200 Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs
Criteria: The opening riff is usually the most memorable parts of the song, and although not always difficult to play, it's enough to determine the lasting appeal of these recordings.
Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs
1. Smoke On The Water
Deep Purple
2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Rolling Stones
3. Sunshine Of Your Love
Cream
4. Layla
Derek And The Dominos
5. Oh Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison
Deep Purple
2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Rolling Stones
3. Sunshine Of Your Love
Cream
4. Layla
Derek And The Dominos
5. Oh Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison
6. Iron Man
Black Sabbath
7. Johnny B Goode
Chuck Berry
8. Heartbreaker
Led Zeppelin
9. You Really Got Me
The Kinks
10. Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses
11. Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix Experience
12. Day Tripper
The Beatles
13. Walk This Way
Aerosmith
14. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
15. Whole Lotta Love
Led Zeppelin
16. Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Jimi Hendrix Experience
18. Paranoid
Black Sabbath
19. Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne
20. Back In Black
AC/DC
21. Foxey Lady
Jimi Hendrix Experience
22. Frankenstein
Edgar Winter
23. Aqualung
Jethro Tull
24. Bad To The Bone
George Thorogood & the Destroyers
25. Brown Sugar
Rolling Stones
26. Summertime Blues
Eddie Cochran
27. Money For Nothing
Dire Straits
28. Jumpin' Jack Flash
Rolling Stones
29. American Woman
Guess Who
30. Wild Thing
The Troggs
31. Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
32. Black Dog
Led Zeppelin
33. Rebel Rebel
David Bowie
34. Roadhouse Blues
The Doors
35. Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
36. Breaking The Law
Judas Priest
37. Runnin' With The Devil
Van Halen
38. Enter Sandman
Metallica
39. The Hellion/Electric Eye
Judas Priest
40. Outshined
Soundgarden
41. Eye Of The Tiger
Survivor
42. Hells Bells
AC/DC
43. La Grange
ZZ Top
44. Master Of Puppets
Metallica
45. Kashmir
Led Zeppelin
46. Sultans Of Swing
Dire Straits
47. Rusty Cage
Soundgarden
48. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Van Halen
49. Bring It On Home
Led Zeppelin
50. Man On The Silver Mountain
Rainbow
51. Panama
Van Halen
52. Maybellene
Chuck Berry
53. N.I.B.
Black Sabbath
54. Pinball Wizard
The Who
55. China Grove
The Doobie Brothers
56. Stranglehold
Ted Nugent
57. Ace Of Spades
Motorhead
58. Wipeout
The Surfaris
59. Paradise City
Guns N' Roses
60. Don't Fear The Reaper
Blue Oyster Cult
61. Five Minutes Alone
Pantera
62. All Day And All Of The Night
The Kinks
63. Up Around The Bend
Creedence Clearwater Revival
64. Bulls On Parade
Rage Against The Machine
65. Life In The Fast Lane
The Eagles
66. Start Me Up
Rolling Stones
67. Walk
Pantera
68. Welcome To The Jungle
Guns N' Roses
69. I'm Broken
Pantera
70. All Along The Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix Experience
71. Under The Bridge
Red Hot Chili Peppers
72. Working Man
Rush
73. Are You Gonna Go My Way
Lenny Kravitz
74. Pride And Joy
Stevie Ray Vaughan
75. The Boys Are Back In Town
Thin Lizzy
76. Whipping Post
Allman Brothers Band
77. Aenima
Tool
78. You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC
79. School Day
Chuck Berry
80. Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
81. Honey Don't
Carl Perkins
82. Moby Dick
Led Zeppelin
83. Rockin' In The Free World
Neil Young
84. Wake Up Little Susie
Everly Brothers
85. Taxman
The Beatles
86. The Ocean
Led Zeppelin
87. Lola
The Kinks
88. Hangar 18
Megadeth
89. Sharp Dressed Man
ZZ Top
90. Thunderstruck
AC/DC
91. Politician
Cream
92. The Trooper
Iron Maiden
93. I Feel Fine
The Beatles
94. Spirit Of Radio
Rush
95. Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden
96. Man On A Mission
Van Halen
97. Fear Of The Dark
Iron Maiden
98. Raining Blood
Slayer
99. Scuttle Buttin'
Stevie Ray Vaughan
100. Hysteria
Muse
Black Sabbath
7. Johnny B Goode
Chuck Berry
8. Heartbreaker
Led Zeppelin
9. You Really Got Me
The Kinks
10. Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses
11. Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix Experience
12. Day Tripper
The Beatles
13. Walk This Way
Aerosmith
14. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
15. Whole Lotta Love
Led Zeppelin
16. Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Jimi Hendrix Experience
18. Paranoid
Black Sabbath
19. Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne
20. Back In Black
AC/DC
21. Foxey Lady
Jimi Hendrix Experience
22. Frankenstein
Edgar Winter
23. Aqualung
Jethro Tull
24. Bad To The Bone
George Thorogood & the Destroyers
25. Brown Sugar
Rolling Stones
26. Summertime Blues
Eddie Cochran
27. Money For Nothing
Dire Straits
28. Jumpin' Jack Flash
Rolling Stones
29. American Woman
Guess Who
30. Wild Thing
The Troggs
31. Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
32. Black Dog
Led Zeppelin
33. Rebel Rebel
David Bowie
34. Roadhouse Blues
The Doors
35. Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
36. Breaking The Law
Judas Priest
37. Runnin' With The Devil
Van Halen
38. Enter Sandman
Metallica
39. The Hellion/Electric Eye
Judas Priest
40. Outshined
Soundgarden
41. Eye Of The Tiger
Survivor
42. Hells Bells
AC/DC
43. La Grange
ZZ Top
44. Master Of Puppets
Metallica
45. Kashmir
Led Zeppelin
46. Sultans Of Swing
Dire Straits
47. Rusty Cage
Soundgarden
48. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Van Halen
49. Bring It On Home
Led Zeppelin
50. Man On The Silver Mountain
Rainbow
51. Panama
Van Halen
52. Maybellene
Chuck Berry
53. N.I.B.
Black Sabbath
54. Pinball Wizard
The Who
55. China Grove
The Doobie Brothers
56. Stranglehold
Ted Nugent
57. Ace Of Spades
Motorhead
58. Wipeout
The Surfaris
59. Paradise City
Guns N' Roses
60. Don't Fear The Reaper
Blue Oyster Cult
61. Five Minutes Alone
Pantera
62. All Day And All Of The Night
The Kinks
63. Up Around The Bend
Creedence Clearwater Revival
64. Bulls On Parade
Rage Against The Machine
65. Life In The Fast Lane
The Eagles
66. Start Me Up
Rolling Stones
67. Walk
Pantera
68. Welcome To The Jungle
Guns N' Roses
69. I'm Broken
Pantera
70. All Along The Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix Experience
71. Under The Bridge
Red Hot Chili Peppers
72. Working Man
Rush
73. Are You Gonna Go My Way
Lenny Kravitz
74. Pride And Joy
Stevie Ray Vaughan
75. The Boys Are Back In Town
Thin Lizzy
76. Whipping Post
Allman Brothers Band
77. Aenima
Tool
78. You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC
79. School Day
Chuck Berry
80. Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
81. Honey Don't
Carl Perkins
82. Moby Dick
Led Zeppelin
83. Rockin' In The Free World
Neil Young
84. Wake Up Little Susie
Everly Brothers
85. Taxman
The Beatles
86. The Ocean
Led Zeppelin
87. Lola
The Kinks
88. Hangar 18
Megadeth
89. Sharp Dressed Man
ZZ Top
90. Thunderstruck
AC/DC
91. Politician
Cream
92. The Trooper
Iron Maiden
93. I Feel Fine
The Beatles
94. Spirit Of Radio
Rush
95. Hallowed Be Thy Name
Iron Maiden
96. Man On A Mission
Van Halen
97. Fear Of The Dark
Iron Maiden
98. Raining Blood
Slayer
99. Scuttle Buttin'
Stevie Ray Vaughan
100. Hysteria
Muse
101. Sweet Leaf
Black Sabbath
102. Love Me Two Times
The Doors
103. Revolution
The Beatles
104. Sad But True
Metallica
105. Seek And Destroy
Metallica
106. Highway To Hell
AC/DC
107. Revolution Is My Name
Pantera
108. All Right Now
Free
109. Paperback Writer
The Beatles
110. Miserlou
Dick Dale
111. Godzilla
Blue Oyster Cult
112. Spoonman
Soundgarden
113. I Can't Explain
The Who
114. Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
115. Should I Stay Or Should I Go
The Clash
116. Cemetary Gates
Pantera
117. Burn
Deep Purple
118. Barracuda
Heart
119. Highway Star
Deep Purple
120. Symphony Of Destruction
Megadeth
121. Cowboys From Hell
Pantera
122. Guerilla Radio
Rage Against The Machine
123. In The Flesh
Pink Floyd
124. Life's Been Good
Joe Walsh
125. Stinkfist
Tool
126. The Animal
Steve Vai
127. South Of Heaven
Slayer
128. Statesboro Blues
Allman Brothers Band
129. Roundabout
Yes
130. YYZ
Rush
131. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Chuck Berry
132. Come As You Are
Nirvana
133. Sabbra Cadabra
Black Sabbath
134. Crossroads
Cream
135. Mr. Brownstone
Guns N' Roses
136. Jessica
Allman Brothers Band
137. Otherside
Red Hot Chili Peppers
138. Children Of The Grave
Black Sabbath
139. Estranged
Guns N' Roses
140. Satch Boogie
Joe Satriani
141. Fire
Jimi Hendrix Experience
142. Cult Of Personality
Living Color
143. School's Out
Alice Cooper
144. Cocaine
Eric Clapton
145. Electric Funeral
Black Sabbath
146. Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival
147. Floods
Pantera
148. Peace Frog
The Doors
149. Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
150. Substitute
The Who
151. Wake Up
Rage Against The Machine
152. Immigrant Song
Led Zeppelin
153. Cat Scratch Fever
Ted Nugent
154. Blue Suede Shoes
Carl Perkins
155. Holy Diver
Dio
156. Norwegian Wood
The Beatles
157. What The Hell Have I
Alice In Chains
158. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Black Sabbath
159. Driving South
Stone Roses
160. Had To Cry Today
Blind Faith
161. 21st Century Schizoid Man
King Crimson
162. No Quarter
Led Zeppelin
163. Rock And Roll
Led Zeppelin
164. Speed King
Deep Purple
165. Gallon Of Gas
The Kinks
166. Changes
Jimi Hendrix
167. War Pigs
Black Sabbath
168. Man In The Box
Alice In Chains
169. Proud Mary
Creedence Clearwater Revival
170. My Michelle
Guns N' Roses
171. Rock You Like A Hurricane
The Scorpions
172. Space Truckin
Deep Purple
173. Into The Void
Black Sabbath
174. The Extremist
Joe Satriani
175. Run To The Hills
Iron Maiden
176. Home
Dream Theater
177. Dancing Days
Led Zeppelin
178. My Generation
The Who
179. Seven Nation Army
The White Stripes
180. Couldn't Stand The Weather
Stevie Ray Vaughan
181. Give It Away
Red Hot Chili Peppers
182. Born To Be Wild
Steppenwolf
183. On The Hunt
Lynyrd Skynyrd
184. Even Flow
Pearl Jam
185. Animal
Pearl Jam
186. Grind
Alice In Chains
187. Alive
Pearl Jam
188. The Waiting
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
189. Woman From Tokyo
Deep Purple
190. Parabola
Tool
191. Saturday Night Special
Lynyrd Skynyrd
192. Somebody To Love
Jefferson Airplane
193. Mary Jane's Last Dance
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
194. Suck My Kiss
Red Hot Chili Peppers
195. My Own Summer
Deftones
196. Cinnamon Girl
Neil Young
197. Judith
A Perfect Circle
198. Blackest Eyes
Porcupine Tree
199. Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2
200. Vertigo
U2
Black Sabbath
102. Love Me Two Times
The Doors
103. Revolution
The Beatles
104. Sad But True
Metallica
105. Seek And Destroy
Metallica
106. Highway To Hell
AC/DC
107. Revolution Is My Name
Pantera
108. All Right Now
Free
109. Paperback Writer
The Beatles
110. Miserlou
Dick Dale
111. Godzilla
Blue Oyster Cult
112. Spoonman
Soundgarden
113. I Can't Explain
The Who
114. Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie
115. Should I Stay Or Should I Go
The Clash
116. Cemetary Gates
Pantera
117. Burn
Deep Purple
118. Barracuda
Heart
119. Highway Star
Deep Purple
120. Symphony Of Destruction
Megadeth
121. Cowboys From Hell
Pantera
122. Guerilla Radio
Rage Against The Machine
123. In The Flesh
Pink Floyd
124. Life's Been Good
Joe Walsh
125. Stinkfist
Tool
126. The Animal
Steve Vai
127. South Of Heaven
Slayer
128. Statesboro Blues
Allman Brothers Band
129. Roundabout
Yes
130. YYZ
Rush
131. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Chuck Berry
132. Come As You Are
Nirvana
133. Sabbra Cadabra
Black Sabbath
134. Crossroads
Cream
135. Mr. Brownstone
Guns N' Roses
136. Jessica
Allman Brothers Band
137. Otherside
Red Hot Chili Peppers
138. Children Of The Grave
Black Sabbath
139. Estranged
Guns N' Roses
140. Satch Boogie
Joe Satriani
141. Fire
Jimi Hendrix Experience
142. Cult Of Personality
Living Color
143. School's Out
Alice Cooper
144. Cocaine
Eric Clapton
145. Electric Funeral
Black Sabbath
146. Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival
147. Floods
Pantera
148. Peace Frog
The Doors
149. Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
150. Substitute
The Who
151. Wake Up
Rage Against The Machine
152. Immigrant Song
Led Zeppelin
153. Cat Scratch Fever
Ted Nugent
154. Blue Suede Shoes
Carl Perkins
155. Holy Diver
Dio
156. Norwegian Wood
The Beatles
157. What The Hell Have I
Alice In Chains
158. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Black Sabbath
159. Driving South
Stone Roses
160. Had To Cry Today
Blind Faith
161. 21st Century Schizoid Man
King Crimson
162. No Quarter
Led Zeppelin
163. Rock And Roll
Led Zeppelin
164. Speed King
Deep Purple
165. Gallon Of Gas
The Kinks
166. Changes
Jimi Hendrix
167. War Pigs
Black Sabbath
168. Man In The Box
Alice In Chains
169. Proud Mary
Creedence Clearwater Revival
170. My Michelle
Guns N' Roses
171. Rock You Like A Hurricane
The Scorpions
172. Space Truckin
Deep Purple
173. Into The Void
Black Sabbath
174. The Extremist
Joe Satriani
175. Run To The Hills
Iron Maiden
176. Home
Dream Theater
177. Dancing Days
Led Zeppelin
178. My Generation
The Who
179. Seven Nation Army
The White Stripes
180. Couldn't Stand The Weather
Stevie Ray Vaughan
181. Give It Away
Red Hot Chili Peppers
182. Born To Be Wild
Steppenwolf
183. On The Hunt
Lynyrd Skynyrd
184. Even Flow
Pearl Jam
185. Animal
Pearl Jam
186. Grind
Alice In Chains
187. Alive
Pearl Jam
188. The Waiting
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
189. Woman From Tokyo
Deep Purple
190. Parabola
Tool
191. Saturday Night Special
Lynyrd Skynyrd
192. Somebody To Love
Jefferson Airplane
193. Mary Jane's Last Dance
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
194. Suck My Kiss
Red Hot Chili Peppers
195. My Own Summer
Deftones
196. Cinnamon Girl
Neil Young
197. Judith
A Perfect Circle
198. Blackest Eyes
Porcupine Tree
199. Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2
200. Vertigo
U2
The Greatest Guitar Riff Creators
1. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
2. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
3. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
4. Angus Young (AC/DC)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream)
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
8. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
9. Chuck Berry
10. James Hetfield (Metallica)
11. Slash (Guns N' Roses)
12. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
13. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
14. Pete Townshend (The Who)
15. Tom Morello (RATM)
16. John Lennon (The Beatles)
17. John Fogerty (CCR)
18. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
19. Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
20. Adam Jones (Tool)
21. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
22. Dave Davies (The Kinks)
23. Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
24. Neil Young
25. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
26. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
27. Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
28. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
29. The Edge (U2)
30. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
31. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
32. Robby Krieger (The Doors)
2. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
3. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
4. Angus Young (AC/DC)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream)
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
8. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
9. Chuck Berry
10. James Hetfield (Metallica)
11. Slash (Guns N' Roses)
12. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
13. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
14. Pete Townshend (The Who)
15. Tom Morello (RATM)
16. John Lennon (The Beatles)
17. John Fogerty (CCR)
18. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
19. Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
20. Adam Jones (Tool)
21. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
22. Dave Davies (The Kinks)
23. Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
24. Neil Young
25. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
26. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
27. Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
28. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
29. The Edge (U2)
30. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
31. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
32. Robby Krieger (The Doors)
|
Ritchie Blackmore Keith Richards |
|
Jimmy Page David Gilmour |
Edited By: Lew, Eric
Last Updated: 2007-02-17