# 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:** 5
**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, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/81 "2003-08-01T00:39:01Z")
huh huh! that’ll teach me to try and correct typos on the fly! ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/82 "2003-08-01T02:27:27Z")
Black Magic Woman - Santana Aqualung - Jethro Tull ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/83 "2003-08-01T04:31:12Z")
Everything above is good. I’ll add something that I think is different: Joe Satriani’s “Flying In A Blue Dream.” 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/84 "2003-08-01T04:50:06Z")
At the beginning of “I’ve gotta know right now” (part of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”) there is a great power chord progression. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/85 "2003-08-01T07:27:32Z")
**Keek** , please start a new thread on this worthy subject and I’ll be happy to reply with lots of suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/86 "2003-08-01T07:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > No cite for this so I’m not sure it’s true, but I’ve got an MP3 of this that claims it’s Steve Vai and Stevie Ray Vaughn. I think Vai played The Devil AND Macchio’s guitar parts. I’ve read that in some guitar magazines, anyway. I’d second any number of Allmans guitar parts - there are some fantastic riffs in Hot’Lanta, which is one of their less-known compositions - and the theme to Mountain Jam stirs the heart of any ABB fan in a special way. The closing riff to Dreams is very dramatic. Also, the riff to the electric Layla, which was actually Duane Allman’s contribution, not Clapton’s. (Although it’s borrowed from Albert King anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/87 "2003-08-01T07:36:32Z")
Sorry I got here late to the Zappa circle jerk, but I’d like to nominate his “Why Don’tcha Do Me Right?”. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/88 "2003-08-01T07:37:40Z")
And Devo’s “Come Back Jonee.” ---
**Author:** ![BlackLabel1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@BlackLabel1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackLabel1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/89 "2003-08-01T09:39:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by okielady \* > \*\*“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. 😉 > “Crazy Train” definitely rates up there among some of my faves. \*\* Seek and Destroy is my favorite thing to play, and number 2 is No More Tears (Zakk Wylde is my HERO). Along with these, I’d Have to say _Paranoid_ by Black Sabbath, _Fade To Black_ by Metallica, _Demise Of Sanity_ by Zakk Wylde’s band BLS, and last but noy least _WALK!_ by Pantera 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/90 "2003-08-01T10:11:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\*Muddy Waters and Mannish Boy \*\* AMEN!!! Without Muddy Waters there are no Rolling Stones, no Beatles, no Black Sabbath, no Led Zeppelin, no AC/DC. This is even more amazing considering the song was originally recorded in 1955! **Now when I was a young boy, at the age of five My mother said I was, gonna be the greatest man alive But now I’m a man, way past 21 Want you to believe me baby, I had lot’s of fun I’m a man I spell mmm, aaa child, nnn That represents man No B, O child, Y That mean mannish boy I’m a man** ---
**Author:** ![HeatMiser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecd19e/32.png) [@HeatMiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeatMiser)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/91 "2003-08-01T10:53:48Z")
I’d like to add the riff in _Heaven On Their Minds_ from **Jesus Christ Superstar** to this already impressive list. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/92 "2003-08-01T11:24:33Z")
Jeez, Bill lives on. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/93 "2003-08-01T12:25:24Z")
Another vote for Smoke on the Water. Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy. Achilles Last Stand - Led Zeppelin Train Kept A Rollin - Aerosmith Men Without Shame - Phantom Rocker and Slick ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/94 "2003-08-01T13:24:24Z")
“Day Tripper” and “And Your Bird Can Sing” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/95 "2003-08-01T15:07:19Z")
Pink Floyd’s “Money” in general, but especially that descending run that leads into the instrumental bridge. The sheet music I have for the tune doesn’t include that fill and the TAB sites I have checked so far don’t include it either. Anybody have a link to that? ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/96 "2003-08-02T04:08:25Z")
“On A Rope” by Rocket From The Crypt works for me. As does “Hate to Say I Told You So” by The Hives. And, “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” by REM. I like my riffs loud, fast and dumb. ---
**Author:** ![maleinblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@maleinblack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maleinblack)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/97 "2003-08-02T07:06:48Z")
I will go with **Well Dressed Guitar** by Deep Purple. Heavenly!! Dont miss this one!! ---
**Author:** ![superkentclark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@superkentclark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superkentclark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/98 "2003-08-02T13:10:16Z")
Slayer’s Raining Blood I’ll also say GNR’s Sweet Child o’ Mine (It’s just so fun to play) Jimi’s Castles made of Sand Clapton’s Tears in Heaven NOFX’s Linoleum Pennywise’s Tomorrow ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/99 "2003-08-02T13:58:46Z")
**Whole Lotta Love** and **Black Dog** by ‘Riff King’ Page. I like playing the opening riff from **Tubular Bells** on my acoustic. It sounds really nice. **This Charming Man** by The Smiths has a great guitar riff running all the way through. Any few dozen examples from guitar deity Hendrix would also be on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Shiva418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@Shiva418](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva418)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780/100 "2003-08-02T20:11:14Z")
I can’t believe that no one has mentioned Eric Johnson’s signature song _Cliffs of Dover_. That’s gotta be one of the coolest main riffs ever crafted. I’ll also add: Metallica - Call of Kutulu, Master of Puppets (intro) Blue Oyster Cult - (Don’t Fear) the Reaper, Burnin’ for You and Weezer - Say it ain’t So [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-guitar-riff/86780.md?page=6)