Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs (Revision Version)

[Zach]

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.

Digging deeper into this, yeah, you're probably right. I think "Purple Haze"'s case is ultimately a little stronger. I do genuinely believe subsequent guitarists point more often to "Voodoo Child" as an influence--and it's likely a greater showcase of what could be done with a guitar--but the more seismic event and more foundational contribution that was "Purple Haze" likely takes it over the edge in influence. That, along with its popularity lead, would reasonably give it a victory over "Voodoo Child" for the list.

[Zach]

See, guys? I'm not too stubborn.

[Zach]

I tried experimenting with a different weighting--bumping up the iconicity a bit--to see what the results might look like.

Influence (30%), Acclaim (30%), and Popularity/Iconicity (40%).

An approximation...

1. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
2. The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
3. Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
4. Black Sabbath - Iron Man
5. Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
6. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze
7. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
8. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
9. AC/DC - Back in Black
10. The Kinks - You Really Got Me

So, yeah, "Smoke" would leapfrog over a few.

[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).

[Zach]

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).

True, Chuck had already been using similar ideas before "Johnny B. Goode," so I don't think the riff deserves 100% of the credit for inventing that style. On the other hand, it is the Chuck Berry riff that generations of guitarists learned and associated with him. I'd say influence isn't necessarily about being first--it's also about being the version that left the biggest historical footprint, and its impact is gargantuan.

[Fido]

I'd have You Really Got Me higher, it kicks ass in every criteria.