What are the greatest guitar riffs of all time?

30 December 2021, 20:00

We here at Radio X love a good riff. Let's take a look at some of the greatest axe moments that can be copied the world over on air guitar.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

   The minute Slash chimes in with this unforgettable riff, you know you're in the presence of rock greatness. The rest of the song is almost an afterthought.

   

   Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine (Official Music Video)

2. AC/DC - Back In Black

   The riff as a blunt instrument. AccaDacca bounced back from the death of original singer Bon Scott  with a new yelper, Brian Johnson, and this legendary stonker. It's almost impossible to sing along, but incredibly easy to so the Angus Young heads-down thrash.

   

   AC/DC - Back In Black (Official Video)

3. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

   A simple wacka-wacka riff, but one that changed the world.

   

   Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

4. The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

   Jack White astounded the world when delivered this pounding riff that opened the Elephant album.

   

   The White Stripes - 'Seven Nation Army'

5. The Smiths - This Charming Man

   Knocked out by Johnny Marr one afternoon, the combination of a memorable intro and looping main riff created an instant classic.

   

   The Smiths - This Charming Man (Official Music Video)

6. Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze

   The master. Jimi was far too good a musician to stick to one mindless riff for the duration of a song, but he could pick out a monster riff and use it perfectly. Thousands, if not millions, of guitarists were influenced by him

   

   The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze (Audio)

7. Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows

   Josh Homme virtually attacks his guitar on this classic QOTSA track.

   

   Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows (Official Music Video)

8. The Rolling Stones - (I Cant' Get No) Satisfaction

   Keith Richards turns up the dirty distortion for this tale of one man's battle to have a good time.

   

   The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (Official Lyric Video)

9. Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love

   Nagging blues boogie par excellence from Jimmy Page on this Zeppelin classic.

   

   Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love (Official Music Video)

10. Smashing Pumpkins - Today

    Billy Corgan claimed that the memorable, ringing riff that opens Today was the very LAST part of the composition to be written.

    

    The Smashing Pumpkins - Today (Official Video)