# your favourite opening guitar lick/riff/whatevs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521 "2018-05-20T20:01:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/1 "2018-05-20T20:01:36Z")
It can be a solo, or part of the song, but it _must kick things off_. [“And Your Bird Can Sing” - The Beatles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH-3y_Ike5E) [“Elizabeth” - Bubble Puppy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOblDgz40z8) [“I’ve Just seen a Face” - Bealtes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbKGsEK_T9g) [“Heart of the Sunrise” - Yes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9yW-3vFxA0) (here - it’s rhythm guitar, blending in with everything else, but still rips) Nothing made this 5-year-old back in '69 bounce off the walls more than this opening: [“Up Around the Bend” - CCR](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX3o1O8ZsTw) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/2 "2018-05-20T20:11:33Z")
M.E.W. - For the classic, meat-and-potatoes HEAVY opening, it’s gotta be: [“Symptom of the Universe” - Black Sabbath](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhZ4t7pRyjE) ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/3 "2018-05-20T20:16:21Z")
_When Doves Cry._ _Can’t You Hear Me Knocking_. _Watching The Detectives._ And though you’ll never see me at a Billy Joel concert anytime soon, I love the opening riff of [Big Shot.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEea624OBzM) I feel like that’s one of his “least-Joel-like” songs…sounds like it could have been done by a different group, but for his voice. I almost feel like Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry could have done a really badass version of that song. Something along the lines of [Grey Lagoons.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgrawiwGV5w) ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/4 "2018-05-20T20:18:56Z")
[All The Young Dudes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fFW5w454HQ) by Mott The Hoople ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/5 "2018-05-20T20:22:55Z")
Way too many to list, but let me start with… HELLS BELLS.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/6 "2018-05-20T20:41:20Z")
[Crazy On You](https://youtu.be/3CuCmfRwcmw) by Heart. Could post that link in the “female guitar players” thread, too. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/7 "2018-05-20T20:47:44Z")
Brown Sugar ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/8 "2018-05-20T20:52:33Z")
Also: Adrian Belew’s guitar synthesizer “horns” opening Paul Simon’s **You Can Call Me Al**. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/9 "2018-05-20T20:59:24Z")
[Day Tripper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C9Ps5OLHG0) by the Beatles ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/10 "2018-05-20T21:09:14Z")
Honkey Tonk Women. The Confessor Wanted Dead or Alive… I’ll be back:D ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/11 "2018-05-20T21:33:17Z")
Okay, here’s my list of favorites: **Brown Sugar** Adrian Belew’s guitar synthesizer “horns” throughout Paul Simon’s **You Can Call Me Al** **Statesboro Blues** (Duane Allman Brothers Band live) **Out On A Limb** (Johnny Winter) **Killing Floor** (Jimi Hendrix at Monterey) **Roll Over Beethoven** (Beatles) **Touch Me** (Doors; the opening is layered with organ, harpsichord, drums, and bass, but it’s primarily a guitar riff) **Walk Away** (James Gang) **Boney Moronie** (Johnny Winter live) **Elephant Talk** (King Crimson; Tony Levine playing a Chapman Stick which I’m counting as a guitar) **Be With Me** (The Butts Band) **Magic Fingers** (Frank Zappa) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/12 "2018-05-20T21:44:21Z")
The groovy beginning of [“Drive My Car” (Beatles)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKc3CRHlJEM) makes me wanna go out and by a cheap Corvair convertible. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/13 "2018-05-20T21:54:39Z")
Pink Floyd - [Sorrow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcQhcPnsrmY) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/14 "2018-05-20T21:56:42Z")
IMO, the answer to most questions like this is always: [_Gimme Shelter._](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmS3tQJ7Os) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/15 "2018-05-20T22:02:12Z")
Whole Lotta Love ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/16 "2018-05-20T22:16:10Z")
Some that come almost immediately to mind: Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - “A Love Supreme” (written by John Coltrane) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xC54xtX-Pa4/hqdefault.jpg "Santana & McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender - 01 - A love supreme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC54xtX-Pa4) Cream - “Steppin’ Out” Ten Years After - "I'm Going Home" Johnny Winter - "Be Careful with the Fool" Led Zeppelin - "Jennings Farm Blues" [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kTLoi2Uxtqg/hqdefault.jpg "Jennings Farm Blues | Led Zeppelin (HQ)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTLoi2Uxtqg) ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/17 "2018-05-20T22:26:51Z")
Mississippi Queen:cool: Kickstart my heart Red house Cliffs of dover ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/18 "2018-05-20T22:57:25Z")
Bohemian Rhapsody, because its opening guitar riff is nothing at all, the song just starts from nothing. _Also Sprach Zarathustra_ (the famous orchestra bit from 2001 A Space Odyssey), because huge. (Even though it’s so overused, I don’t care) [The C minor organ passacaglia by Bach](http://youtu.be/nVoFLM_BDgs), because that ominous 15-second bass riff goes non-stop for 8 minutes to build something incredible. (Plus it helps when the bass you’re playing is 32 feet tall) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/19 "2018-05-20T23:06:50Z")
The intro to “Limelight” by Alex Lifeson (with Neil Peart jumping in near the end) - clean and catchy, and not terribly technically-challenging, especially for a guitarist like Lifeson, but it always grabbed me. Boston’s “Foreplay” (intro to “Long Time”). Triumph’s “Rock Out, Roll On” - love the way the two guitar lines commingle. Their instrumentals too (“Petite Etude,” “Midsummer’s Daydream,” “A Minor Prelude”); Rik Emmett is clearly classically-trained. Very much an underrated band. The Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane” - good old hard-driving rock ‘n’ roll. Clapton’s “Same Old Blues” - rhythm and flow interspersed with a cool lick. And, of course, “Layla.” Those are what I can come up with off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521/20 "2018-05-20T23:13:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > The intro to “Limelight” by Alex Lifeson (with Neil Peart jumping in near the end) - clean and catchy, and not terribly technically-challenging, especially for a guitarist like Lifeson, but it always grabbed me. Heh - I was gonna post: Alex’s effects-phased [trills? arpeggios? triplets?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juv5Ifs2fFY) at the beginning of Rush’s “Spirit of the Radio”. One could argue that it just sounds like an exercise. Well, ok - a cool one, then! _NOT_ “Pictures of Matchstick Men” Nothing technical - just pure, raw, darned catchiness: [“Crusier’s Creek” - The Fall.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pem02CWn4Do) (possibly the greatest drunk video ever made - enjoy) (R.I.P. annoying Mr. Smith) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-opening-guitar-lick-riff-whatevs/814521.md?page=2)