25 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time

[Gerk]

As voted by students of the London Tech Music School



April 4th, 2008 A Reuters report this morning stated that Deep Purple’s 1973 hit “Smoke on the Water” is the greatest guitar riff of all time. The study was conducted by the London Tech Music School, which has turned out members of bands like Radiohead and The Cure.
Here’s the complete Top 25:
1. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple (1973)
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana (1991)
3. Walk This Way - Aerosmith (1975)
4. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix (1967)
5. Sweet Child O Mine - Guns N’ Roses (1987)
6. Paradise City - Guns N’ Roses (1987)
7. Ace Of Spades - Motorhead (1980)
8. Enter Sandman - Metallica (1991)
9. Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chilli Peppers (1992)
10. Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N’ Roses (1987)
11. Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden (1982)
12. Walk - Pantera (1992)
13. Johnny Be Goode - Chuck Berry (1958)
14. Back In Black - AC/DC (1980)
15. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin (1970)
16. Wake Up - Rage Against The Machine (1992)
17. Highway to Hell - AC/DC (1979)
18. My Generation - The Who (1965)
19. 7 Nation Army - The White Stripes (2003)
20. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf (1968)
21. Give It Away - Red Hot Chilli Peppers (1991)
22. Paranoid - Black Sabbath (1970)
23. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix (1967)
24. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor (1982)
25. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits (1984)

[Lukester]

I agree with 9 of those riffs in the Top 25

[dave nz]

Heard this as well, solid list IMO.

[Bobtheicon]

These should be in there:

Iron Man - Black Sabbath
Satisfaction - Stones
Whole Lotta Love - Zep

[Keith]

tell me how the opening riff for LAYLA doesn't make this list ???

"what are you kids on dope ???"

[HoosierDaddy23]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

These should be in there:

Iron Man - Black Sabbath
Satisfaction - Stones
Whole Lotta Love - Zep

[HoosierDaddy23]

[QUOTE=Keith]tell me how the opening riff for LAYLA doesn't make this list ???

"what are you kids on dope ???"[/QUOTE]





but seriously, put layla on the list

[domafia]

pleasantly surprised to see rage's "wake up" in there. tough to rank things like this, but no denying that all 25 of those have some really cool riffs.

[rjb1816]

free bird?

[Keith]

All Along the Watchtower ???

who made this list up ???

[mark12]

Originally Posted by Keith

tell me how the opening riff for LAYLA doesn't make this list ???

"what are you kids on dope ???"

Was wondering how far I would have to scroll before someone mentioned that. I should have known it would be you Keith. We seem to like alot of the same stuff. What a joke Layla is not on the list.

[Lukester]

Mississippi Queen? (Mountain)...gotta have

Tush? (ZZ Top)...a couple more could qualify by this band if not this tune

Turn Me Loose? (Loverboy)...Canadians always get snubbed anyway

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly)...not a big fan of this but we're talkin' Top-25 riffs, aren't we?

And last but not least, where's Eddie? as in Eddie Van Halen? All-time Mr. Riffster himself was snubbed!!! Unreal.

[Jahred]

this is a POP list

[smitch124]

I love the beginning riff of "Sweet Home Alabama", immeadiately recognizable, and u feel like your in the South after just a few bars.

[Habs67]

I love all those songs on the list but I would add Rush Limelight, Tom Sawyer and Spirit of Radio