Which guitar riffs stand the test of time and define generations? guitarplayers.net dives deep into the most iconic and unforgettable guitar riffs ever created, aiming to settle the ultimate debate. Inspired by a Guitar World reader poll, we’ve expanded upon a curated shortlist to bring you a definitive list of the greatest guitar riffs, exploring their impact, techniques, and the stories behind them.
While even a strict “one riff per artist” rule couldn’t contain the sheer volume of incredible riffs, we’ve meticulously selected and expanded upon some of the finest. Prepare to rediscover the riffs you love and perhaps find new favorites as we count down some of the most legendary guitar moments in music history.
Let’s plug in and crank it up…
50. Heir Apparent – Opeth (2008)
Opeth – Heir Apparent (Audio) – YouTube
Opeth Heir Apparent album art showcasing progressive metal guitar riff.
Swedish Prog Metal Riff Mastery
Opening our countdown is Opeth, the masters of progressive metal from Stockholm. From their death-metal era, “Heir Apparent” is a showcase of intricate and devastating riffs. While the track is packed with complexity, it’s the riff that explodes around the 2:30 mark that truly exemplifies Mikael Åkerfeldt’s genius for sonic destruction.
This riff begins with powerful power chords from the 1st fret, moving to open positions, then shifts to rapid descending octave shapes higher up the neck, contrasted with palm-muted chromatic notes in the lower register. This creates a spectacular sonic battle within the riff itself. Fredrik Åkesson’s solo further intensifies the chaos, blending bluesy bends with diminished runs, perfectly capturing the riff’s unsettling and “outside” feel.
49. Ticket to Ride – The Beatles (1965)
The Beatles – Ticket To Ride – YouTube
The Beatles Ticket To Ride single cover featuring iconic 12-string guitar riff.
Rickenbacker 12-String Chime and Eastern Influence
“Ticket to Ride,” released in 1965, became The Beatles’ seventh consecutive UK number one single, instantly recognizable thanks to its opening riff played on a 12-string guitar. This chiming, arpeggiated riff, built upon repeating A chords and a low A drone, subtly hints at the Indian musical influences that would increasingly shape the band’s sound.
George Harrison played this motif on his Rickenbacker 360/12, giving it an ethereal, slightly metallic quality. The staggered phrasing, incorporating a quarter-note triplet at the end, adds to the song’s relaxed yet distinctive 1960s vibe. This riff showcases how The Beatles could create groundbreaking sounds while maintaining pop sensibilities.
48. All Right Now – Free (1970)
Free – All Right Now (Doing Their Thing, 1970) Official Live Video – YouTube
Free All Right Now live performance showcasing Paul Kossoff's legendary guitar riff.
Paul Kossoff’s Les Paul Power
It might surprise some that Free’s 1970 hit “All Right Now” only just makes the Top 50, but its impact is undeniable. The opening seconds, with Paul Kossoff’s Les Paul roaring in sync with Simon Kirke’s powerful beat, is one of the most instantly recognizable song introductions ever recorded. Kossoff used one of his beloved Les Paul sunbursts for “All Right Now,” plugged into a cranked Marshall stack.
Singer Paul Rodgers perfectly described Kossoff’s magic: “Koss had such an amazing sound on that opening chord and with his chord structure on the A chord. He had such a long reach and could actually hold the A note on the E string on the 5th fret. He could get a real ripping sound and it had a lot of depth to it.” This riff is pure, raw rock and roll energy.
47. G.O.A.T. – Polyphia (2018)
Polyphia | G.O.A.T. (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Polyphia GOAT music video still showcasing modern technical guitar riffing.
Redefining Modern Guitar with Dazzling Technique
Polyphia guitarists Tim Henson and Scott LePage have emerged as pioneers in modern guitar music, blending fusion, tech-metal, and trap beats into a unique and captivating sound. Their innovative techniques and musicality have inspired a new generation of guitarists.
The 2018 track “G.O.A.T.” is a prime example of their style, amassing over 50 million plays on YouTube and Spotify. Its central motif is built on a foundation of harmonics, 19th and 20th fret taps, ringing open strings, and B natural minor arpeggios. This complex and mesmerizing riff showcases the incredible technical skills and musical vision of Henson and LePage.
For their tones, both guitarists relied on Ibanez guitars. Henson utilized “only the Fractal and a little bit of BIAS FX,” while LePage opted for a more traditional Orange amp and cabinet, proving that cutting-edge and classic approaches can coexist in modern guitar innovation.
46. Outshined – Soundgarden (1991)
Soundgarden – Outshined – YouTube
Soundgarden Outshined music video still featuring grunge power guitar riff.
Grunge Power in 7/4 Time
1991 was the year grunge took over the world, and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger was a key album in this movement. “Outshined” became their most accessible song, yet it retained the band’s signature experimental edge. The opening and verse riff, in drop D tuning and a 7/4 time signature, is a stoner rock dream, with single-finger bends from guitarists Kim Thayil and Chris Cornell adding to its powerful hook. It’s simply the embodiment of raw, unapologetic rock.
Kim Thayil’s role was crucial in Soundgarden’s sound, blending Stooges-like aggression with psychedelic Sabbath heaviness. His weapon of choice was a 1970s Guild SG-100, contributing to the band’s unique and influential grunge sound.
45. No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age (2002)
Queens Of The Stone Age – No One Knows (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Queens of the Stone Age No One Knows music video still showcasing stoner rock riff.
Stoner Rock Anthem
Queens of the Stone Age’s breakthrough hit, “No One Knows,” boasts a riff so compelling it functions as the song’s de facto chorus. While the lyrics “I realize you’re mine” repeat, the guitar riff is the undeniable focal point, driving the song’s energy and becoming an instant crowd-pleaser at live shows.
Josh Homme adopted a distinctive gear approach for Songs For The Deaf, deliberately avoiding mainstream amps like Marshalls, Voxes, Fenders, or Gibsons. For “No One Knows,” he combined three amps: a solid-state Peavey, an Ampeg VT40, and an old Tube Works head. The unique recorded tone was achieved through carefully blending microphones from this unconventional setup, highlighting Homme’s innovative approach to guitar sound.
44. Can’t Stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers (2002)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop [Official Music Video] – YouTube
Red Hot Chili Peppers Can't Stop music video still featuring funky guitar riff.
Funk Guitar Masterclass
John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is a master of funk guitar, and “Can’t Stop,” from the By The Way album, features one of his most rhythmically intricate riffs. Frusciante, known for playing vintage Strats and Teles, utilizes a sharp, powerful single-coil bridge pickup tone.
The verse riff revolves around a repeated two-note figure, D to E (G string, 5th and 7th fret), representing the flat 7th and root of the E minor key. Frusciante emphasizes the root notes of the chords (Em, D, Bm, C) and maintains clarity through his subtly complex fret-hand string muting technique. Combined with his aggressive and funky right-hand attack, this riff is a lesson in rhythmic guitar mastery.
43. Life in the Fast Lane – Eagles
Life In The Fast Lane – YouTube
Eagles Life in the Fast Lane album art showcasing hard rock guitar riff.
Country Rock Goes Hard Rock
Another iconic riff that originated as a warm-up exercise, “Life in the Fast Lane” started as a jam by Joe Walsh before catching his bandmates’ attention. The riff’s magic lies in its rhythmic displacement. It’s essentially the same idea played three times with slight variations, but the fourth repetition begins half a beat earlier, creating a sense of urgency and momentum that drives the song.
The Eagles’ Hotel California-era guitar tones were largely Fender-based, and “Life in the Fast Lane” features the raw sound of Fender Tweed Deluxes and Champs pushed hard. Walsh played a Strat, while Don Felder played his ’59 Les Paul, creating the ultimate guitar duo and instrument pairing for this hard-rocking track.
42. Message in a Bottle – The Police (1979)
The Police – Message In A Bottle (Official Music Video) – YouTube
The Police Message in a Bottle music video still featuring signature guitar riff.
The Police’s Breakthrough Number One
Fueled by Andy Summers’ signature hook-laden riff, “Message in a Bottle” perfectly captured The Police’s unique blend of post-punk and white reggae, creating what Summers described as “a very different-sounding pop song.” Despite internal tensions, Summers recognized that The Police were the ideal outlet for his distinctive guitar playing style.
“It was a unique chemistry,” he explained, “between the guitar, the bassline, the high vocals that Sting had then, and Stewart (Copeland)’s unique drumming. Never to be repeated.” This riff and the song itself became defining moments for the band and for the sound of late 70s and early 80s music.
41. Stargazer – Rainbow (1976)
Stargazer – YouTube
Rainbow Stargazer album art featuring Ritchie Blackmore's unstoppable guitar riff.
Ritchie Blackmore’s Epic Power
From Rainbow’s classic Rising album, “Stargazer” is an epic track driven by a powerful and memorable riff. The main riff has a “walking” feel thanks to the inclusion of passing tones within its pentatonic framework. A three-note chromatic run starting on the fifth fret of the fifth string, moving from the minor 7th to the major 7th and finally to the E octave, adds to its complexity and grandeur.
Around this period, Ritchie Blackmore primarily used an Olympic White ’73 Strat and a sunburst ’74, both with scalloped necks. He plugged into a Marshall Major, modified for even greater power and distortion. “This extra output stage basically made the 200-watt into a 280-watt,” he revealed, “So I did have the loudest amp in the world.” This quest for sonic power is evident in the sheer force of the “Stargazer” riff.
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