Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs


A British guitar magazine recently polled it readers to compile a list of the greatest guitar riffs. Guns 'N Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" came in at the number spot. Here's a link to the poll results. As you can see the list is entirely metal oriented.

My list would include:

The Chuck Berry intro
The Chuck Berry rhythm
The Bo Diddley beat
Temptations - My Girl
Kinks - You Really Got Me
Steely Dan - Reelin' In the Years
Sam & Dave (Steve Cropper) - Soul Man
Stone Temple Pilots - Plish
Beatles - I Feel Fine intro
Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze intro

Is it my fault that nearly all the great riffs are pre-1980?

What's on your list?
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Satisfaction - Stones
Love Me Two Times, People Are Strange - Doors
Aqualung - Tull
Ride My See-Saw - Moody Blues
Red House - Hendrix
Cliffs Of Dover - Eric Johnson
Bridge Of Sighs - Robin Trower
What Is Life - George Harrison
Layla, Sunshine Of Your Love - Eric Clapton
Drive My Car - Beatles
Jimi Hendrix - "Purple Haze"
Black Sabbath - "Iron Man"
Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"
Steve Denny - Oscuro/Magic Box

Imagine David Gilmore or Jeff Beck with a Flamenco and Middle Eastern flair, and a few '50's/'60's movie samples to boot.

Pathos, power and emotion with great control.