Original Desmond

I'm not a muso, so maybe rift isn't the right word , but you know what i mean

l love the guitar rift in the original version of Eric Clapton's Layla

also the into to Dire Strait's Money for Nothing

Andalusia

It's riff, just so ya know...

My vote goes to any Black Sabbath song (the Ozzy era).

Giantrobo

AC/DC's "Back in Black" is 2 awesome.

They're using it in that new animated Disney movie.

BenFolds

"Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin

KevinSmithIsGod

Dr Feelgood...motley crue

Giantrobo

Yeah! That song/riff has a real groove to it. I even heard Janet Jackson say she loved that song for this very reason.


Let me also add Iron Maiden's "2 Minutes to Midnite" and "Back to the Village"(sequel to "The Prisoner" inspired by the TV show) .

Goat3001

I could think of a bunch:

Metallica- The Thing That Should Not Be
Twisted Sister- Burn In Hell
Iron Maiden- Fear Of The Dark
Iron Maiden- Hallowed Be They Name
Burzum- War
Burzum- Spell Of Destruction
Dark Throne- Skald Av Satanas Sol
Black Sabbath- Iron Man
At The Gates- Cold
At The Gates- Blinded By Filth
Metallica- Wherever I May Roam
Boston- More Than A Feeling
Rolling Stones- Paint It Black
Led Zeppelin- Thank You
Led Zeppelin- Kashmir
Led Zeppelin- Whole Lotta Love

sebastianv50

The Cow

Green Manalishi by Judas Priest

db27

seek and destroy - metallica
aenima - tool
denial - sevendust
heaven beside you - alice in chains

those are some of my favorite riffs.

palebluedot

Enlightening commentary...thank you.



If we are talking just riffs here and not solos then these are a few of my choices.

Funky Broadway - Wilson Pickett
Chain Of Fools - Aretha Franklin version
Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny
Autumn Leaves - Stanley Jordan's version
Cold Sweat - James Brown
Super Bad - James Brown
Jump Into The Fire - Harry Nilsson
Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Whipping Post - Allman Brothers
Strange Things Happen - Gaemouth Brown
Smoking Gun - Robert Cray
Should I feel That It's Over - Alison Moyet
Darling Nikki - Prince

Air Blower - Jeff Beck
Achilles Last Stand - Zeppelin
The Wanton Song - Zeppelin
Ship Of Fools - Robert Plant
Ice 9 - Joe Satriani
Erotic Nightmares - Steve Vai
Simple Simon - Steve Morse
Big Mouth Strikes Again - The Smiths
Blues Away - Wendy & Lisa
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Wearing Me Down - Dashboard Prophets
Back Before You Go - J. Mascis
Love Is A Fist - Mr. Bungle
Black The Sky - King's X
Groove Machine - King's X

tsohg

Man O' War- Prince it's scary how he made the guitar "talk"

November Rain-GnR. Not the greatest but it's my personal fave.

El Gray

"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" by Van Halen is probably my favorite riff of all time.

I agree that "Over The Hills And Far Away" is great. We refute your thumbs-down!

Groucho

Can't believe nobody's mentioned "China Grove" by the Doobie Brothers.

sebastianv50

who is this we you speak of ?

I'm more of a "misty mountain hop" man myself.

Andalusia

There's no way I can just mention Sabbath and be done with it. Here's some of my fav riffs (some which are pretty obscure)...

"Day Tripper" - Beatles
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones
"Till the End of the Day" - Kinks
"London Dungeon" - Misfits
"So Sad About Us" - The Who
"Safe European Home" - Clash
"Prowler" - Iron Maiden
"Flaming Telepaths" - Blue Oyster Cult
"TV Eye" - Stooges
"Kick Out the Jams" - MC5
"Makin' Time" - The Creation
"Born on the Bayou" - CCR
"2 + 2 = ?" - Bob Seger System
"Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
"Spanish Castle Magic" - Jimi Hendrix
"Standards" - The Jam
"Hazy Shade of Winter" - Simon and Garfunkel
"Guess I'm Falling in Love" - Velvet Underground
"Dirty Water" - The Standells
"Don't Look Back" - The Remains
"Andy Warhol" - David Bowie
"Rocket Boy" - Liz Phair
"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins

Sheesh, gotta end this list before it gets outta control!

Rocky_Stallone

Led Zeppelin "Black Dog"

modiman

"Rude Mood"/"Life Without You"/"Little Wing"... - SRV
"5:01 am (pros and cons of hitch hiking)" - Roger Waters
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" - Pink Floyd
"Roadhouse Blues" - The Doors
"Overall Junction" - Albert King

/ modiman.

Rypro 525

i know some of you might grill me on my decison but i picked stairway to heaven because it is the only song that i can actually play well.
also like
come together the beatles
girls girls girls motley crue
rock and roll led zeppelin
dont fear the reaper blue oyster cult.

Gdrlv

Not sure if I can list an absolute favorite, but "Mike's Song" by Phish is way up there.

Yancey

How Do You Sleep by John Lennon, far and away.

GuessWho

Def Leppard's "Photograph" deserves a mention

BenFolds

Yeah can't get enough of those synthesizer intros

SAShepherd

Not sure if it's my favorite, but the opening riff to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is pretty darn good (though I think that it's the drums that really make it memorable).

DVDHO

Free Bird,enough said.