best guitar riff from a song

gman44's Avatar
I like

The guitar riff in Beat It
at the end of Hotel California
Sultans of Swing
Layla of coarse

what's your fav?
I've always been partial to the riff in Creedence's "Good Golly Miss Molly".

And since I'm a Springsteen fan I have to throw in "Born to Run" even if it's way too overlaid with organ to be a true classic riff.
How about the lead in Bowie's China Girl by none other than our Stevie Ray??
sixxbach's Avatar
im a metal head but u gotta love this metal riff cranked to the max.........

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwbBz59lIQo"]YouTube- She-Wolf - Megadeth[/ame]
  • Wired
  • 02-18-2010, 12:07 AM
Just about anything from Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Chris Duarte and last but not least SRV!
Layla
Led Zeppelin....Whole Lotta Love!

Absolutely the all time best Air Guitar riff ever!!!!
Risn2TheOccasion's Avatar
Okay.....I am dating myself big time. I have to agree with all the above but would like to add.

Purple Haze by Jimmy Hendrix
Statesboro Blues by Greg Allman
Green Grass and High Tides by The Outlaws
Hotel California by The Eagles
That Smell by Lynyrd Skynyrd (Especially Steve Gains part)
Master of Puppets by Metallica (The beginning)

.....There are many....many more.
Joel Goodson's Avatar
Randy Rhoads & Ozzy on Crazy Train
Funk 49 by Joe Walsh has a great lick to start...
ZZ Top's La Grange
CharmingChameleon's Avatar
Black dog by Zeppelin
back in black by AC/DC
satisfaction by stones
smoke on the water by deep purple
agree with Funk49

yes I am old. Ha!


and btw when guitarist talk about a riff they're not talking about a solo. A riff is kind of like the song's signature line that's repeated throughout, becomes part of the rhythm of the song.
"Mothers" by Danzig.
GRIN OF SIN's Avatar
Led Zeppelin - Kashmir, has always been my favorite riff. Slightly more recent, I think Coheed and Cambria - Welcome Home is a great one as well.
Just to name a few,
Free Bird/Lynard Skynard
Radar Love/Golden Earring
Over the Hills and Far Away/ Led.Zep.
Stranglehold/Ted Nugent
Little Wing/ SRV

There are so many great ones not mentioned yet. Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Carlos Santana, Robin Trower, Joe Cocker etc.
Tess