Led Zepplin had already become one of the biggest rock bands on the planet when they released ‘Black Dog’ a notable highpoint of their IV album. The song is also highly regarded due to its complicated arrangement, making it not only recognisable but also difficult to cover thanks to its complex riff which moves back on itself over several different time signatures.
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‘Heartbreaker’ is one of those Led Zepplin classics that sums up classic British rock at its best. With riffmaster general Jimmy Page on guitar producing memorable riffs as well as improvised solos, Led Zepplin remains a rock god amongst the industry.
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John, Paul, George and Ringo, better known as the fab four sparked widespread Beatlemania in the 1960s with a new sound that drove woman crazy! ‘Day Tripper’, one of the best known Beatles’ songs post rock’n’roll, repeats the maddeningly catchy riff during the song’s intro and outro.
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What a hit! This song not only saw Boston rockers Aerosmith well on their way to platinum success, but also inspired a sensationally original cover by rap group Run-DMC. With an opening riff based on a sequence of single notes which is repeated throughout, this is great practise choice for any budding rock guitarist. Run-DMC’s 1980s cover beefed up the drum intro and increased the impact of the guitar riff, and with it the first significant combination of hip-hop and rock exploded onto the music scene.
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This is blues-rock anthem at its best! Centred around Eric Clapton’s unrequited love for 60s model Pattie Boyd, the opening riff of this song is both complex and instantly recognisable, featuring a two-stringed performance by Clapton, accompanied by two other guitar tracks and a higher-register version by Duane Allman. Clapton’s epic riff-writing ability was well and truly rewarded in 1990 when ‘Layla’ won a Grammy for Best Rock Song.
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Chuck Berry’s awesome upbeat tempo and catchy accompanying lyrics provide no better candidate for the acclaimed label of first rock ‘n’ roll guitar riff! Repeated throughout the song, the opening riff is punctuated by the bass and drums making this attention grabbing song one of Chuck’s signature classics. The song’s simple yet effective 12 bar structure has made it a favourite for budding guitarists and rock bands, preventing this invigorating riff from falling into musical obscurity!
Buy this song at iTunes or Amazon. The official band site is here.
The Ultimate Rock Riffs 