There are specific sounds that, once you hear them, you can immediately guess the song. They are called riffs. A rock riff is a repeated background beat that often opens the song and is repeated. This will eventually make it represent the music in your memory.
Here is a tribute to 20 of the greatest.
1. Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
Smoke On The Water is one of the best classic rock music inspired by Deep Purple. One thing about it that will get any rock music to start shaking their heads in a dancing mood is the riff.
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony inspired the four-note riff by the guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
2. Back In Black – AC/DC
The song was a tribute to the AC/DC band’s lead vocalist, who passed on in February 1980 at 33 due to acute alcohol poisoning.
The riff by the band’s guitarist, Angus Young, using E minor pentatonic scale, made the song and the album evergreen.
3. Walk – Pantera
The song “Walk” was Pantera’s frontman, Phil Anselmo, clapping back at friends who think he has changed after returning from a tour.
However, the most iconic part of the song, the riff, was first played by guitarist Dimebag Darrell during a soundcheck on tour.
4. Layla – Derek and the Dominos
Layla is a song inspired by the book, The Story of Layla And Majnun, in which an Arabian princess was married off. Her true love was heartbroken and eventually ran mad.
The seven-note opening riff was taken from As The Years Go Passing By.
5. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
Comfortably Numb is one of the best works by Pink Floyd. The song was inspired by an experience where he was given a sedative for stomach ache before a performance in Philadelphia. His hands were numb, and his vision was blurred, but the cheering crowd never noticed as he tried as much as possible to continue playing.
6. You Really Got Me – The Kinks
“You Really Got Me” by The Kinks is a perfect example of a scenario when pressure forces creativity. The rock band was under pressure to deliver a hit after some subpar singles.
The band’s guitarist, Dave Davis, damaged his amp when creating the riff.
7. Symptom Of The Universe – Black Sabbath
Arguably the most excellent metal riff of all time, the Symptom of The Universe riff was played by Tony lommi, the Black Sabbath band’s guitarist.
Even though he boasted of never having trouble coming up with riffs, Tonny confessed in an interview, “I’ll probably never come up with another one. But I’ve got hundreds of them from over the years on various CDs”.
8. Breadfan – Budgie
First, the song’s title is Breadfan, not “Bread Van.” Now that the name is settled, the riff in Breadfan by the Budgie band was the creation of guitarist Tony Bourge.
The song depicts a person’s relationship with money. Bread is a slang term for money.
9. Thunderstruck – AC/DC
You can never listen to Thunderstruck by AC/DC and overlook the lead guitar part in the riff. It is played on the B string.
The riff is iconic to the extent it is one of the favorite sounds learned in guitar classes.
10. Iron Man – Black Sabbath
Tony lommi was not joking when he said he has no problem creating a riff. The Iron Man, a second single from the Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album, is another testimony.
The riff also inspired the name of the song. The band’s frontman felt Tony’s riff sounded like a big iron bloke walking about.
Other riffs that transformed rock music include:
- Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
- Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
- Burn – Deep Purple
- Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
- Caroline – Status Quo
- Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
- Phantom Of The Opera – Iron Maiden
- Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
- Ticket to Ride – The Beatles
- Master Of Puppets – Metallica
Conclusion
Performers deliberately include a riff to prove their creativity and originality. The riffs listed above are some of the notable creativities of six-string kings that have changed the course of rock music over the years.