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6.58pm
14 October 2012
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"I don't think we were actually swimming, as it were, with shirts on, 'cos we always wear overcoats when we're swimming,"-
George Harrison, Australia, June 1964
7.21pm
1 November 2012
Offline What’s the definition of a “riff”?
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
8.22pm
26 March 2012
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I don’t know if I could name the greatest ever but there are certainly some top contenders. I can understand people who say Satisfaction – instantly memorable and gritty as all hell for 1965.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
9.12pm
14 October 2012
Offline What’s the definition of a “riff”?
“A brief, relaxed phrase repeated over changing melodies. It may serve as a refrain or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instruments that form the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition,”
"I don't think we were actually swimming, as it were, with shirts on, 'cos we always wear overcoats when we're swimming,"-
George Harrison, Australia, June 1964
9.19pm
1 November 2012
Offline bikelock28 said
What’s the definition of a “riff”?
“A brief, relaxed phrase repeated over changing melodies. It may serve as a refrain or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instruments that form the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition,”
That sounds about right, though I’m not sure a riff has to be “relaxed” per se.
It suddenly occurs to me that perhaps every pop song has a riff by that definition. What famous pop songs (Beatles or non-Beatles) do not have a riff?
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
11.53am
3 May 2012
Offline ‘You Really Got Me’ by The Kinks comes to mind first of all. Instantly recognisable, and one of my favourites, too.
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
12.20pm
20 January 2012
Offline I think that Keith Richards is an ultimate riff-machine, with “Satisfaction” (and maybe “Start Me Up”) as particularly iconic.
One of my favorite riffs is from the Grateful Dead’s “Althea,” a loping melodic figure that eventually stretches out to some very nice Jerry Garcia solos.
In terms of classic riffs, though (aside from the ones already mentioned), it’s hard to second-guess the ranking of “Layla” (the Derek and the Dominos version, not the Clapton acoustic) as pretty high up the list of all-time greats.
It's gotta be rock and roll music if you wanna dance with me
2.10pm
8 November 2012
Offline ^^ I would have to agree that Layla is probably in the Top 10.
On a related note, I can’t get the riff from “Let Me Roll It ” out of my head lately.
parlance
9.14pm
9 May 2012
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The most famous one is probably Smoke on the Water, not sure if best.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
11.45pm
1 November 2012
Offline This may not be the most famous, but it’s the coolest, baby!
Faded flowers, wait in a jar, till the evening is complete... complete... complete... complete...
2.21am
10 August 2011
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Layla #1
Smoke on the Water, Day Tripper , … all great.
I’d add “Sunshine of Your Love”
And you can’t leave out this one hit wonder – Focus by Hocus Pocus:
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
8.56pm
21 November 2012
Offline Aaah I just wanted to add Sunshine of your love too! I’ve played it on Guitar Hero and it’s been stuck in my head all day.
Some other songs with great riffs:
Metallica-Enter Sandman
Led Zep- Immigrant Song, Kashmir
Guns ‘n Roses-Sweet Child ‘o Mine (of course)
Aerosmith- Walk this way
Nirvana- Smells like teen spirit (who doesn’t know this one)
David Bowie- Heroes (does that count?)
MJ- Beat it
Muse-Plug in baby (love it)
Rage Against the Machine-Killing in the name of
White Stripes-Seven Nation Army
I just found a list with 200 best guitar riffs of all time and the ones being mentioned in this thread were all very high in the list. And it pleased me to see Day Tripper was #12 and that quite a lot of other Beatles songs were in there too.
9.07pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I Feel Fine should be included in any list. Ive also always loved the riff in Tie Your Mother Down off Queen’s A Day At the Races.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
9.35pm
12 November 2012
Offline No one has mentioned AC/DC yet… Back in Black has a great riff but I can’t pick just one riff as the best.
"The world is a very serious and, at times, very sad place - but at other times it is all such a joke."-George Harrison
12.53pm
14 October 2012
Offline Life in Technicolour by Coldplay?
"I don't think we were actually swimming, as it were, with shirts on, 'cos we always wear overcoats when we're swimming,"-
George Harrison, Australia, June 1964
1.58am
10 August 2011
Offline Gotta put “Kicks” somewhere on the list
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
10.53pm
1 December 2009
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Can’t see the Youtube details, but I presume that’s Paul Revere & the Raiders. Good choice!
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
1.19am
17 January 2013
Offline I very much enjoy the one in “Houses of the Holy” by the all mighty Led Zeppelin. 
"Please don't bring your banjo back, I know where it's been.. I wasn't hardly gone a day, when it became the scene.. Banjos! Banjos! All the time, I can't forget that tune.. and if I ever see another banjo, I'm going out and buy a big balloon!"
1.50am
10 August 2011
Offline Gotta also consider the Animals’ “See See Rider”
(Also covered by The Music Machine (from the album (Turn On) The Music Machine), the best album no one’s ever heard of.
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
1.00am
10 August 2011
Offline Ray Manzarek’s passing today reminds me of this classic (non-guitar) riff:
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
