Favourite riffs

**superfrank** · 02/05/2007, 9:56 AM

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.

**BohsPartisan** · 02/05/2007, 11:00 AM

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

**Lionel Ritchie** · 02/05/2007, 12:13 PM

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

**Wolfie** · 02/05/2007, 12:35 PM

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

**gustavo** · 02/05/2007, 12:40 PM

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.

All the cliched ones for me

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

**Pauro 76** · 02/05/2007, 3:22 PM

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

**Anto McC** · 02/05/2007, 5:14 PM

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

**Risteard** · 03/05/2007, 12:37 AM

Motorcycle Emptiness and Seven Nation Army.

**Neish** · 03/05/2007, 8:25 AM

How soon is now- The Smiths

**paul_oshea** · 03/05/2007, 8:50 AM

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.

**Wolfie** · 03/05/2007, 11:59 AM

Alright Now - Free

**Calcio Jack** · 03/05/2007, 12:05 PM

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

**SligoBrewer** · 03/05/2007, 12:16 PM

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

**TonyD** · 03/05/2007, 12:29 PM

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

**paul_oshea** · 03/05/2007, 3:40 PM

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

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

**Wolfie** · 03/05/2007, 4:01 PM

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

Still funny.

**noby** · 03/05/2007, 5:44 PM

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".

Day Tripper?

**artane-shels** · 03/05/2007, 8:34 PM

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

**stann** · 04/05/2007, 2:36 AM

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.

Yngwie Malmsteen!

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...