniuses! The Young brothers are masters at riffs!
None better. Period. Honky Tonk Women is why the guitar was invented.
Malcolm was the true riff writer behind AC/DC, not Angus. He deserves the credit.
Everyone knows his riffs from Appetite, and the riffs from his solo albums are extremely overlooked.
I don't even have to explain. His music tells it all.
It's not only Smoke On the Water. There are some great riffs like Highway Star, Black Night, Perfect Strangers, Burn, Pictures of Home, Strange Kind of Woman, etc.
Part of the holy trinity of rock guitar Gods - Page, Iommi and Blackmore.
What is Blackmore doing down at 11 on a RIFF creator list?
Ok, what is Brian May doing a spot above Chuck (does Brian May even do riffs?). Mikael Akerfeldt is too low at 51 too.
The craziest riffs of 90s metal: Killing in the Name, Sleep Now in the Fire, Guerrilla Radio, Bulls on Parade, Know Your Enemy, and the list goes on and on…
No, Clapton wrote it. Allman played on the record, but it was a divine coincidence that he was even available.
Didn't Duane Allman write the riff to Layla?
Lay Down Sally, Cocaine, Sunshine of Your Love, Tears in Heaven, Layla, and many more.
Snow, Scar Tissue, Can't Stop, Californication, just to name a few. I don't know why I'm the one adding him to this list.