What do you think are those iconic guitar riffs that even non-rock music fans drool over?


Deep Purple - SMOKE ON THE WATER


AC/DC - BACK IN BLACK


Too many greats come to mind but I can't remember anything that can challenge these two in terms of popularity, catchiness and sheer excitement.

Johnny B Goode
Satisfaction
Purple Haze
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Stairway to Heaven
Black Dog
You Really Got Me
Day Tripper

NDRU said:

Not a big fan of rock but that one came to mind immediatly.

sosgemini said:

In Wayne's World the guitar shop had a sign posted that said: "No [playing] Stairway to Heaven."

I recently saw a sign like that in a music shop, but it added: "or Smells Like Teen Spirit."
[Edited 12/11/06 17:28pm]

Slash in Sweet Child O'Mine!

StillDirrty said:

good one! how 'bout

Pinball Wizard
Freebird
Here Comes the Sun
Whole Lotta Love

Eddie Van Halen killed it in Beat It! Eruption too.

NDRU said:

Black Sabbath - Iron Man

Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
[Edited 12/11/06 18:15pm]

coolcat said:

RIGHT

OR BACK IN BLACK

SMOKE ON WATER EVERYBODY KNOW

BUT NOBODY LISTEN TO DEEP PURPLE

Purple Haze
Dazed and Confused
Satisfaction
Sunshine Of Your Love
Iron Man
Sweet Leaf
Super Stupid
Alice In My Fantasies
Makin' Love
Pretty Woman/Roy Orbison/Van Halen
There are sooooo many more.

satisfaction

Oh, silly me.... How can I forget riff heaven in the breakdown of Queen's "Bohemian Rhaps". Uh, intro to Ziggy Stardust. A rock song by a non rock band "Everyone's A Winner". It goes on and on.

Stax said:

And uh "Jumping Jack Flash".
Money/Pink Floyd

The king of them all;

Voodoo Child AND Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

blackguitaristz said:

that is more memorable for the bass riff IMO, but iconic nonetheless.

Stax said:

Same effect. And besides, Gilmour did double Roger's line on the riff. (smile)

Stax said:

WELL THAT REAL ANSWER

Gotta do my cousin justice;

Bambi

eddie van halen played only guitar solo on beat it.riff was played by steve lukather from toto.
prince also have iconic riff ,purple rain
my list of essencial rock guitar riffs would be
"
johnny b good-chuck berry

satisfaction-rolling stones

sunshine of your love-cream

jailhouse rock-elvis the pelvis

whole lotta love-led zeppelin

smoke on the water-deep purple

hey joe-jimi hendrix
purple haze
voodoo chile slight return
all along the watchtower

owners of the lonly heart-yes

message in a bottle-police

smels like teen spirit-nirvana
special mention
-everythings coming up roses -black

^Oh, well how about You Really Got Me?

blackguitaristz said:

"I'm Yours" also.

Lights - Journey
Photograph - Def Leopard

StillDirrty said:

I started to mention that when I mentioned 'Pretty Woman'.

Ozzy Ozbourne - Crazy Train

Ooh... nobody's mentioned any Metallica riffs yet!

Metallica - Sanitarium

coolcat said:

or the openings to When Doves Cry or Purple Rain

coolcat said:

Enter Sandman

and a recent one from the White Stripes:

Seven Nation Army

NDRU said:

Prince has a lot of memorable riffs... off the top of my head, I'd also add "Let's go crazy", "She's Always in My Hair" and "Endorphin Machine"

Though not strictly guitar originally, Guns & Roses made the hook to Live & Let Die even more of a legendary guitar riff