these guitar licks really get under your skin
skin
skin stick in your head and bring out the
stick in your head and bring out the
stick in your head and bring out the guitar hero and everyone welcome to
guitar hero and everyone welcome to
guitar hero and everyone welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten guitar
down our picks for the top ten guitar
down our picks for the top ten guitar riffs of all time for this list we’ve
riffs of all time for this list we’ve
riffs of all time for this list we’ve chosen one song per artist and stuck to
chosen one song per artist and stuck to
chosen one song per artist and stuck to what we felt were their most signature
what we felt were their most signature
what we felt were their most signature memorable or skilled guitar riffs we’ve
memorable or skilled guitar riffs we’ve
memorable or skilled guitar riffs we’ve also excluded instrumentals this video
also excluded instrumentals this video
also excluded instrumentals this video of the top ten guitar riffs of all time
of the top ten guitar riffs of all time
of the top ten guitar riffs of all time is part of a series of videos that
is part of a series of videos that
is part of a series of videos that includes the top 10 heavy metal hard
includes the top 10 heavy metal hard
includes the top 10 heavy metal hard rock and classic rock guitar riffs
opening our list is this bombastic
opening our list is this bombastic blues-based recording that musicologist
blues-based recording that musicologist
blues-based recording that musicologist sugreev was the first hit song built
sugreev was the first hit song built
sugreev was the first hit song built around power chords after topping the UK
around power chords after topping the UK
around power chords after topping the UK charts
charts
charts the single launched the kinks American
the single launched the kinks American
the single launched the kinks American success and positioned them as a member
success and positioned them as a member
success and positioned them as a member of the British Invasion thanks to its
of the British Invasion thanks to its
of the British Invasion thanks to its distortion heavy guitar sound it also
distortion heavy guitar sound it also
distortion heavy guitar sound it also helped the band lay the foundation for
helped the band lay the foundation for
helped the band lay the foundation for hard rock punk rock and heavy metal in
hard rock punk rock and heavy metal in
hard rock punk rock and heavy metal in 1999 you really got me was inducted into
1999 you really got me was inducted into
1999 you really got me was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame cementing its
the Grammy Hall of Fame cementing its
the Grammy Hall of Fame cementing its legendary status
our next riff comes off the first thrash
our next riff comes off the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum
metal album to be certified platinum
metal album to be certified platinum Enter Sandman instigated Metallica’s
Enter Sandman instigated Metallica’s
Enter Sandman instigated Metallica’s mainstream popularity but it was the
mainstream popularity but it was the
mainstream popularity but it was the fast-paced and intricate compositions on
fast-paced and intricate compositions on
fast-paced and intricate compositions on Master of Puppets and especially the
Master of Puppets and especially the
Master of Puppets and especially the album’s only single and title track that
album’s only single and title track that
album’s only single and title track that positioned the band as one of thrash
positioned the band as one of thrash
positioned the band as one of thrash metals big four
enhanced by James Hetfield’s and kirk
enhanced by James Hetfield’s and kirk hammett suit our abilities and featuring
hammett suit our abilities and featuring
hammett suit our abilities and featuring extensive use of down picking this is
extensive use of down picking this is
extensive use of down picking this is very much considered Metallica’s
very much considered Metallica’s
very much considered Metallica’s signature song
Ironman may have the cult status but
Ironman may have the cult status but it’s paranoid that sighted time and time
it’s paranoid that sighted time and time
it’s paranoid that sighted time and time again as essential to the heavy-metal
again as essential to the heavy-metal
again as essential to the heavy-metal Canon Tony Iommi’s dynamic riffs meld
Canon Tony Iommi’s dynamic riffs meld
Canon Tony Iommi’s dynamic riffs meld flawlessly with Ozzy’s trademark vocals
flawlessly with Ozzy’s trademark vocals
flawlessly with Ozzy’s trademark vocals and geezer Butler’s tormented lyrics on
and geezer Butler’s tormented lyrics on
and geezer Butler’s tormented lyrics on this Black Sabbath track creating a dark
this Black Sabbath track creating a dark
this Black Sabbath track creating a dark and heavy blues rock sound unlike
and heavy blues rock sound unlike
and heavy blues rock sound unlike anything heard before
it’s agressive frenetic pace and short
it’s agressive frenetic pace and short running time anticipated the punk-rock
running time anticipated the punk-rock
running time anticipated the punk-rock sound that would dominate by the end of
sound that would dominate by the end of
sound that would dominate by the end of the decade but also deeply informed the
the decade but also deeply informed the
the decade but also deeply informed the blueprint of heavy metal
determined to move on after the death of
determined to move on after the death of original vocalist Bon Scott but also
original vocalist Bon Scott but also
original vocalist Bon Scott but also wanting to honor his legacy ac/dc
wanting to honor his legacy ac/dc
wanting to honor his legacy ac/dc released this hard-hitting in-your-face
released this hard-hitting in-your-face
released this hard-hitting in-your-face track in 1989
opening with an unforgettable rip the
opening with an unforgettable rip the tune is driven by the dual guitar sound
tune is driven by the dual guitar sound
tune is driven by the dual guitar sound of brothers Angus and Malcolm young
the screeching vocals of new-hire Brian
the screeching vocals of new-hire Brian Johnson signaled the future success that
Johnson signaled the future success that
Johnson signaled the future success that he and the band would have together and
he and the band would have together and
he and the band would have together and assisted the song’s parent album in
assisted the song’s parent album in
assisted the song’s parent album in becoming one of history’s best-selling
becoming one of history’s best-selling
becoming one of history’s best-selling records
number six Leila
number six Leila Derek and the Dominos
Eric Clapton reveals his unrequited love
Eric Clapton reveals his unrequited love for George Harrison’s then wife Pattie
for George Harrison’s then wife Pattie
for George Harrison’s then wife Pattie Boyd on this track from Derek and the
Boyd on this track from Derek and the
Boyd on this track from Derek and the Dominos only studio ever
originally written as a love ballad it
originally written as a love ballad it was actually guest guitarist Duane
was actually guest guitarist Duane
was actually guest guitarist Duane Allman who wrote the songs
Allman who wrote the songs
Allman who wrote the songs sizzling signature riff turning it from
sizzling signature riff turning it from
sizzling signature riff turning it from a ballad into a rocker
moving that Laila had staying power
moving that Laila had staying power Clapton’s unplugged solo version one of
Clapton’s unplugged solo version one of
Clapton’s unplugged solo version one of Ramy over two decades after the initial
Ramy over two decades after the initial
Ramy over two decades after the initial release of the song in 1971
number five smoke on the water deep
number five smoke on the water deep purple
you’d be hard-pressed to find any
you’d be hard-pressed to find any guitarist who doesn’t recognize this
guitarist who doesn’t recognize this
guitarist who doesn’t recognize this iconic ritchie blackmore room it’s
iconic ritchie blackmore room it’s
iconic ritchie blackmore room it’s likely the first one they ever learned
likely the first one they ever learned
likely the first one they ever learned backed by John Lord’s fuzzy Hammond
backed by John Lord’s fuzzy Hammond
backed by John Lord’s fuzzy Hammond organ Ian pieces smooth drumming and
organ Ian pieces smooth drumming and
organ Ian pieces smooth drumming and Roger Glover’s electric bass the central
Roger Glover’s electric bass the central
Roger Glover’s electric bass the central four note blue scale that rises above it
four note blue scale that rises above it
four note blue scale that rises above it all is one of the most recognizable and
all is one of the most recognizable and
all is one of the most recognizable and rock music
add e’en Gillan’s vocals to the mix and
add e’en Gillan’s vocals to the mix and you’ve got one of the most popular and
you’ve got one of the most popular and
you’ve got one of the most popular and successful songs in Deep Purple’s
successful songs in Deep Purple’s
successful songs in Deep Purple’s repertoire
number four a whole lot of love
number four a whole lot of love Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page’s taught guitar work in the
Jimmy Page’s taught guitar work in the intro to this song suggests a wild
intro to this song suggests a wild
intro to this song suggests a wild animal waiting to be released
and Robert Plant’s signature plaintive
and Robert Plant’s signature plaintive wail John Bonham’s thunderous drums and
wail John Bonham’s thunderous drums and
wail John Bonham’s thunderous drums and John Paul Jones timeless bass drive home
John Paul Jones timeless bass drive home
John Paul Jones timeless bass drive home the tension in this song
it’s an innovative take on the blues
it’s an innovative take on the blues giving it a harder edge and structuring
giving it a harder edge and structuring
giving it a harder edge and structuring it into a tomb with sections of
it into a tomb with sections of
it into a tomb with sections of atmospheric percussion and vocals
atmospheric percussion and vocals
atmospheric percussion and vocals however its pages blues influenced power
however its pages blues influenced power
however its pages blues influenced power ripping during the intro that remains
ripping during the intro that remains
ripping during the intro that remains implanted in our brains
number three
number three voodoo child slight return the Jimi
voodoo child slight return the Jimi
voodoo child slight return the Jimi Hendrix Experience
Purple Haze gave us the Hendricks Court
Purple Haze gave us the Hendricks Court but it’s blue to child slight return
but it’s blue to child slight return
but it’s blue to child slight return that showcases Jimmy’s electric guitar
that showcases Jimmy’s electric guitar
that showcases Jimmy’s electric guitar talents to a team while the middle of
talents to a team while the middle of
talents to a team while the middle of the song displays real guitar virtuosity
the song displays real guitar virtuosity
the song displays real guitar virtuosity it’s the intro that gets Hendrix the
it’s the intro that gets Hendrix the
it’s the intro that gets Hendrix the number three spot on this list
beginning with its signature wah-wah in
beginning with its signature wah-wah in use the guitar soon lets out a crunching
use the guitar soon lets out a crunching
use the guitar soon lets out a crunching psychedelic riff of mammoths sonic
psychedelic riff of mammoths sonic
psychedelic riff of mammoths sonic proportions it’s a sound so large that
proportions it’s a sound so large that
proportions it’s a sound so large that home Jimi Hendrix was really capable of
home Jimi Hendrix was really capable of
home Jimi Hendrix was really capable of producing
oopy hard-pressed to find a metal fan
oopy hard-pressed to find a metal fan that doesn’t recognize the Prince of
that doesn’t recognize the Prince of
that doesn’t recognize the Prince of Darkness his first solo single
the song has been widely praised for
the song has been widely praised for Randy Rhoads incomparable guitar
Randy Rhoads incomparable guitar
Randy Rhoads incomparable guitar technique which made use of the full
technique which made use of the full
technique which made use of the full minor scale in the main riff but let’s
minor scale in the main riff but let’s
minor scale in the main riff but let’s not forget his mean guitar solo
though he’s contributed several other
though he’s contributed several other notable rips to Ozzy’s repertoire crazy
notable rips to Ozzy’s repertoire crazy
notable rips to Ozzy’s repertoire crazy train remains The Godfather of heavy
train remains The Godfather of heavy
train remains The Godfather of heavy metals signature anthem and naps our
metals signature anthem and naps our
metals signature anthem and naps our runner-up spot
before we unveil our top pick here are
before we unveil our top pick here are some honorable mentions
that’s the way you do it you play that
that’s the way you do it you play that keeps on
the stones became an international
the stones became an international sensation after Mick Jagger and Keith
sensation after Mick Jagger and Keith
sensation after Mick Jagger and Keith Richards teamed up depend this song
Richards teamed up depend this song
Richards teamed up depend this song considered one of the best in the
considered one of the best in the
considered one of the best in the history of rock music Richards
history of rock music Richards
history of rock music Richards originally wrote the tunes now famous
originally wrote the tunes now famous
originally wrote the tunes now famous riff for a horn section
by using a Gibson fuzz box heap gave his
by using a Gibson fuzz box heap gave his guitar a fuller sound and ensured that
guitar a fuller sound and ensured that
guitar a fuller sound and ensured that fuzz boxes sold like hotcakes thanks to
fuzz boxes sold like hotcakes thanks to
fuzz boxes sold like hotcakes thanks to the track success as a single it was the
the track success as a single it was the
the track success as a single it was the Rolling Stones first American chart
Rolling Stones first American chart
Rolling Stones first American chart topper and births one of the most
topper and births one of the most
topper and births one of the most recognizable and dare we say
recognizable and dare we say
recognizable and dare we say satisfactory riffs in rock history
do you agree with our list what’s your
do you agree with our list what’s your all-time favorite guitar riff form or
all-time favorite guitar riff form or
all-time favorite guitar riff form or riff tastic top 10s published every day
riff tastic top 10s published every day
riff tastic top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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