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The Top 50 Guitar Riffs Of All Time: 25-1

Find out what tops the poll!

The MusicRadar Team, Fri 27 Nov 2009, 12:01 am UTC

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User comments (25)

  • crashdawg

    Avatar for crashdawg

    1 day ago.

    Not sure who made this list, but i think you could lose the beatles. the ALL time # 1 riff has to go to TED NUGENT..CAT SCRATCH FEVER. it was even voted best all time. maybe stranglehold should be next.
    Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever .mp3 Found at bee mp3 search engine

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  • Ireguitar

    Avatar for Ireguitar

    4 weeks ago.

    its a good list

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  • zzubzzub

    Avatar for zzubzzub

    9 weeks ago.

    by the way, those are in no particular order -- just as they occurred to me as i was typing

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  • zzubzzub

    Avatar for zzubzzub

    9 weeks ago.

    Lists like this are mostly meant to start arguements, right? So here goes: I can make up a top 25 list just off the top of my head that's better than this top 25, without using any of the top 25 (other than johnny b. goode, which belongs at #1 because chuck berry invented the whole idea of riffing. Seriously -- they have it ranked #24, 7 slots below "Seven Nation Army"?)
    Johnny B. Goode
    Houses of the Holy
    Reelin' in the Years
    China Grove
    Nobody's Fault but Mine
    Brown Sugar
    La Bamba
    Pretty Woman
    Walk Don't Run
    Pipeline
    My Girl
    The Boys are Back in Town
    Burnin' for You
    The Song Remains the Same
    Statesboro Blues
    Jessica
    Tush
    White Rabbit
    Lust for Life
    Custard Pie
    Can't You Hear Me Knocking
    Brown Eyed Girl
    Aqualung
    Ziggy Stardust
    Just Like Heaven
    Every one of these certainly ranks ahead of Seven Nation Army...

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  • 7u8u6y

    Avatar for 7u8u6y

    9 weeks ago.

    Ojc, I would treat people with musical taste a bit better if they had some

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  • 7u8u6y

    Avatar for 7u8u6y

    9 weeks ago.

    I'm very sorry ojc, I obviously read the list wrong, and I am glad to hear that Sweet child is on their. I don't go to a rock kiddies remedial class cause I'm 23 years old and do have an idea about the wider world, thanks. BTW, what did you mean by Slash doesn't even particular like SCOM.

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  • ojc

    Avatar for ojc

    9 weeks ago.

    Right!
    7u8u6y... You really need to learn to read... My mail states it's of classics that are missing from the 50. Sweet Child of Mine is on the list, therefore It doesn't go into a list of MISSING classics.
    Secondly, my mail also states in brackets above the list: in no particular order...
    So when you've got out of your rock kiddies remedial class and maybe learnt about the wider world, you might learn to treat people and their musical tastes with greater respect.
    And BTW, Slash doesn't even particular like SCOM...

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  • 7u8u6y

    Avatar for 7u8u6y

    9 weeks ago.

    Ojc, do you have any idea what a great riff is?, youv'e listed them all one after the other and had the nerve to leave out the greatest riff ever in the history of rock music which is Guns N' Roses- Sweet Child O' Mine. Voting Money for Nothin at number one proves you have no idea what you are talking about, there is no greater riffs outside the classic rock genre, for example the GN'R guys wrote some of the greatest riffs ever, and other rock bands to like Nirvana, Mettalica and Aerosmith deserve to be on there. It's a total insult that you didn't include Sweet Child on your list, I would have settled for it being in the top three. Some of the riffs on their don't deserve to be listed and are just rubbish to listen to except Born To Run, so I'll close by saying that the next time you compose a list of the greatest riffs ever, research a bit better and you might just realise what's missing, cause Slash deserves his place on there at 1 or anywhere else , instead of what's there, and that will remain the greatest riff ever and nothing will ever change that, so thanks and goodnight.

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  • ojc

    Avatar for ojc

    9 weeks ago.

    Hmmm...
    A few classics that seem to be missing, or maybe it's just my age! :-)
    (In no Particular Order!)
    1. Money for Nothin' - Dire Straits
    2. Bad Penny - Rory Gallagher
    3. The Thrill Is Gone - BB King
    4. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
    5. How Soon Is Now - The Smiths
    6. Just Like Heaven - The Cure
    7. China Girl - David Bowie/Nile Rogers
    8. Jean Genie - David Bowie/??
    9. Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Dave Gilmour - 4 Notes!
    10. (I Don't Want to) Go To Chelsea - Elvis Costello
    11. On The Broadway - George Benson (Beautiful Simplicity!)
    12 Stratus - Jeff Beck (Made famous by the sampling of Massive Attack)
    13 Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield
    14 Even Flow - Pearl Jam
    15 Alive - Pearl Jam
    16 Jeremy - Pearl Jam
    17 Debaser - The Pixies
    18 Glory Box - Portishead
    19 I could Never Take the Place of Your Man - Prince
    20 Hedonism - Skunk Anansie
    21 Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
    22 Reelin in The Years - Steely Dan
    23 Cold Shot - SRV
    24 Love Spreads - The Stone Roses
    25 Beautiful Ones - Suede
    26 Jocelyn Square - Love and Money
    27 Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
    28 Screamager - Therapy
    29 The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
    30 Runnin Down a Dream - Tom Petty
    31 Hold The Line - Toto
    32 Pinball Wizard - The Who
    33 Owner of A Lonely Heart - Yes
    I actually have to do some work, so I'll stop there... But seriously folks, there are some amazing riffs outside of the default Classic Rock/Heavy Metal genres...

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  • cabanyalblue

    Avatar for cabanyalblue

    9 weeks ago.

    Some great songs on here, and I'm sure everyone's got a favourite song which isn't here, but come on, the Top 50 Guitar Riffs Of All Time, aren't we missing one? One that is instantly recognisable in the just the same way as Smells Like Teen Spirit or Smoke on the Water?
    Born To Be Wild anyone? If Jonny B Goode is the song we send to outer space to teach extra-terrestrials what rock and roll is, wouldn't this be the B side?
    I think Heartbreaker deserved a bit more repsect from the guy doing the comments as well. Great song, great riff.

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