Heartbreaker, LZ 2, that guitar sound is just so …perfect.
I heard an interview where Joel said he sang this song as he imagined Mick Jagger would sing it to Bianca.
Smoke on the water
deep purple
Honky tonk woman
Rolling stones
Guitar ???
The first song that came to mind when I read this thread title was Layla (already mentioned by Johnny Ace).
The second, for reasons I’m not sure about, is Neil Young’s Winterlong. Maybe it’s because I listened to Decade about a million times in college.
I didn’t think I was a big Clapton fan, but the second I read the title of this thread, I heard the opening to Layla. Man, just seven notes, but it was echoing in my brain. Then it morphed into the opening to Sunshine Of Your Love.
Then I started reading, and remembered Day Tripper, and how my 5th grade brain was blown when I first heard it. And how the Beatles kept changing how we kids thought about music.
Some excellent examples (throughout the thread, but I particularly agree with the two quoted above).
One of the first things I thought of was the opening guitar riff to Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing”—except that when I checked the song, I realized it doesn’t actually kick things off. In fact, it doesn’t even start until at least 0:30 into the song.
But the opening riff to “You Really Got Me” certainly qualifies.
I guess an “opening guitar” part can range from a single chord (as in “A Hard Day’s Night”) to an extended introduction (as in “Don’t, This Way” by the 77s).
Muddy Waters, “Mannish Boy”.
" Purple Haze"
The Who, “Slip Kid”.
Otis Rush - Three Times a Fool
My favorite Otis Rush tune. I don’t know if it’s the recording technology or his tone or technique (probably a combination of all), but I love how his playing on this version of this song has a real violin-like quality to it.
A series of pull offs with a triplet thrown in. Then sped up to some sort of quantum level speed. It’s ridiculous. But it’s also what I would have chosen. Technically brilliant, instantly recognizable and sells the song immediately.
Others?
Layla, by Clapton
Born on the Bayou, by CCR
Smells Like Teen Spirit, by Nirvana
Walk this Way, by Aerosmith
Pride, by U2 (I once read a reviewer describe this as Edge re-enacting creation)
One of the most interesting things about these riffs - and many of the others listed - is despite them being top notch and absolutely amazing is how simple they are. Other than Alex Lifeson showing off, the others are all fairly easy to play and in a simple position. Keep it simple, stupid, is an amazingly good piece of advice.
I once heard Carlos Santana give a piece of advice for aspiring lead guitarists. He said something along the lines of ‘when you work on a solo for the first time, just use one string. High E, B, whatever. But you can do a great solo on just one string. Do that.’
Solid advice that I have, in the past, taken to heart.
Oh yeah! And… Deadbeat Descendant.
I misinterpreted the “whatevs” part.
Two of my favorites:
Steve Howe, Pennants - YouTube
Drive-By Truckers, Zip City Drive-By Truckers - D1 - 10) Zip City - YouTube
I like Zeppelinesque stuff apparently. them crooked vultures - elephants - YouTube
The beginning of Cold Shot, especially the Stevie Ray Vaughan version usually makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It always makes me feel like I wish I had tuned in a few seconds before I did; like I tuned in right after the best lick in a great building intro. Even when I start it myself I feel like I am coming into something great that is already going on.
The opening riff of Sweet Child of Mine.
::hat nod::
If I can indulge in a couple strange King Crimson kick-offs:
The most gradual guitar build-up - starting from tinkling notes, to a shimmering crescendo half a minute later - kicks off The Night Watch
Ok - only TWO UGLY NOTES. Sue me. But something, damned…je ne sais quoi (as Major would offer) about that
BAH bah bah
BAH bah bah
BAH bah
BAH bah
BAH bah bah
BAH bah bah
BAH bah
rhythm that just…makes me puff with Mephistophelian grandeur at the beginning of Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Part II.
Unfortunately, one of the great shames of the internet is that there’s no studio recording of this found anywhere. The studio one does full justice to that opening.
“Vroom” - Thrak
Actually - another downer - this is so poorly synced that this has to be the studio version lamely thrown over live footage. I wouldn’t even look at the visuals, here.
(hey - I’m trying to work with what measely pickens there are for a half-decent recording of something)
Along with the sax, the opening of “Twenty-First Century Schizoid Man” is another heavy classic. (Well, after the train whistley-things, anyway)
Speaking of Fripp, though, his greatest guitar opening is “NY3” from his Exposure album
Heh - and just for shits and giggles, I like how buddy breaks down the NY3 riff here.
Heh - and here’s hesher’s attempt.
“I’m a Man” by Chicago. Bass beat sets the tone.
The opening Plwang of Hard Day’s Night.
The almost orchestral crank up to the opening of Another Girl Another Planet.
Not sure that this is necessarily the right answer, but it did flash into my mind on reading the question.
Phish - Lifeboy