Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.

Favorite rock&roll opening guitar riff

1235»

Comments

  • Oakster said:

    Chizz said:

    Great thread!

    Johnny B Goode is, of course, the best opening riff. But many of the ones already mentioned are making me itch to plug my guitar in.

    Ha! Have been working on this riff for the last week - it’s not an easy one at full speed (at least for me) - but I’m getting there
    Me too!
  • Red House - Jimi Hendrix
  • Downbound Train - Springsteen
  • I wanna be adored - The Stone Roses
  • If bass riffs are allowed, then it’s Ace of Spades ♠️ for me!

    If Bass riffs are allowed - School Days by Stanley Clarke

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFKlezPu3xg


  • If bass riffs are allowed, then it’s Ace of Spades ♠️ for me!

    If Bass riffs are allowed - School Days by Stanley Clarke

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFKlezPu3xg


    Bass riffs are welcome.
    Papa was a rolling stone - Temptations
    Too High - Stevie Wonder
  • Love me two times - The Doors.
    One of the few riffs I can play and do quite well.

    Local hero - Dire Straits.
    Mark Knopfler is a genius.
  • I came across one a few months ago, Killing Floor by Howling Wolf.

    It's relatively easy (for some) but I'm struggling with it. Time and patience will tell.

  • Johnny B Goode
  • All the young dudes - Bowie/Mott the Hoople. The first record I loved and that intro has never been bettered.
  • Sponsored links:


  • White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane.
  • And Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers.
  • Not sure if this one slipped through the net, but it shouldn't have.

    Eddie Grant - Baby Come Back when he was playing with The Equals.
  • Lesser known but great riffs:
    Northern Hemisphere by East of Eden
    Hazard Profile by Soft Machine
    Brainticket Parts 1-3 by Brainticket... wonderful riff that you want to go on and on... and it does.
  • edited October 2017

    I came across one a few months ago, Killing Floor by Howling Wolf.

    It's relatively easy (for some) but I'm struggling with it. Time and patience will tell.

    That's one of my "standard tunes" I play and sing (after a fashion) at jam nights.

    Jimi Hendrix had a go at it too.

    I'll nominate Start Me Up by the Stones.

    Also: Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker and Rock and Roll by my favs Led Zep.
  • TELTEL
    edited October 2017
    Part three Incantations Mike Oldfield....nothing comes close for me.....goosebumps, and I've heard it literally hundreds of times.

    If you havent heard it before...have a listen.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQQV3R70l5U
  • The Smiths

    What Difference Does It Make
    This Charming Man

    The greatest band of all time, without doubt!
  • Teenage Idol - Gary Moore
    Hells Bells & Thunderstruck - AC/DC
    Whatever You Want, Mystery Song & Down Down (full versions) - Status Quo
  • Some of the best mentioned already, and here are some I like.

    Queen - Tie Your Mother Down
    Ram Jam - Black Betty
    The Who - Can`t Explain, (and almost anything else by them)
    Free - All Right Now
    Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
    Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
    Rolling Stones - Paint it Black
    Black Sabbath - Paranoid
    Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
    Stevie Wonder - Superstition
    Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
    Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love
  • Sponsored links:


  • Gypsy - Uriah Heep
    Windy City - Sweet
    Big Fat Mama - Status Quo
    Only You Can Rock Me - UFO
    Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
  • OK here we go

    Day of the eagle - Robin Trower
    Chinatown - Thin Lizzy
    Rock and Roll - Zeppelin
    Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix
    Ace of Spades - Motorhead
    Whatever you want (extended intro) - Status Quo
    You better watch yourself - Joe Bonamassa
    The Hunter - Free

    There are a gazillion more but to be going on with I'll settle for this lot
  • As you've mentioned Robin Trower..

    Bridge of sighs
  • As you've mentioned Robin Trower..

    Bridge of sighs

    Saw him live in his heyday, brilliant.
  • muppetman said:

    Some of the best mentioned already, and here are some I like.

    Queen - Tie Your Mother Down
    Ram Jam - Black Betty
    The Who - Can`t Explain, (and almost anything else by them)
    Free - All Right Now
    Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
    Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
    Rolling Stones - Paint it Black
    Black Sabbath - Paranoid
    Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
    Stevie Wonder - Superstition
    Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
    Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love

    Some great ones here.
    Special mention to the fantastic Stevie Wonder Superstition riff even though it was played on the Clavinet.
  • TAD - Jinx.
  • Voodoo Chile, slight return: Hendrix.
    All along the Watchtower: Hendrix\Dylan.
    Fire and Water: Free
    The Stealer: Free
    What' Going on: Rory Gallagher
    Laundromat: Rory Gallagher
    Won't get fooled again:Who
    My Generation: Who
    Smoke on the Water:Deep Purple.
    Tales of Brave Ulysses:Cream
    Spoonfull:Cream
    Head and Heart: John Martyn
    One Day without you: John Martyn

    Tend to prefer the live versions......

  • ......What' Going on: Rory Gallagher
    Laundromat: Rory Gallagher.......


    Tend to prefer the live versions......

    I love the opening riff on Shadowplay. Class.
  • Deep Purple - Burn
    Steely Dan - Reelin in the years
    Yes - Siberian Khatru
  • May be unfamilier to most of the younger lifers,but Duane Eddy's Peter Gunn,the original version,not with the Art of Noise must be up there with the best.

    In fact the whole records ex in my opinion.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Roland Out Forever!