# What's Your Favorite Guitar Riff? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780 "2001-10-11T13:27:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![xeqter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ba8739/32.png) [@xeqter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xeqter)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/61 "2001-10-21T03:16:49Z")
All the best guitar riffs were all written by Bo Diddle. Without Bo, there’d be no ROCK in Rock and Roll. My fav would have to “Roadrunner” or “Who do You Love.” ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/62 "2001-10-21T04:42:11Z")
Zillions of answers. Here’s a really unexpected one (at least for me): The Cars’ _Shake it up_. Totally lame song; I _hated_ The Cars. I had a job when I was 19 working in a factory, AOR blasting on the radio all day. Foreigner (ick), Cars (ick), Wang Chung (GAH!), (and who TF wrote that piece of shit _Tainted Love_ anyway?? GAH!!) the same damned playlist every day. So you looked for beauty where you could. But _Shake it up_ has just the coolest blazing little guitar solo in the middle, it’s about maybe 25 seconds long, and it’ll take the paint off of your car in nothing flat. How the heck did The Cars get a wailing guitarist like this guy, and how TF did he stay awake the rest of the time? And the rest of the answer would be: Bits of ZZ-Top (Billy Gibbons can sure get a Tone going), several Duane Allman riffs (especially _One way out_ where the bassist totally screws things up, but the end of Duane’s solo still gives me a shiver every time), Satriani _Surfing with the Alien_, etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/63 "2001-10-21T04:54:46Z")
The first 3 seconds of _Iron Man_ by **Black Sabbath**. The first riff in _Holy Wars…The Punishment Due_ by **Megadeth**. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/64 "2001-10-21T05:29:50Z")
Another killer riff which bears searching out is the main riff from “Tempus Fugit” by YES from their underrated album “Drama” Chris W ---
**Author:** ![okielady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@okielady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okielady)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/65 "2001-10-21T06:56:36Z")
“Seek and Destroy” is awesome. Once I learn how to play this, I will consider myself having achieved Guitar Goddess status. Whether anyone else will or not doesn’t matter. 😉 It’s so hard for me to pick favorites. I love guitar rock, from classic Zep to hair bands of the 80s, to the heavy modern metal of today. I love it all! “Crazy Train” definitely rates up there among some of my faves. The other few that I can think of right off the top of my head are kinda slow: “Over the Hills and Far Away” by Zep “Love Song” by Tesla “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd Okay, I have to stop. I thought of about 50 others while I was typing that. Get me started and I won’t stop. ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/66 "2001-10-21T08:48:32Z")
**David Gilmore** in _Shine on You Crazy Diamond_ makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck every time. I know it’s not the proper thread to bring this up, but i am real big on guitar instrumentals and 2, no 3, of my favorites are: **Ronny Montrose’s** rendition of _Town Without Pity_ **Les Dudek’s** _One to Beam Up_ **Duane Allman’s** _Little Martha_ (with **Dickie Betts** ) Oh, and **Robert Fripp’s** riff in _21st Century Schizoid Man_ (for all you old **Beaker Street** fans) is one of the most furious i’ve ever heard. # ---
**Author:** ![JubilationTCornpone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JubilationTCornpone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JubilationTCornpone)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/67 "2001-10-21T21:11:27Z")
The intro to _Pleasant Valley Sunday_ by that simian group from the 60’s. ---
**Author:** ![justinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@justinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justinh)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/68 "2001-10-22T14:33:11Z")
Neil Young’s OHIO introduction on 4-way street. 15 seconds of bliss. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/69 "2001-10-26T15:39:07Z")
Muddy Waters and Mannish Boy ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/70 "2001-10-26T23:59:04Z")
**As if** it could be anything except Whole Lotta Love by LZ. I don’t think anything of the song, but the riff is just the greatest, most enduring riff in electric rock. ---
**Author:** ![Enigma42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/87869e/32.png) [@Enigma42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enigma42)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/71 "2001-10-27T17:32:13Z")
> [@](#): > > David Gilmore in Shine on You Crazy Diamond makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck every time. I second that one! That extended intro solo is what made me want to learn to play guitar, in fact. That and the guitar work in ‘Brothers in Arms’ by Dire Straits. Although, I don’t think either of those are exactly riffs. . . But I’m glad to see some Mark Knopfler fans here. I saw him perform on his latest tour, and it was an incredible show. I nominate his intro riff to ‘No Can Do’ from ‘Golden Heart’ as one of the best. Of course, ‘Money for Nothing’ is a classic riff as well, but overplayed on the radio at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/72 "2001-10-27T20:19:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, Persephone, Danny Gatton wasn’t actually IN the Hellecasters. I double-checked with my husband, who is a huge fan of Gatton, and the Hellecasters, and he confirmed for me that you are indeed correct, **dunne.** My bad! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sandalwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@sandalwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandalwood)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/73 "2001-10-27T21:29:42Z")
I totally love the guitar on “Hash Pipe” from Weezer right now. Another one of my faves are Chris Isaak’s “Baby did a Bad, Bad Thing”, which is similar to a lot of Blue’s riffs out there, and I totally adore anything by Bonnie Raitt. Slide guitar is my favorite! Oh, and there’s that one song from Counting Crows “Hangin Around” that’s very catchy. I’m not really a big fan but I like that song just for the guitar. ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/74 "2001-10-27T21:36:37Z")
**Sandalwood** , excellent mention of Bonnie Raitt’s slide guitar work. If you haven’t already, check out Chris Rea’s _Texas_. Some excellent slide work there also, especially when he ‘walks’ the fade-out. # ---
**Author:** ![goonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@goonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goonhead)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/75 "2001-10-28T07:49:17Z")
There are so many that I could name: “Iron Man” - Black Sabbath “Paranoid” - Black Sabbath “Heartbreaker” - Led Zeppelin “Safe as Milk” - Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band “Sunshine of Your Love” - Cream “Strange Brew” - Cream “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” - Rolling Stones “Day Tripper” - Beatles “Honky Tonk Women” - Rolling Stones “Wait Until Tomorrow” - Jimi Hendrix “Purple Haze” - Jimi Hendrix “Funk #49” - James Gang ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/76 "2001-10-28T23:23:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Venkman \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ScriptAnalyst \* > > \*\*Steve Vai plays the part (and the guitar) for the character who has sold his soul to the devil. Ralph Mcchio’s guitar parts were played by the film’s composer, Ry Cooder, I beleive. > > > > Steve Biodrowski > > [http://www.thescriptanalyst.com](http://www.thescriptanalyst.com)\*\* > > That makes more sense. Neither part ever sounded much like SRV to me. \*\* Yep. Check out the [IMDB cast page for Crossroads (1986 version)](http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0090888). Partway down the page, right under the producer credits, it gives “Original Music By - Ry Cooder” and then farther down under “Other Crew” it lists “Ry Cooder - musician blues guitar”. It’s listed just below the unit publicist designation. As far as nominating killer riffs, I have to say that I’m partial to the guitar riff that intertwines with the sax riff on Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street” Also the lead on “I Need a Man To Love” from Big Brother & the Holding Company with Janis Joplin. Moderately slow, but compelling in its inevitability. And the feedback honk that slides into the riff on The Beatles “I Feel Fine” is pretty damn nifty too. Ah, and Mountain does a damn fine job on the Woodstock version of “Theme from an Imaginary Western.” Other versions don’t have the extra little phrase at the top of the riff like the live version. Very tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Keek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Keek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keek)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/77 "2003-07-31T08:02:50Z")
AC/DC, Hell’s Bells. Simple and bloody effective. Also, Clapton may have been God-like many years ago, but he’s well and truly past it now. ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/78 "2003-08-01T00:32:56Z")
I’ll 2nd “Hell’s Bells”… I love the dissonance and rythm dynamic created by the peal of the bells… very nice… Others… “Spirit of Radio” Rush… lotsa Iron Maiden… “the Trooper”, the pizzicotto(sp?) sounding part in the middle of “Phantom of the Opera”, “Wasted Years”, many others… “Stranglehold” Ted Nugent… “Honeysuckle Blue” Drivin’ n’ Cryin’, “Since You Been Gone” Rainbow… “…And Justice For All” Metallica… And that’s the just the metal that springs to mind… I will pondering this for a LONG time… I LOVE guitar RIFFS! ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/79 "2003-08-01T00:37:30Z")
“Click Click Boom” by Salive rocks too… ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/80 "2003-08-01T00:37:44Z")
“Click Click Boom” by Saliva rocks too… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780.md?page=5)