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.
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. 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.
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!
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. 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.
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 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.
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.
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... read more
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He died on 18 March 2017.
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 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!
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.
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.
Malcolm Mitchell Young was an Australian musician and songwriter, best known as a co-founder, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the hard rock band AC/DC. Malcolm was the true riff writer behind AC/DC, not Angus. He deserves the credit.
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.
Neil Percival Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician, producer, director and screenwriter.
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 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?
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.
Kerry Ray King is an American musician, best known as a guitarist for the American thrash metal band Slayer.
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.
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…
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.
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.
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer.He is best known for his time with the Funk Rock California based band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was also part of the Mars Volta, Swahili Blonde, Ataxia and 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.
Matthew James "Matt" Bellamy is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He is most famous for being the main vocalist in alternative rock band "Muse".