Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs (Revision Version)

[Zach]

Anything other than Smoke on the Water at #1 makes absolutely no sense to me personally.

If the ranking was based purely on recognizability and iconic status, it would be extremely difficult to argue against it at #1.

But the way I want to approach the list is weighing more than just ubiquity. Under my criteria, some riffs have a stronger overall case even if they aren't quite as instantly recognizable. So I think it comes down to whether you put more weight on pure iconicity or broader historical significance.

[Zach]

The other two riffs, though, really aren't far behind when it comes to recognizability and iconic status--the Zep riff especially. Both are instantly identifiable, deeply ingrained in rock culture, and widely regarded as all-time great riffs. Where they separate themselves is that they also clearly carry a stronger case in terms of influence and, even if slightly, critical acclaim. "Voodoo Child" in particular has an exceptionally strong reputation among guitarists and critics, while "Whole Lotta Love," again, played a major role in shaping the sound of heavy rock. So while "Smoke" has the edge in pure ubiquity, I don't think that advantage is large enough to overcome the gap in the other areas.

I really don't think that's the case, at least not when it comes to "Whole Lotta Love". You can over-intellectualize it, but it doesn't change that "Smoke" is considered the guitar riff.
If we're going to go that route though, then I don't think there's any way that "Black Sabbath" doesn't enter the top 5.

The only distinction I'm making is that I'm not treating "greatest riff" as being determined by iconic status alone. Under the approach I'm taking, riffs like "Whole Lotta Love" and "Voodoo Child" have very strong arguments because of the specific ways they influenced later guitar playing and the development of heavier styles.
And I actually agree that "Black Sabbath" has to be part of that discussion. I doubt top 5 overall, but its influence is of course enormous.
The reason I don't think "Smoke" automatically wins is that the answer changes depending on what you're prioritizing: "What riff is the most universally recognized?" versus "What riff had the greatest overall historical impact on guitar music?"

[Sherick]

"Black Sabbath" invented the genre of heavy metal and changed the course of heavy rock more generally. If you're going to be consistent, there's no way it can't be. You already have "Iron Man" in your top 5 anyway.

[Zach]

The wah-wah effect was not new when Voodoo Child was released, see Clapton on Tales of Brave Ulysses or White Room for example. Purple Haze's quirky, dissonant, distorted riff and then the Hendrix chord were much more influential, not to mention his biggest hit at the time.

I think that's a fair point, and I believe that "Purple Haze" has the stronger argument when it comes to pure innovation specifically. As you pointed out, the dissonant riff, the Hendrix chord, and the overall sound were groundbreaking, and I wouldn't argue that "Voodoo Child" was more revolutionary in that sense. I also agree that its wah-wah isn't really the reason to give it the edge, since, yes, that was already being explored by other players.

Where I lean toward "Voodoo Child" is more in terms of the type of influence it had. From what I've gathered, "Purple Haze" was more about expanding the possibilities of what the electric guitar could do--the tone, the harmony, the use of effects, and the idea that a riff could be unconventional. Still, my impression is that "Voodoo Child" had a more direct influence on later rock guitarists in terms of riff construction: combining blues licks with crushingly heavy distortion, aggressive rhythmic attack, and using the guitar figure itself as a more central driving force of the song. I think most disciples of Hendrix would convey that the approach on "Voodoo Child" became a more important part of the actual language of hard rock and blues-rock guitar.

That said, I think "Purple Haze" probably has the edge in popularity and iconic status. It was a bigger cultural moment and its opening riff is one of the most recognizable guitar figures. My distinction here is that I'm trying to separate the broader fame of the song and Hendrix's overall legacy from the specific historical impact of the riff itself.
So I don't think "Voodoo Child" wins because it's ahead in every category. "Purple Haze" probably has the stronger case for innovation and iconic status, while "Voodoo Child" has the stronger argument in terms of acclaim among guitarists and the specific type of influence it had on later guitar playing. That's why I ended up giving it the slight edge, although I think either choice is ultimately defensible, to be honest.

[Zach]

"Black Sabbath" invented the genre of heavy metal and changed the course of heavy rock more generally. If you're going to be consistent, there's no way it can't be. You already have "Iron Man" in your top 5 anyway.

I hear ya, but the "Black Sabbath" riff isn't anywhere as ubiquitous or recognizable as "Iron Man" (everyone and their mom can hum it), and I don't think it has quite the same level of acclaim either--it's obviously revered in the metal world, but more broadly I'd probably give the edge to "Iron Man." So while I absolutely think its historical importance is massive, I'm not convinced that influence alone is enough to make it an automatic top-five riff overall. It would rank very high, though.

[Sherick]

So in this case you value recognizability over innovation and importance to guitar playing?

[Zach]

No. It's a balance. Use the criteria.

[Zach]

I'd look at it roughly like this:

Influence: BS >> IM (especially in terms of foundational importance to heavy metal)

Acclaim: BS < IM (I think IM has the broader recognition and is probably more universally regarded as the classic riff)

Popularity/Iconicity: BS <<< IM (this should be relatively clean-cut; IM is recognized far beyond metal circles, while BS is more known among metal audiences and music fans)


This does an even better job of visualizing it:
https://subject-comparison-tool.netlify.app/

[Dubrow555]

HOT TAKE right here: I've always seen the beginning of Johnny B. Goode as a "solo" rather than a riff....

[Sherick]

I'd look at it roughly like this:

Influence: BS >> IM (especially in terms of foundational importance to heavy metal)

Acclaim: BS < IM (I think IM has the broader recognition and is probably more universally regarded as the classic riff)

Popularity/Iconicity: BS <<< IM (this should be relatively clean-cut; IM is recognized far beyond metal circles, while BS is more known among metal audiences and music fans)


This does an even better job of visualizing it:
https://subject-comparison-tool.netlify.app/

This does make sense. Although I also think the same can be applied to "Smoke on the Water" compared to, "Whole Lotta Love" or "You Really Got Me," or hell, "Iron Man."

[ManPerson]

I agree with Sherick, I feel like Smoke On the Water really is in a league of its own when it comes to recognizability.

[ManPerson]

Actually, I'm wondering how much credit Johnny B. Goode's riff deserves for its influence considering it's very similar to some earlier Chuck Berry riffs (e.g. Roll Over Beethoven).

[Tim]

The Greatest Guitar Riff Creators
1. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
2. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
3. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
4. Angus Young (AC/DC)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream)
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
8. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
9. Chuck Berry
10. James Hetfield (Metallica)
11. Slash (Guns N' Roses)
12. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
13. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
14. Pete Townshend (The Who)
15. Tom Morello (RATM)
16. John Lennon (The Beatles)
17. John Fogerty (CCR)
18. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
19. Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
20. Adam Jones (Tool)
21. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
22. Dave Davies (The Kinks)
23. Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
24. Neil Young
25. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
26. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
27. Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
28. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
29. The Edge (U2)
30. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
31. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
32. Robby Krieger (The Doors)

Do we want to revise this sidebar list along with the main one? I'd prolly have Iommi at #1 and Berry up there in the top 3 as well. I assume influence, acclaim and popularity would be the criteria as well.

[Fido]

Where I lean toward "Voodoo Child" is more in terms of the type of influence it had. From what I've gathered, "Purple Haze" was more about expanding the possibilities of what the electric guitar could do--the tone, the harmony, the use of effects, and the idea that a riff could be unconventional. Still, my impression is that "Voodoo Child" had a more direct influence on later rock guitarists in terms of riff construction: combining blues licks with crushingly heavy distortion, aggressive rhythmic attack, and using the guitar figure itself as a more central driving force of the song. I think most disciples of Hendrix would convey that the approach on "Voodoo Child" became a more important part of the actual language of hard rock and blues-rock guitar.

I disagree. Most of that also applies to Purple Haze.

[Dubrow555]

The Greatest Guitar Riff Creators
1. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
2. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
3. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
4. Angus Young (AC/DC)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream)
6. Jimi Hendrix
7. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
8. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
9. Chuck Berry
10. James Hetfield (Metallica)
11. Slash (Guns N' Roses)
12. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
13. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
14. Pete Townshend (The Who)
15. Tom Morello (RATM)
16. John Lennon (The Beatles)
17. John Fogerty (CCR)
18. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
19. Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
20. Adam Jones (Tool)
21. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
22. Dave Davies (The Kinks)
23. Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
24. Neil Young
25. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
26. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
27. Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
28. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
29. The Edge (U2)
30. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
31. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
32. Robby Krieger (The Doors)

Do we want to revise this sidebar list along with the main one? I'd prolly have Iommi at #1 and Berry up there in the top 3 as well. I assume influence, acclaim and popularity would be the criteria as well.

I could totally see Jack White, John Frusciante, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, and George Harrison included on this list