50 Greatest Guitar Riffs in Rock and Roll

[alexpnz]

My top 5 most vicious riffs of all time...

 

[L3ggy]

When will they learn... You can't make a Top list.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

They have many better songs than Smells Like Teen Spirit, but most average people wouldn't know them. Aneurysm, Opinion, School, Blew, those are better songs than Teen Spirit, but most people wouldn't have a clue what you're talking about if you mention those..

You ever see the footage of them at Reading? It was pretty incredible. I have all their albums except 'Bleach.'

Would have loved to be at that festival though:



Kurt was a huge loss, even if he did kill an entire trend. He was cool, as well, just stopped taking his lithium or something.

 

[maildude]

Going back to the roots. Don't agree with all of them, but it's a refreshing difference.

 

[CunningStunts]

When will they learn... You can't make a Top list.

Yep, it's very difficult if not impossible. Many of the classics are great, but after those time-tested riffs, it becomes very subjective.

Why are people so fixated on the "best" lists? :dunno:

 

[L3ggy]

They got nothing better to do?

 

[Moonchild22]

Yep, it's very difficult if not impossible. Many of the classics are great, but after those time-tested riffs, it becomes very subjective.

Why are people so fixated on the "best" lists? :dunno:

I agree. Let's not take some guy's opinion on what the top 50 are so seriously. It's the same as any one of us making a list. The only difference is that he was paid for it and it was published.

 

[gunslingingbird]

Can't play, eh? Sorry about that.

Oh, I can play. Here are a few examples of pieces that I've played in the past.

I've also worked for Satriani several times in the past. I have never been able to watch him for more than 10 minutes at a time on any occasion. After about 5 minutes it all sounds the same and I get bored. He has great dexterity and speed, but his music sounds the same to me. Also, in a typical Satriani crowd, only about 5% of the audience are women, hence the term "sausagefest".

 

[L3ggy]

He has great dexterity and speed, but his music sounds the same to me.

I feel the same.

 

[Mr. Daystar]

Just by reading every ones posts, I know I'm gonna get pissed just looking at it! Maybe I'll take a pass...I doubt I'll see any that I really believe should be there.

 

[Peter Gazinya]

Missing:

Pantera - Cowboys from Hell
Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls
Metallica - The Four Horsemen
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Testament - Over the Wall
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Floyd - Money
Drive By Truckers - Lookout Mountain
Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' with Disaster


Doesn't belong:

anything by the Beatles, they suck
anything by Nirvana, they capitalized on early 90s drug addled depression and suck out the soul of rock n' roll
anything by Aerosmith, they suck
anything by Clapton, blows.
anything by the Smiths, fagboy music.
Rebel Rebel by Bowie? I've heard the song a million times and the riff is so forgettable I can't even think of it in my head right now.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Oh, I can play. Here are a few examples of pieces that I've played in the past.

I've also worked for Satriani several times in the past. I have never been able to watch him for more than 10 minutes at a time on any occasion. After about 5 minutes it all sounds the same and I get bored. He has great dexterity and speed, but his music sounds the same to me. Also, in a typical Satriani crowd, only about 5% of the audience are women, hence the term "sausagefest".

One of my best friend's worked concert security for many years and met many acts as well.

Yep, it's very difficult if not impossible. Many of the classics are great, but after those time-tested riffs, it becomes very subjective.

Why are people so fixated on the "best" lists? :dunno:

They got nothing better to do?

I agree. Let's not take some guy's opinion on what the top 50 are so seriously. It's the same as any one of us making a list. The only difference is that he was paid for it and it was published.

Man, it gets so hostile around here sometimes. The link was on my POS AOL page yesterday so I thought I'd share it here. It's all in fun.

 

[xfire]

I've worked for Satriani and have never been able to watch him for more than 10 minutes at a time on any occasion.

Satriani probably could write a ten minute riff. If you think he sucks, that's fine, but he's one of the most technically accomplished guitarists of all time.

Also, in a typical Satriani crowd, only about 5% of the audience are women, hence the term "sausagefest".

Unnecessarily antagonistic, don't you think? :nono:

 

[meesterperfect]

Missing:

Pantera - Cowboys from Hell
Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls
Metallica - The Four Horsemen
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Testament - Over the Wall
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Floyd - Money
Drive By Truckers - Lookout Mountain
Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' with Disaster


Doesn't belong:

anything by the Beatles, they suck
anything by Nirvana, they capitalized on early 90s drug addled depression and suck out the soul of rock n' roll
anything by Aerosmith, they suck
anything by Clapton, blows.
anything by the Smiths, fagboy music.
Rebel Rebel by Bowie? I've heard the song a million times and the riff is so forgettable I can't even think of it in my head right now.

Whoa!
I agree with the Beatles as far as riffs.
Same with nirvana for riffs, but they has some catchy ones, most of their stuff was just catchy riffs, good hooks.
I thinks Walk this way should be in the top 100
Clapton, not a big fan either but sunshine was a good one.
Smiths, ok.
Rebel, maybe in the top 1000.

I'm wondering where Peace frog, wild Child or Roadhouse blues is.
Same for Aqualung, and some more.
But Its just some list

 

[meesterperfect]

Is Frankenstein even in there too?
Steely Dan, Skynyrd,Steve Miller, Judas Preist?
Theres just too many good ones to make a good list.

 

[gunslingingbird]

One of my best friend's worked concert security for many years and met many acts as well.

I feel sorry for your friend; I could never do security. The thought of standing in one place for hours at a time without being allowed to turn around or walk away to take a piss does not appeal to me one bit.

Satriani probably could write a ten minute riff.

So could Alvin Lee, and he sucks BECAUSE of it. In music, as a rule of thumb, you should never write a phrase longer than you can sing in one breath. Otherwise it becomes uninteresting to the ear. Try listening to one of Alvin Lee's phrases that goes on for a minute or longer. After a few seconds it just becomes a jumbled mess of notes. More importantly, though, try to sing back what he just played.

If you think he sucks, that's fine, but he's one of the most technically accomplished guitarists of all time.

I never said he sucks; I actually recognized that he has great speed and dexterity a few posts ago. Hell, I wish I had his chops, even if the music I play has nothing to do with the music he plays.

Your misunderstanding comes from the fact that you're comparing apples to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. One can have great technique, but still fail musically, which is what I don't like about Satriani. Yes, he can play really fast scales, in time, to boot, but the problem with that is that it really isn't musical. It's great as a way to show off how great you are, but musically it does nothing.

I'll give you an example of a different virtuoso guitarist who has flawless technique, yet still doesn't have much musicality. John Williams, Segovia's student, not the movie soundtrack guy, is widely recognized as having perfect technique, and, by many, as being one of the best classical guitarists ever. If you study what he does and apply it to your own playing you'll become infinitely better. He's great at what he does. However, he often plays things WAY too fast; if a piece says it's Moderato he'll play it Allegretto, or faster. In doing so he loses some of the nuances that make the piece great. For example, I have a recording of him playing Mudarra's Fantasia que Contrahace el Harpa de Ludovico. In the original manuscript Mudarra explicitly says that the piece should be started at a slow enough tempo where the tricky second section can be played without slowing the tempo down. From personal experience, that piece should not be played any faster than 70 clicks per minute, and even that's pushing it. However, Williams starts it somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 clicks per minute, losing some of the desired effect of the piece, and then, contrary to Mudarra's specific instructions, slows the tempo to about half when he gets to the aforementioned second section. In showcasing his perfect technique, Williams not only loses some of the character of the piece, but directly contradicts the composer's indications.

That's just one of many examples where Williams, a virtual guitar demi-god, lets technique take precedence, and loses musicality in the process. Do I think he sucks? No. I'd love to have his technique, but I don't like his music because it's not very musical. That's the same problem I have with Satriani.

Unnecessarily antagonistic, don't you think?

Nope, I'm just calling it as I see it. Let's take the last Satriani show that I worked as an example. In a crowd of 1,500 there were less than 100 women. That counts as a sausagefest in my book. :hatsoff:

 

[xfire]

Thanks for the thesis, gsb- you've shown me the error of my ways? :dunno:

:bowdown:

rolleyes

 

[Shifty]

Slash gets the nod for Sweet Child O' Mine. :clap:

I would have added the intros to Welcome To The Jungle and Paradise City as well.

 

[gunslingingbird]

Thanks for the thesis, gsb- you've shown me the error of my ways? :dunno:

:bowdown:

rolleyes

It's called a discussion, as in Freeones is a discussion forum. There's no need to be a sarcastic ass when someone is presenting an argument, not a "thesis", that doesn't conform exactly to your views. All your sarcastic reply shows is that you have the rational prowess of a 6-year-old. If you wanna have a discussion, let me know. If you wanna try to impose your views as absolute truth without having a solid argument to back them, and mock anyone who tries to have a conversation with you, I don't have time for you. :hatsoff:

 

[xfire]

You're amusing, gsb. I don't have to have a solid argument to back up a solicited opinion. This is a completely subjective thread and you're the one attempting to persuade people to conform to your opinion. Did I denigrate any opinion you offered? No, I didn't. You, on the other hand, denigrated my innocuous statement, "where's Satriani?" with-

Playing scales at the speed of light at a sausagefest in front of a bunch of teenage boys aspiring to be the next Eddie Van Halen.

Again, I ask, you're being unnecessarily antagonistic, don't you think? And now you're comparing me to a six year old? Seriously? Hey, whatever, screw Satriani, and John Williams, and whoever else you, in your apparent wisdom, deem musically unworthy. Your opinion is obviously superior to mine and mine seemingly unwelcome.