Best Guitar Riff Creators
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist, songwriter and producer. Best known as lead guitarist and founding member of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, he has been the band's sole continual member and primary composer. At age 17, he accidentally lost the fingertips of his middle ...read more. Led Zeppelin is probably my favorite band after Pink Floyd, but Iommi is a better riff-writer than Page.
Page stole MANY riffs. Page didn't write a riff that is as iconic as Iron Man. Take a song like "Into The Void" which has like 5 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 3 iconic groovy riffs, 2 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.
He had great idea about riffs at that time. Simple slow and becomes heavier. When I was a kid (even before hearing black sabbath's songs) I got the idea, I used to think strumming with full power (pressure) would make the heaviest guitar sound.
This man and the rest of Sabbath invented a musical genre and he invented riffs which others now try to emulate.
James Patrick Page is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. 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...
For me Page is the best riff machine Page and Iommi both of them are match. But still Jimmy is the best because the sound of his riffs are amazing plus his stage presence. He moved his body according to his guitar riffs.
Jimmy is the best riff machines. Iommi and Page are just totally match but, despites Page stage presence he moved his body according to his guitar sounds.
Jimmy page is the man and deserves the top. But where is Robbert Fripp. Starless and 21st Century Schizoid riffs are amazing
Keith Richards is an English musician—primarily a guitarist—singer, songwriter, best-selling memoirist, and founding member of the rock band The Rolling Stones. None better. Period. Honky Tonk Women is why the guitar was invented.
Neil Percival Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, producer, director and screenwriter.
Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter . 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 celebrated ...read more.
James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. 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!
Angus McKinnon Young is an Australian guitarist of Scottish origin, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter and sole constant member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. When performing live he does his own version of Chuck Berry's "duck walk" and has also spun on his side while ...read more. All AC/DC songs have amazing riffs! Angus Young & Malcolm Young are geniuses! The Young brothers are masters at riffs!
Just to say, back in black was made by Malcolm so they both deserve it
Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 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.
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. Mustaine is best known as a pioneer in Thrash Metal, being the former lead guitarist of Metallica before his dismissal in 1983, leading to finding and becoming the front man of his own ...read more. "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 lyrics on Tornado of Souls (which he cowrote 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.
He writes pretty much all of the riffs and rhythm parts (at least where he's credited as the sole songwriter, which is a large portion of their catalog) and his own solos.
Many of the Megadeth riffs weren't created by him. Mustaine has many good riffs but he's no Chuck Schuldiner
Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of two bands, Pantera and Damageplan, alongside his brother, Vinnie Paul. Abbott died in 2004 after he was shot by a mentally unstable fan. Cemetery Gates (both the clean and distorted riffs are highly underrated), Walk, Cowboys From Hell. These are not ordinary riffs.
Amazing just amazing
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work in the hard rock/metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. He was ranked number 16 on Guitar World's "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time" in 2004, and number 50 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the ...read more. Its 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.
What is Blackmore doing down at 11 on a RIFF creator list ?
Only 14th? Surely he should be in the top 5 with his legacy.
Ritchie should be in first 5!
Smoke on The Water!
Thomas Morello is an American musician, singer-songwriter and political activist. He is best known for his tenure with the band Rage Against the Machine and then with Audioslave. 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...
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was a Dutch-American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. He was best known as the lead guitarist, occasional keyboardist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen.
Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He has also been a member of Derek and the Dominos. 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
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and songwriter for the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus.A riff machine... Live at leeds, isle of wight, tanglewood men he's the man
Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist best known as the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains.
Brian Harold May is an English musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen.
John Anthony "Jack" White is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo The White Stripes, but has also had success in other bands and as a solo artist. Seven Nation Army, Fell in Love with a Girl, Blue Orchid, Icky Thump, Sixteen Saltines... I could go on and on.
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the founder and vocalist, guitarist and bassist of the American heavy metal band Death. He is considered the most influential figure in Death Metal, with some publications referring to Chuck ...read more. Ok, what is Brian May doing a spot above Chuck (does Brian May even do riffs ?). Mikael Akerfeldt is too low at 51 too.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music. How is he at 19... that's insane. It's a little hard for me to argue against Iommi but Buckethead has got to win. Over three HUNDRED albums released, he is the MAN when it comes to riffs. Hold me Forever, Glacier, Final Wars, Crack the Sky, Wall to Wall Cobwebs, Telescape, Soothsayer, Binge and Grab. I could go on and on and ON, and ON about how many he's got. The mans the best
Yes, he is a great guitarist. But because of most of his songs can be called shredding/solos those aren't really riffs. Riffs are main theme of a song, some chords repeated over and over. But when riffs are in a solo it becomes simply licks.
Daron Vartan Malakian is an Armenian–American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He's best known as the main songwriter, guitarist, and co-vocalist for Armenian/American rock band System of a Down. After System of a Down's hiatus in 2006 he began to release music through ...read more.
Randall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. He was killed in a plane crash.
Johnny Marr is an English musician, songwriter and singer, best known as the guitarist and – with Morrissey – co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Born in Ardwick, Manchester, to Irish parents, Marr formed his first band at the age of 13.
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, producer, television writer, poet, and professional wrestling promoter best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins.