# Coolest Guitar Riff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 27, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728 "2008-11-27T18:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frustrated_Wonderer)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/1 "2008-11-27T18:59:24Z")
There are many, many great guitar riffs among which these ones stand out tp me, in no particular order: Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple Sweet Child O´Mine - Guns N´Roses Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin Money - Pink Floyd So, fellow Dopers, which are your favorite guitar riffs of all time? ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/2 "2008-11-27T19:36:32Z")
Ace of Spades - Motörhead Breadfan - Budgie San Quentin - Johnny Cash Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath Driving South - The Stone Roses ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/3 "2008-11-27T19:53:38Z")
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes Long Train Running - Doobie Brothers See The Light - Jeff Healy Band Those are the three great hooks that popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/4 "2008-11-27T19:55:10Z")
George Harrison’s riff in **I Feel Fine**. Not too much, not too little. Just right. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/5 "2008-11-27T19:59:55Z")
[Sultans of Swing - Mark Knopfler](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Re9qdd6GdTg) [Local Hero - Mark Knopfler](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pqB71zV5t8U) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/6 "2008-11-27T20:04:17Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > Layla - Derek and the Dominoes. definitely, absolutely, the best. The most distinctive opening notes of any song, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/7 "2008-11-27T20:07:44Z")
On that front is there a more distinctive opening _note_, singular, than Satisfaction? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/8 "2008-11-27T20:14:58Z")
The beginnings of: **Take it easy** by the Eagles and **Do you fee like we do?** by Peter Frampton ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/9 "2008-11-27T20:18:23Z")
Thought of another one: While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles ---
**Author:** ![prodicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d9b06d/32.png) [@prodicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prodicus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/10 "2008-11-27T20:27:03Z")
How about Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/11 "2008-11-27T20:36:50Z")
I dislike most of the Rolling Stones’ catalogue, but the guitar in _Beast of Burden_ is one of the greatest grooves on the guitar ever played. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/12 "2008-11-27T21:09:30Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > On that front is there a more distinctive opening _note_, singular, than Satisfaction? Actually, I’d venture that the most distinctive opening note ever is not a guitar note at all, but the opening organ note of “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” The snare drum thwack at the beginning of “Like a Rolling Stone” is up there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/13 "2008-11-27T21:10:17Z")
“Crazy Train” – Ozzy (but Randy Rhodes’ riff) The chorus riff from “Master of Puppets” – Metallica “Iron Man” – Black Sabbath “Purple Haze” --Jimi Hendrix “Satisfaction” – Rolling Stones “Stranglehold” – Ted Nugent ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/14 "2008-11-27T21:11:04Z")
I suppose you’d also have to consider “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zep as one of those definitive guitar riffs… ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/15 "2008-11-27T21:16:51Z")
The Beatles - “Day Tripper” The epitome of cool! ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/16 "2008-11-27T21:19:19Z")
Oh, definitely something from Queens of the Stone Age… I like the riff behind the chorus of “Do It Again”, it’s doubled by the bass and it sounds like 90 feet tall. I love that. “Reelin’ In The Years.” (Steely Dan) “The Boys Are Back In Town.” (Thin Lizzy) Oh, and Robin Trower!!! “Bridge of Sighs” or I really like “Little Bit of Sympathy.” “And Your Bird Can Sing.” (Beatles) “Hey Bulldog.” “Helter Skelter.” Surely the White Stripes have done something on the List, too. My all-time absolutely favorite ever: [“Shake Some Action.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Y5LKZPwV4) (Flamin’ Groovies) p.s. Lenny Kravitz, seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/17 "2008-11-27T21:46:29Z")
[Freebird](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np0solnL1XY) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/18 "2008-11-27T21:55:33Z")
I think probably Satisfaction is the standard. You Really Got Me is a contender too. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/19 "2008-11-27T22:18:22Z")
**Sister Ray** by the Velvet Underground **Kick Out the Jams** and **Black To Comm** by the MC5 **Jet Boy** by the New York Dolls ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728/20 "2008-11-28T00:06:14Z")
**The River** by The Tea Party (can’t play youtube at work so I don’t know if the sound on [this link](http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qh0C3e0He2k) is any good. Apologies if it isn’t.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-guitar-riff/474728.md?page=2)