Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Seven Nation Army
  • Avril Lavigne
  • Prince and The Beatles
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
TC Electronic Polytune clip-on tuner on a Martin acoustic guitar headstock
Guitar Tuners Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: Top headstock and soundhole tuners to buy right now
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
Electric Guitars “Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
Greg Mackintosh of Paradise Lost plays his custom 7-string V live onstage with red and white stagelights behind him.
Artists Greg Mackintosh on the secrets behind the Paradise Lost sound and why he is still trying to learn Trouble’s tone tricks
Orbit Culture's guitarists
Electric Guitars Orbit Culture show us their ESP guitars – and tell us why the EverTune bridge is a game-changer
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
My Chemical Romance in 2006
Artists “It took five years to finish the song and define what it was about”: How My Chemical Romance created a classic anthem
Jack and Meg White in 2003
Artists “It was a challenge to myself: ‘I’m not gonna have a chorus in this song’”: How Jack White created the riff of the century
A Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster on a white piece of wood with lots of holes in it
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde tear it up onstage in 1989. Ozzy is shirtless. Wylde his shirtless, too – and he plays his bullseye graphic Les Paul.
Keyboards & Pianos “That actually came from me and Oz jamming on the piano in my apartment in North Hollywood”: From Ozzy Osbourne to Papa Roach, Fleetwood Mac to George Harrison, here's 5 career-defining songs you didn’t know were written on the piano
Side profile of a person playing a drum kit
Drum Lessons & Tutorials 13 easy drum songs every beginner should learn
Drummers Listen to 11 isolated drum tracks from rock's drumming legends
Fender's American Professional Classic series photographed against the side of a chrome tour bus [L-R]: Jaguar in faded Sherwood Green Metallic, HSS Stratocaster in Faded Lake Placid Blue, Stratocaster in Faded Firemist Gold, Telecaster in Faded Butterscotch Blonde, Precision Bass in Faded 3-Color Sunburst.
Guitars Fender gives its US lineup a retro-modern makeover with the American Professional Classic range
Paul Gilbert
Recording Four big-name guitarists spill their recording secrets
Zach Myers of Shinedown plays a hunter green PRS NF53 live onstage at Download Festival 2025.
Artists Zach Myers on Shinedown’s secret weapon, the limits of shred guitar, and getting schooled by BB King
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Amps

7 iconic pop punk guitar riffs

News
By Guitars and Amps Expo 2014, Claire Davies published 13 May 2014

We Are The In Crowd pick their faves

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

We Are The In Crowd

We Are The In Crowd

GUITARS AND AMPS EXPO 2014: We Are The In Crowd are fast becoming that band we just can't stop listening to. With super catchy choruses and riffs, they're a likeable bunch of young pop punkers raised on the very best musical diet of Blink-182, Fall Out Boy and Jimmy Eat World.

Hailing from New York, We Are The In Crowd add a colourful splash of rock to their own pop punk, helping them to infuse a meaty backbone into the music they write. When we asked guitarist Cameron Hurley to choose seven iconic pop punk tracks for your aural delectation he mused, “The iconic guitar riff might be one of the most sought after achievements in rock music, and many try but only few succeed.

“Pop punk wouldn't be the same without the classic guitar riffs,” Cameron continued. “So many air guitars would go unplayed and powerchords would rule the world. We thank all who strive to keep the riffs alive, and those who have brought them thus far.” Here are Cameron's picks...

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Song: Dammit

Song: Dammit

“You could consider this song to be the cornerstone of the pop punk riff world and for Blink-182's discography (the Dumpweed riff being a close second). For many it was the introduction to pop punk guitar playing. It's not the most advanced riff to play, but you just had to learn it, so that means it deserves honourable mention for the influence it has had on aspiring guitar players.”

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Song: Chicago Is So Two Years Ago

Song: Chicago Is So Two Years Ago

“There aren't many songs where you could say the intro, verse, pre-chorus and chorus are all riffs. This is powerchord riffing at it's finest. There's nothing complicated – it's straight forward, which makes this song so much fun to play and listen to.”

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Song: Futures

Song: Futures

“One of my favourite intro songs/riffs to an album. The constant, driving, chugging guitar mixed with the harmonizing riffs makes this song a one of a kind pop punk classic from one of the most legendary pop punk bands.”

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Song: Misery Business

Song: Misery Business

“I can't deny this song a spot on the list. Misery Business is a perfectly executed and simple pop punk rock riff that's so good, I would put it under the 'Damn! How did I not come up with that?' riff category.”

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Song: Above Me

Song: Above Me

“Rufio are built on guitar riffs. If you're just learning guitar and wanna skip learning the chords and all the boring stuff and go straight to the fast picking, start with this band, this song.”

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Song: Direction

Song: Direction

“The Starting Line had a huge influence on our guitar writing and playing style, even in the earlier years of us just learning how to play. This song in particular sparked something in me when I first heard it. The sludgy style guitar playing and chord structure stuck with me.”

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Song: What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost / Liar (It Takes One To Know One)

Song: What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost / Liar (It Takes One To Know One)

“I had to put both of these songs together as one, and if you ever played these songs on guitar you would understand. They flow so well together and both start off with some of the best, simple, iconic guitar riffs that have ever come out of the pop punk genre.”

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Claire Davies
Read more
Greg Mackintosh of Paradise Lost plays his custom 7-string V live onstage with red and white stagelights behind him.
Greg Mackintosh on the secrets behind the Paradise Lost sound and why he is still trying to learn Trouble’s tone tricks
 
 
Orbit Culture's guitarists
Orbit Culture show us their ESP guitars – and tell us why the EverTune bridge is a game-changer
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
My Chemical Romance in 2006
“It took five years to finish the song and define what it was about”: How My Chemical Romance created a classic anthem
 
 
Jack and Meg White in 2003
“It was a challenge to myself: ‘I’m not gonna have a chorus in this song’”: How Jack White created the riff of the century
 
 
A Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster on a white piece of wood with lots of holes in it
Best electric guitars under $1,000/£1,000 in 2025: My top picks for players of all styles
 
 
Latest in Guitar Amps
Blackstar Debut Bass 25: this compact little combo is finished in black with matching grille clothe and is photographed in close-up against a stone floor and weaved rug.
“Its solid quality, punchy tone and its surprising amount of headroom might make it a secret weapon for rehearsals, or even gigs”: Blackstar Debut Bass 25 review
 
 
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ HRG: the reissued high-headroom tube amp is a cult classic that returns here with a heritage finish.
Mesa/Boogie reissues a cult classic with a design that takes the amp brand back to the beginning
 
 
The Line 6 Powercab CL looks like the usual FRFR guitar speaker you might expect, but has switchable speaker voicings emulating classic drivers. It is pictured here onstage and in low-light situations.
Line 6 introduces multi-voicing for active guitar speakers as the Powercab CL offers ups the ante for amp modelling rigs
 
 
James Hetfield of Metallica plays his iconic white V-style live onstage, wearing his trademark black T-shirt, and black leather vest.
“He wanted all that at an undoable selling price”: Mesa/Boogie founder Randall Smith confirms rumours that it built James Hetfield a signature model – and it combined three iconic amps in one
 
 
Laney Lionheart Foundry Super60
"There’s something incredibly satisfying about playing through this amp": Laney Lionheart Foundry Super 60 112 review
 
 
The BEAM SOLO is the new headphone amp for guitar and bass from Blackstar Amplification, and is a compact unit with an integrated jack featuring amp models and effects, and a suite of digital features.
Blackstar Amplification unveils the BEAM SOLO – has the Fender Mustang Micro Plus found a rival?
 
 
Latest in News
Jackson Pro Series Cory Beaulieu King V: refreshed with quilt maple top, signature Seymour Duncany pickups and offered in six and seven-string versions – both with a Floyd Rose vibrato.
Jackson and Corey Beaulieu ante up with the Trivium guitarist's new Seymour Duncan-loaded next-gen King V
 
 
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) John Williams and Steven Spielberg seen at John Williams Music Building Dedication at Sony Pictures Studios on January 18, 2024 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
John Williams to come out of retirement to work on Spielberg’s next movie
 
 
Wolfgang Van Halen
“My dad would say the best solos are the ones you can hum and sing”: Wolfgang Van Halen on the art of soloing
 
 
bon iver
“I didn’t write any of these chords or anything – this just came straight from a sample”: Bon Iver and Jim-E Stack break down the making of Day One
 
 
Chappell Roan and Cyndi Lauper
Chappell Roan to induct Cyndi Lauper into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in November
 
 
Simon Phillips with the Who and Elton John
“I didn't replace Keith Moon – I replaced Kenney Jones!”: When Simon Phillips became The Who's third great drummer
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...