Favourite riffs

I can't remember this being done before. So what's your favourite riff.

Bowie's good for a few: "Rebel Rebel" and "The Man Who Sold The World"
Arcade Fire's "Wake Up"
The Coral's "Cripples Crown"

All I can think of.

She Sells Sanctuary - the Cult
Blue Orchid - White Stripes
La Tristessa - Manics
Motorcycle Emptyness - Manics
Fools Gold - Stone Roses
Waterfall - Stone Roses
Going Underground - The Jam

to name but a few!

A few More
You really got me going - The Kinks
I can't explain - The Who
Pinball Wizard - The Who

One by Metallica

Got The Time by Anthrax (written by Joe Jackson)

Mutha Made 'Em by Smokin Suckaz Wit Logik (not a sample but a bit of a parody of What I Am by Edie Brickell)

1979 by Smashing Pumpkins

Punishment Kiss by Therapy?

What Difference Does It Make by The Smiths

Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Motown Junk - Manic Street Preachers
Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
I bet that you look good on the Dance Floor - Arctic Monkeys
Richard III - Supergrass

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Originally Posted by superfrank

I can't remember this being done before. So what's your favourite riff.

Bowie's good for a few: "Rebel Rebel" and "The Man Who Sold The World"
Arcade Fire's "Wake Up"
The Coral's "Cripples Crown"

All I can think of.

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All the cliched ones for me:D

Nirvana Smells like teen spirit
Strokes Last Nite
Blur Beetlebum
'' Song 2
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
GNR - Mr Brownstone
Metallica Enter Sandman
Pixies Dead

Sad but True - Metallica
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes
All My Life - Foo Fighters

Smoke on Water - Deep Purple
Philby - Rory Gallagher
Shadow Play - Rory Gallagher
Sunshine of your love - Cream
Chinatown - Thin Lizzy
In the evening - Led Zep
Thunderstruck - AC/DC

There's a sh*t load more i can't think off now but pretty much all the one's considered classics

Motorcycle Emptiness and Seven Nation Army.

How soon is now- The Smiths

hmmm it depends really, i mean i think some on here are being very loose with "their" idea of a riff.

Some songs have great "riffs", but are not great songs. anyhow some of mine would be:

we're not gonna take it - twisted sister ( one of the catchiest you will ever here )
hit me with your best shot - pat benatar
girls, girls, girls - motley crue
so many by metallica: one, four horsemen, enter sandman list is endless
wild child - wasp
shadow play - rory gallagher
highway to hell/you shoook me all night long - ac/dc

Anto, thats a class one by rory gallagher alright, like any proper riff, the guitar is prominent throughout and extremely catchy. Thats what good riffs are all about, not necessarily really classy guitart playing as such.

im sure there is more to be added there, but thats a start. If you mean riff being the main power chords the song is built around ( which is what a riff is essentially ) not just a couple of bars by the lead guitarist, then some of the above are worth a listen to.

Alright Now - Free

Timeless classics

Like a rolling stone.... Dylan
Born to run ..............Brucie
Browne eyed girl........Van the man
Riders on the storm......The Doors
Bad Moon Rising........... CCR
Whisky in the jar.........Lizzy

Charlotte - Air Traffic
C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Hate to Say I Told You So - The Hives
Club Foot - Kasabian
Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park

There's More

Sad to see that so many people still think riff means Heavy Metal (Yuck) (It doesn't mean a power chord progression either, to my mind)

Good riffs not mentioned so far (off the top of my head):

The Pixies - Debaser, Here Comes Your Man
The Smiths - This Charming Man, Hand In Glove
The Beatles - Day Tripper, I Feel Fine, Paperback Writer
REM - Driver 8

The term riff entered musical slang in the 1920s (Rooksby, ibid), and is used primarily in discussion of forms of hard rock/metal music or jazz. "Most rock musicians use riff as a synonym, almost, for 'musical idea.'"

Shred guitar is a good example of this. "Shred guitar refers to a guitar playing style where technical proficiency is used to maximize (and sometimes specifically demonstrate) speed, often in a neoclassical framework also known as riffs. Beginning in the 1980s, shred guitar began to appear in a heavy metal sub-genre known as neo-classical metal, since it often involved phrases and techniques from Classical music."


ok so i edited the above slightly but it makes my point more valid :D

none of the beatles stuff - in my mind at least of what the generic term riff is - are an example of a "riff".

There's a bit in "School of Rock" where Mr Schneeblee is teacing the kids a few riff-tastic tunes.

Still funny.:)

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

none of the beatles stuff - in my mind at least of what the generic term riff is - are an example of a "riff".

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Day Tripper?

Peter Gunn Theme- The Blues Brothers (and other bands but I just have their version)
A Town Called Manic- The Jam

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Shred guitar is a good example of this. "Shred guitar refers to a guitar playing style where technical proficiency is used to maximize (and sometimes specifically demonstrate) speed, often in a neoclassical framework also known as riffs.

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Yngwie Malmsteen! :D :D :D
What a complete tw@t!

Most of my faves have already been done, but surprised no-one has yet mentioned Satisfaction by the Stones.
Also:
Bloc Party - Helicopter
Futureheads - Decent Days And Nights
Television - See No Evil
Joy Division - Novelty
ah, there's loads more...

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

none of the beatles stuff - in my mind at least of what the generic term riff is - are an example of a "riff".

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Originally Posted by noby

Day Tripper?

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Paperback Writer?

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Day Tripper?

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exception to every rule noby. exception to every rule. ;) :D

stann, spot on. well done. why do you call him a ****?

Taxman has a great riff too

The 2 songs that made me want to play RAWK guitar
Opening Riff of Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers
& Messin With the Kid - The late great Rory Gallagher

I ended up playing the Bass so I'll cheat a little and put in my fave Bass lines
The Jam - Town Called Malice
Iggy Pop - Lust for Life

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Originally Posted by endabob1

The 2 songs that made me want to play RAWK guitar
Opening Riff of Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers
& Messin With the Kid - The late great Rory Gallagher

I ended up playing the Bass so I'll cheat a little and put in my fave Bass lines
The Jam - Town Called Malice
Iggy Pop - Lust for Life

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Good choices on the riffs, love both songs.

If were chatting bass lines I think the following a mention

Transmission-Joy Division
Money-Pink floyd
ComeTogether - The Beatles
Walk on the wild side-Lou Reed
Guns of Brixton-The Clash

Ticket to Ride

Bass riffs par excelance
Stone Roses - Fools Gold
Breeders - Cannonball

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favourite riffs

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ticket to ride

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my god :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

my god :rolleyes:

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Don't knock it. always thought it would make a great sample.

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Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition (Usually rock music, Latin, Funk or jazz, but also occasionally classically orchestrated music, Ravel's Boléro being an obvious example). They can be as simple as repeated saxophone honking an entire chorus on a single exciting note by Big Jay McNeely or as complex as the head arrangements played by the Count Basie Orchestra.

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Thats what Wikipedia says a riff is.

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Thats what Wikipedia says a riff is.

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As Lionel, once said to me, you are using wikipedia as a reference, laughable!!!! :D

in fairness it doesnt really say a lot there, from that "anything" could be construed as a riff.....

in terms of sax/thrombones etc certainly a style of riff is possible, but i dont think if you asked the average joe, would they consider it a "riff", their answer would be no.

BTW, does anyone know what the term "playing the thrombone" means not in a musical parlance.

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Originally Posted by gustavo

Bass riffs par excelance
Stone Roses - Fools Gold
Breeders - Cannonball

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Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now by The Smiths
Orion by Metallica
Got The Time by Anthrax ...second nomination from me :D
Celebrate by An Emional Fish

Anyone learning bass should pick up a copy of London Nil Hull Four by The Housemartins. The Bass-lines on it are quite superb and deceptively easy to learn.

I Wanna be Adored - Stone Roses

Great Base Line.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

stann, spot on. well done. why do you call him a ****?

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I remember he was a bit of a running joke between meself and a mate years ago when we were faffing about learning the guitar. The fact his first name was apparently 'Whingey' only added to it.
But mainly the fact that his fretboard w@nkery broke all boundaries. Talk about a triumph of style over substance! A chap who's idea of musical proficiency is apparently to try and cram as many notes as he can into a given time period is a tw@t. And he made an album called 'Concerto for Electric Guitar' or something so he's a pretentious tw@t as well. :D

Also, yeah, am aware of the phrase 'tromboning' but in a context that perhaps makes it wise that I stop here, being as it's an open forum and all... :cool:
BTW your use of a superfluous 'h' in 'trombone' in this context is vaguely unsettling! :D

Anyone ever here a live Daytripper version by I think ists Paul Wellar and Noel Gallagher? seriously rocks.

Black night - Deep Purple

Ocean Colour Scene Beavis methinks.

Been thinking about it heres another few i like
Green Day - American Idiot
Sex Pistols -God Save the Queen
U2- Vertigo
Hives - Hate to Say I Told You So
Oasis - Headshrinker
QOTSA=No one knows

Good to see Johnny Marr is getting the plaudits here... Everything he churned out was a great riff... Might as well be a great riff personified! And while we're touching on bass riffs, Andy Rourke was a great man for them, Barbarism Begins at Home, This Charming Man, Rusholme Ruffians etc... Probably something to do with their "Irish Blood", More so than their "English Hearts"

Hollies - Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
Golden Earring - Radar Love

Beatles - Get Back
Beatles - Come Together? No?