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.

[Zach]

These are important riffs from the earliest years of rock. Certainly, many of these will be included in the revision, with at least the upper half being strong contenders. Those highlighted in red are not included in the current version of the list--some major oversights.

Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
Dick Dale & His Del-Tones – Misirlou
Link Wray & His Ray Men – Rumble
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
Chuck Berry – Roll Over Beethoven
The Shadows – Apache
The Ventures – Walk, Don't Run
The Kingsmen – Louie Louie
Chuck Berry – Maybellene
Bo Diddley – I'm a Man
The Chantays – Pipeline
The Surfaris – Wipe Out
Dick Dale & The Del-Tones – Let's Go Trippin'
Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates – Shakin' All Over
Johnny Burnette and the Rock 'n Roll Trio – The Train Kept A-Rollin'
Duane Eddy – Rebel-'Rouser
Them – Gloria
Chuck Berry – Rock and Roll Music
Bo Diddley – Who Do You Love?
Ritchie Valens – La Bamba
Dale Hawkins – Susie Q
Chuck Berry – Sweet Little Sixteen
Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock
Bo Diddley – Pretty Thing
The Crickets – Not Fade Away
Chuck Berry – School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)
The Shadows of Knight – Gloria
Carl Perkins – Blue Suede Shoes
Bo Diddley – Road Runner
The Crickets – That'll Be the Day
Elvis Presley – Mystery Train
Link Wray and the Wraymen – Raw-Hide
Chuck Berry – Carol
Elvis Presley – That's All Right
Count Five – Psychotic Reaction
Bill Haley & His Comets – Rock Around the Clock
The Champs – Tequila
Buddy Holly – Peggy Sue
Eddie Cochran – C'mon Everybody
The Sonics – Have Love, Will Travel
Elvis Presley – Hound Dog
Bo Diddley – Diddy Wah Diddy
The Lively Ones – Surf Rider
The Sonics – Strychnine
Chuck Berry – Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Eddie Cochran – Somethin' Else
Bill Justis – Raunchy
Bo Diddley – You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover
Eddie Cochran – Twenty Flight Rock
The Dave Clark Five – Glad All Over
Mickey & Sylvia – Love Is Strange
Chuck Berry – Memphis, Tennessee
Johnny Otis Show – Willie and the Hand Jive
Elvis Presley – Little Sister
Bo Diddley – Crackin' Up
Gene Vincent – Be-Bop-A-Lula
Carl Perkins – Matchbox
Elvis Presley – Baby Let's Play House
Chuck Berry – Back in the U.S.A.
Carl Perkins – Honey Don't
Elvis Presley – Good Rockin' Tonight
The Pyramids – Penetration
The Kingsmen – Money (That's What I Want)
Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats – Rocket 88
The Everly Brothers – Wake Up Little Susie

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I considered these two, since they're noted as important/influential in the rock timeline, but they should probably be left off:

Muddy Waters – Hoochie Coochie Man
Muddy Waters – Mannish Boy

[Zach]

Riffs by The Beatles that should likely be on a top 300. Again, the ones in red aren't on the current main site version.

Day Tripper
Helter Skelter
Revolution
I Feel Fine
A Hard Day's Night
Blackbird
Here Comes the Sun
Paperback Writer
Taxman
Come Together
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
And Your Bird Can Sing
Ticket to Ride
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
I Saw Her Standing There

[Tim]

Echoes approved.

[Zach]

I don't recall--was he a "Helter Skelter" fan?

[Sherick]

Come Together is carried by the bass line so I don't really see that incredibly basic chorus riff making any lists.

[Zach]

Noted. Yeah, the bass is definitely the focal point.

[Zach]

Top picks for The Rolling Stones:

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Gimme Shelter
Honky Tonk Women
Start Me Up
Brown Sugar
The Last Time
Street Fighting Man
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
19th Nervous Breakdown
Beast of Burden
Angie
Wild Horses

This isn't to say every single one would make it.

I'd also consider "Paint It, Black," though it's hard to separate the significance of the actual guitar riff from the main hook, which is played on a sitar. We'll see.

For the sake of preplanning the whole shebang, you can see I'm doing some quick lists for artists who will have a more dominant presence in the top 300. Some others who I already know will have more than just a handful of entries: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, AC/DC, Metallica, Chuck Berry, et al.

[Fido]

Hey Bulldog is an awesome Beatles riff

[Zach]

Yep, I considered it. I'd put it slightly under my current Beatles list, but it's notable.

[Zach]

Jimi Hendrix:

Purple Haze
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
All Along the Watchtower
Foxy Lady
Little Wing
Fire
Hey Joe
The Wind Cries Mary
Manic Depression
Spanish Castle Magic
Crosstown Traffic
Driving South
Changes


Cream:

Sunshine of Your Love
White Room
Crossroads
Tales of Brave Ulysses
Spoonful
Badge
Strange Brew
Politician
SWLABR


Chuck Berry:

Johnny B. Goode
Roll Over Beethoven
Maybellene
Rock and Roll Music
Sweet Little Sixteen
School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)
Carol
Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Memphis, Tennessee
Back in the U.S.A.


Bo Diddley:

Bo Diddley
I'm a Man
Who Do You Love?
Pretty Thing
Road Runner
Diddy Wah Diddy
You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover
Crackin' Up


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Again, not everything would make the final cut.