Best guitar riff

[superval99]

Just read this in the Mail-on line:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12789329/Music-fans-vote-best-guitar-riff-time-placing-Princes-Purple-Rain-second-Dire-Straits-hit-Sultans-Swing-third.html

[JF]

thanks for the link

the riff in Beat it is Steve Lukather. Van Halen only played the solo

[JF]

I remember an interview of Joe Satriani.
the journalist talked about the most iconic riff in music history and quoted smoke on the water
but Joe Satriani replied :"no ! the most iconic riff is Beethoven's fifth symphony !"
I agree with him, I think it's the most famous four notes around the world

[Knopflerfan]

Two in the top 20!!

[quizzaciously]

The problem with these lists is what's a riff exactly? I don't think Sultans is a riff anyway, more like a hook, and Every Breath You Take is a rhythm guitar part.

By the way, you can hear Mark here attempting to play the riff #1 according to this list, no wonder it's the best since even MK struggles:

[ds1984]

They should no write  "best" but "favourite".

And I agree that Sweet Child O' Mine is a fuckin' good one.

The studio take is insane.

[Matchstickman]

Like Pavel, I am not sure that I would view Sultans as having a riff, but there is a grey area. It does not start the song, but it is repeated several times.

MFN is clearly one of the best riffs of all time. It is also much longer than most of the iconic riffs (Satisfaction, etc.). But Sweet Child is great also.

[ds1984]

MFN and Satisfaction are same inspiration : classic Rythm and Blues horn lick.

And in the case of Satisfaction it was intended at first to be performed by a horn section.

Keith used the fuzz for the demo and others had to convince him to keep the guitar fuzz instead of putting a horn section.
In the end it is Otis Redding that recorded Satisfaction the way it was initially meant.

During the Steel Wheels\Urban Jungle tour you can clearly hear the Stones at some point performing it including the horn section.

[Eddie Fox]

I’m shocked Layla isn’t on it. In my opinion MFN has a better riff but SOS is certainly more iconic. That three chord progression is genius.

[dustyvalentino]

Huge Prince fan here, but could you sing the "riff" from Purple Rain?

Silly list.

[Kris-b]

The problem with these lists is what's a riff exactly? I don't think Sultans is a riff anyway, more like a hook, and Every Breath You Take is a rhythm guitar part.

By the way, you can hear Mark here attempting to play the riff #1 according to this list, no wonder it's the best since even MK struggles:

I wonder if this video is a joke, but I am sure it is Sultans of Swing with other music.

[quizzaciously]

The problem with these lists is what's a riff exactly? I don't think Sultans is a riff anyway, more like a hook, and Every Breath You Take is a rhythm guitar part.

By the way, you can hear Mark here attempting to play the riff #1 according to this list, no wonder it's the best since even MK struggles:

I wonder if this video is a joke, but I am sure it is Sultans of Swing with other music.

You wonder?

[Eddie Fox]

Huge Prince fan here, but could you sing the "riff" from Purple Rain?

Silly list.

I think they meant that intro… but yeah, makes no sense to me as well.

[dustyvalentino]

Huge Prince fan here, but could you sing the "riff" from Purple Rain?

Silly list.

I think they meant that intro… but yeah, makes no sense to me as well.

The intro, good as it is is just a bunch of arpeggios on chords isn’t it?  Arguably the repeated figure at the end of the song is more of a riff.

[dustyvalentino]

PS no Sunshine of Your Love?! Really?!