What is the greatest guitar riff of all time? We asked readers

Telegraph

2 days ago

Wow. It turns out Telegraph readers really like guitar music – and have very strong opinions about it. I'm not going to say that's a complete surprise – in writing a piece about the 30 greatest guitar riffs of all time, I knew I was stepping onto hallowed ground and expecting to get a fair bit of blasting in the comments. But having spent so long working out the list, I found it an absolute joy to read through everyone's thoughts on the subject: people have a very strong sense of what makes a great guitar riff.
Some were categorical: Tim Dowting's 'I sat bolt upright in bed this morning... This list has nothing on it by KNOPFLER !!!!!' echoed a lot of people's feelings. And Jill Garner's 'I'm absolutely not having any list that does not include She Sells Sanctuary, The Cult' made her thoughts clear. I liked the pizzazz of Jenni Williams's instant rewrite: 'Actually it's Edge of Seventeen by Steve Nicks.' So that's decided.
Some were adamant that some of my choices were not strictly riffs at all. Tar Paulin – who I confess I thought at first glance might be a cousin of the poet Tom Paulin – spent some time not only correcting my assumptions but those of the many readers who wanted The Eagles' Hotel California and The Carpenters' Goodbye to Love on the list. And Tar was by no means alone.
There was a lot of discussion about Bohemian Rhapsody being so high on the list when, as many pointed out, it's more solo than riff; 'Back to rock school you go', admonished riina fraser. (Although riina did suggest We Will Rock You as an alternative, and that's definitely a solo, so it looks like we're going to rock school together.) I hold my hand up on that one. I wanted an example of a riff that takes ages to arrive in a classic song – and I so nearly chose The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again at that point.
Lots of readers would have been happy with that. In fact, I made a playlist that runs to 350-plus songs from the suggestions in the comments (quite a few of which I had never heard before), which I will be blasting out on my next journey up the A1. But there were definitely some that were mentioned over and over again, so I've compiled an alternative readers' top 30 (plus a corresponding playlist with a bonus five) – which I think everyone should agree is much better than my list. Muse fans will be happier.
And the many, many readers who championed Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler and demanded Gimme Shelter instead of Satisfaction can rest easy. There were also lots and lots of alternatives to my AC/DC and Zeppelin choices, so I've put one of each in. Oh, and there's a Beatles riff, too.
PS. If we put The Chain in here, what are we going to do when one of us does the 50 greatest guitar solos? Happy listening!
Roxette – Doctor Feelgood (1975)
Lots of people demanded recognition for the late Wilko Johnson (real name John Wilkinson) of the 1970s Canvey Island rockers. Frank Chambers would have had the riff for Back in the Night but Don Genaro, Naomi West and John Lewis all wanted this one – with its distinctive choppy rhythm and drive that makes it 'Mr Wilkinson's finest', according to the latter.
Aqualung – Jethro Tull (1971)
There was plenty of acclaim for the folk rock guitarist Martin Barre, and a slight difference of opinion about whether we should recognise Locomotive Breath or the title track from the band's classic 1971 album. 'Brilliant and creepy', said Solomon Jeffries, of the latter. It just had to be this one, for its lasting influence. Mark Knopfler called Barre's guitar playing 'magical'; even Pistol John Lydon loved Aqualung, although its lyrics, as reader Gerald Bostock hinted, might cause a stir today.
Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns N' Roses (1988)
'Where is Slash's opening and ending blasting riff on Guns N' Roses' Sweet Child O' Mine?' choked one reader, who styled himself or herself 'The truth will set you free', and the truth is, they weren't alone. Richard Elliott thought it 'must deserve a place in the Top 30'; Jamie Watts wanted it, too, while others, such as Amanda Hunt, were simply insistent that the band's lead guitarist Slash should be there, if not for this sustained arpeggio then something else. So here it is.
Breadfan – Budgie (1973)
Plenty of support for this meisterwerk from the Cardiff hard-rock outfit, recorded in short order live in the studio for their 1973 album Never Turn Your Back on a Friend. It's not as well-known as some of the riffs here, but the striking thing about this aggressive, galloping riff is how clearly it points the way to where metal was headed, as confirmed by Metallica's cover of it in 1988. Many readers tipped a hat to guitarist Tony Bourge, and some were unequivocal about this riff. 'Breadfan should definitely be in there', wrote Paul Dover.
All Right Now – Free (1970)
'Where is Alright Now, by Free?' said Oscar Foxtrot. 'Agreed … has to be there', added Doug Black, although Mark Rebeiro added a counterpoint: 'Wishing Well better for me.' I'm with Doug, but the consensus was that this essential rock riff, with its bludgeoning stop-start force, deserved a place. As Luke Warm put it, of the guitarist who died from a pulmonary embolism at just 25, in 1976, 'You forgot the late great Paul Kossoff of Free, Alright now, bangs forever.'
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley (1955)
The amazing thing about this tremolo-inflected strummer, recorded in 1955 and dubbed 'the Bo Diddley' beat, is how little it has dated, especially when you compare it to some iconic rock 'n' roll riffs, such as Johnny B Goode. It's certainly no museum piece, and the route by which it influenced Johnny Marr's How Soon Is Now (via Bohannon's Disco Stomp) proves it. Quite a few readers noted its absence from the original list. 'Where is Bo Diddley?' was a common refrain.
The Trooper – Iron Maiden (1983)
This duelling gallop, driven by the twin guitars of Maiden's Dave Murray and Adrian Smith (and Steve Harris's bass), was a must-have for some readers, including Paul Aston, Jake Brooks and Vasilis Kapsalis, who introduced its lack with the incredulous 'Iron Maiden?' It landed here as the second single from the band's fourth album, Piece of Mind from 1983.
Walk This Way – Aerosmith (1975)
A notable omission for many, including Ian Cowie, who offered it up, along with several others, based on 'nearly 50 years of playing guitar in rock bands', and the criterion: 'If audience reaction is any reliable measurement…' Known across the musical spectrum after its use on Run-DMC's 1986 chart hit, a full decade after it was originally released. Joe Perry is the man making his guitar walk in a funk-rock riff for the ages.
Hocus Pocus – Focus (1970)
Jill Bryant put it like this: 'Hocus Pocus, simple but as soon you hear it you know it!' And even Tar Paulin wanted this one, as did David Adams. It's Dutch prog rock, but it's fantastic – well, until you get to the yodelling (sorry, but rules is rules). Guitarist Jan Akkerman gives the guitar sound an amazing sheet-metal sheen. Weird and wonderful.
Smokestack Lightning – Howlin' Wolf (1956)
Jan Knight and Jon McC were in total agreement about this one. 'The DNA riff. All others are derivations or variations on this one', wrote Jan. 'Hubert Sumlin. Top 5,' replied Jon, name-checking the guitarist. Atmosphere; tension; that repeated note sequence that sets a menacing sound stage for the blues great to bellow 'I am Smokestack Lightnin'.' It's a classic for a reason.
Alternative Ulster – Stiff Little Fingers (1979)
There's a Classic Rock FM feel to this list, and the reader who directed me to listen to the American band Montrose's 1973 banger Space Station #5 – which achieves blast off with Ronnie Montrose's dynamite riff – may feel a little aggrieved by its similarities to the riff from this 1979 punk belter. But more than one reader wanted it, and it still delivers a blazing energy to this brilliant song that reared up out of Troubles-era Belfast. Jake Burns provides the riff and the raw emotion with 'the Army on the street / And the RUC dog of repression/ Is barking at your feet'.
Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones (1969)
Not everyone was happy with the riff to Satisfaction being number one on the original list – some were – but it seemed foundational to me. Stones fans like Desperate Dog kept coming back to this one, barking 'The Stones, 'Gimme Shelter'!!!!', or 'best opening riff of any song' (Steve Freestone), or 'Keith Richards' finest piece' (Milicent Bystander) or 'The best ever' (John Dennison). I could go on, and there were plenty other Stones riffs put forward, but John Godrich 'Gimme Shelter instead of Satisfaction…' summed up a lot of people's thoughts on the matter. So here it is. It's one of the most expressive in rock – urgent, haunting, filled with fear and violence – and it was written by Richards during a storm. That storm continues to rage to this day.
Marquee Moon – Television (1977)
So … I had been intending to follow a trend elsewhere in this list of providing an alternative riff from a guitarist already in the original Top 30 – and heaven knows, there were Clapton and Hendrix fans who demanded a lot more than one entry. This was going to be Clapton's immortal rendition of the riff that bassist Jack Bruce wrote for Sunshine of Your Love by Cream.
But one of the most noticeable things about Telegraph readers' comments taken as a whole was that not everyone likes the same things – and that the majority view can become incredibly dominant. The responses were similar: Adam Rowland's 'Guitar riffs? No Television?', for instance, but there were people advocating for Bloc Party's Helicopter or Banquet, like Alex Wood, as much as there were those who wanted Wishbone Ash, Santana or Joe Walsh. We haven't got room for everything, but I've put this one in, as requested by at least one reader.
Pretty Vacant – Sex Pistols (1976)
Bassist Glen Matlock wrote the distorting dystopian riff of this classic early Pistols' song. In his memoir, guitarist Steve Jones was happy to credit Matlock for many of the songs but said that the music became more 'brutally direct' after he 'drove a bulldozer' through Matlock's complex chord structures. Whichever, this is an iconic riff, as demanded by Brendan Kelleher, Susan McAndrew and lots of other readers. Peter Zelenyj noted the debt that it owes to the bassline that Matlock loved in Abba's SOS, which the former punk wrote about in his own memoir, Triggers. It probably should have been on the original list…
Kashmir – Led Zeppelin (1975)
Zep guitarist Jimmy Page was getting a whole lotta love from Telegraph readers. 'Pagey should be number one', said Jim Steele authoritatively, but Stan Hunt wasn't having the choice in the list, however high it was already. 'Probably 10 Zeppelin riffs better than no 2' he essayed, and there were plenty making claims for their personal favourites. Jim Bergerac listed several then decided. 'Bang. There's your 30 greatest riffs, all from the same flippin guitar!! I mean, folks, just forget it. Page is the only one true God.' Christine Asher, though, settled on Kashmir, as did Poppy Dee, David Sherrington, Thomas Rankin and more.
She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult (1985)
Jill Garner wasn't the only reader demanding recognition for Bradford's finest, and there was an interesting leaning here, that you may notice. Jenni Williams wanted The Cult's Rain in there, Tracy Gooding wanted 'The Cult: She Sells Sanctuary' and Victoria Andrews even bucked the trend for throwing brickbats at the list's author. 'Great choices. I would want to add the riff from She Sells Sanctuary.' Billy Duffy's soaring riff has lost none of its charge in the 40 years since it was recorded.
Thunderstruck – AC/DC (1990)
'No mention of AC/DC Thunderstruck, and yet the audacity to include the dross that are the Bee Gees and Sister Sledge', railed reader Mark Norrie. Yep, at times in the comments, it felt like being back in Lincoln as a post-punk teen growing up in a city where heavy rock was the religion and 'grebo' pubs were legion. The main gripe here seemed to be that choosing Back in Black did not do true justice to the riff-making magnificence of guitarist Angus Young, and plainly indicated a lack of deep knowledge about the band. Other candidates were put forward, but this one, with its delirious adrenalised opening, had many advocates.
Limelight – Rush (1981)
This has to stand for the many guitarists that people wanted to see honoured – 'Nothing from Michael Schenker during his golden era with UFO?', for instance. But there were too many calls for Rush to be on this list for the band to be ignored. 'No Alex Lifeson of Rush?' was a question posed by David Rodney with the hearty approval of Joe The-Pom. As for many gifted guitarists, different riffs were proposed, but this one, with its melodic power and elegance, had enough momentum to swing it.
Money For Nothing – Dire Straits (1985)
If there was one name that came up more than any other it was Dire Straits' lead guitarist. Michael Smith's 'Nothing from Knopfler … Please!' and M Joyce's 'No Mark Knopfler…can't therefore take this seriously' were pretty typical. For one godawful riff and a shedload of noodling – what is wrong with you people!? I'm joking. I've always had a major soft spot for Sultans of Swing, but you know, I left out Thurston Moore, John McGeoch and Maurice Deebank, too. Anyway, normal service is resumed; Knopfler is restored to his rightful place with this iconic power-chord blast. 'Money for nothing has one of the best guitar riffs of all time. So where is it?' demanded Jonathan Collis. It's here.
Money – Pink Floyd (1973)
Baggie Baggins called it a 'glaring omission'. Winter Knight thought so too. But generally there was just a huge clamour for Floyd and David Gilmour to be on the list. 'What no Pink Floyd???' tripled Jim Jackson. 'A lot of the very best are missing, where are Pink Floyd, The Shadows, Mark Knopfler and a lot more that I can't remember?' wrote Allan Pape, excoriatingly. This understated Gilmour riff, with its unusual time signature, has found a place for itself, even though some will feel other Floyd riffs with competing claims should have been here.
Jailbreak – Thin Lizzy (1976)
Phil Lynott and co are busting out of prison and into this list by popular demand. More than a few wanted Whiskey in the Jar. Julian Healy wanted Cowboy Song as representative of 'a band at the height of their powers'. But this thundering dual lead riff, by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, still sounds coiled, edgy and dangerous. You wouldn't want to meet this riff on a dark night.
Rebel Rebel – David Bowie (1974)
There was clamour for a different Bowie riff to the one I'd chosen. Harry Bloke wanted Andy Warhol, Richard Mathams thought 'Suffragette City should be there' but Rebel Rebel got almost as many shouts as Mark Knopfler. Ian McKenna was scathing: 'Incredibly flawed list how can Ziggy Stardust be put above Jean Genie or Rebel Rebel?' (He had a point about Mott the Hoople's Mick Ralph writing the riff for All the Young Dudes, though. All errors in the original copy my own.) Confess I wanted a riff played by Mick Ronson, but this brilliant mix of picked-out notes and power chords is Bowie himself with session guitarist Alan Parker.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
Lots of people wanted this Southern-fried classic, including Mary Robinson, Ray Price, Barry Richards, Jan Hoskings, Joe Moran and Brendan Harris. Jack Blakemore thought its absence made the writer 'a total noob'. It's a rarity in both lists by having three guitars combining to give it its chugging bluesy feel. Ed King plays that lovely clean Stratocaster hook, Gary Rossington gives it shuffle and rhythm, Allen Collins adds the special sauce.
Won't Get Fooled Again – The Who (1971)
Pete Townshend was another absence that made readers furious. 'Not a single one from the Who or Dire Straits? Broaden your horizons,' fulminated Mark Graham. 'Erm The Who!?!?' coughed Jimmy BB. 'Pete Townshed surely the greatest rhythm guitarist in rock,' thought Stephen Phillips. But which Who riff? Alan James wanted Won't Get Fooled Again, Joshua Tamworth Baba O'Riley, Peter Guy liked Can't Explain. We had to narrow it down one, though. (The Seeker was very nearly on the original list, by the way.)
Plug in Baby – Muse (2001)
I knew there was going to be an issue with Muse fans even before the list was published when I casually mentioned to a fellow journalist what I'd been writing. 'Hope lots of Muse' he replied. 'Pound for pound the best riffers.' And soon, he wasn't the only one lamenting the lack of anything Matt Bellamy in the Top 30. 'Muse is a major omission', denounced Andrew Page. Roger Inkpen was more specific. 'Of course Map of the Problematique by Muse. Danny Boyle used it for the opening of the London Olympics. Fantastic!' But rather like the journalist I spoke to, Muse fans couldn't actually agree on what riff should be in the list, although they did keep firing off song titles. This one just edged the popular vote.
Caroline – Status Quo (1973)
This was perhaps the most unexpected current among the readers. Status Quo may have lost rhythm guitarist Rick Parfitt and bassist Alan Lancaster (plus classic era drummer John Coghlan, who stepped away in 1981) but they are far from forgotten by Telegraph readers. John Watson wanted something from their early stuff; Richard Andrews and Robert Parker were mystified at the lack of Quo full stop. 'How can they miss out the mighty Quo…' was Philip Tidmarsh's stirring wail. Mystery Song, Down the Dustpipe, Paper Plane, Backwater, Over and Done, Down Down, Roll Over Lay Down and Blue Eyed Lady were all considered to knock 'the rest of the list into a cocked hat'. Donald Troosers said it best about Francis Rossi's riff on this classic 1973 single: 'Caroline… three chords is all they need.'
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love – Van Halen (1978)
The exclamation mark said it all in Stephen Walker's comment: 'No Van Halen? Ain't Talking About Love!' And he wasn't alone. 'Jeez – no Van Halen. Whaaat?' said Neil Findley. Melanie Tolchard agreed, as did Jason Bourne with a head-shaking, 'Yep can't believe no Van Halen'. He wanted Running with the Devil, as did Jeremiah Jasper-Porkington III. Rolango Sportster wanted Unchained. Dave Butter considered Eddie's absence evidence of 'dreadful choices' overall. The hard rock crowd were out in force. This burnt offering from the guitar virtuoso is dripping with razor-sharp attitude and aggression.
Taxman – The Beatles (1966)
The absence of a Beatles riff went down predictably well – Jeff Haycock was incensed – but readers were hustling for a variety of candidates to be on the list to make up for it. Robert Dodds would've included Day Tripper, as would Maurice Gale. Lenny Thelion would have been happy with 'Paperback Writer? Taxman? Ticket To Ride?' – 'I guess The Beatles aren't cool enough for the DT,' he decided. Rex Stormont and David Aird seconded (and thirded) McCartney's riff for Paperback Writer. But there were just as many for George Harrison's stark, fuzz-toned riff on Taxman, alongside McCartney's fabulous bassline, so we've gone for that.
Reelin' in the Years – Steely Dan (1972)
Steely Dan cropped up again and again, spoken of with a reverence that acknowledged the sophistication and virtuosity of the band's oeuvre. 'How could you even think of excluding Reelin' in the Years (Steely Dan, solo Elliott Randall) or Kid Charlemagne (Steely Dan, solo Larry Carlton)?' asked Man Jacovus. Randall played the opening riff, too, on the former, even though the tape engineer failed to press record on his flawless first take. Jimmy Page rates the solo at 12 out of 10, but we're not here to talk about solos! What a lovely thing this is.
Enter Sandman – Metallica (1991)
Metallica fans were not best pleased that there wasn't a single entry from the American heavy-metal monsters on the list and Andrew Moyes went further: 'Enter Sandman' by Mettalica has to be No:1 !!!'. Pearce Coles called the riff 'unforgettable'. It was written by lead guitarist Kirk Hammett; the distinctive arpeggio in the intro was played by James Hetfield, who also provided the frightening wall of sound that follows (composed of three overdubbed rhythm tracks). Dark, threatening and very, very heavy.
Plus: Five bonus tracks