Emma Duckett
•March 04, 2025•6 min read
Nothing quite brings a song together more than the catchy sound of a guitar riff. While there are tons of riffs in the music scene, only a few are deeply ingrained in pop culture.
Last year, we released a viral clip featuring Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’ as the fourth greatest guitar riff of all time – and fans certainly had a lot to say on the matter. From the raw and ambitious chords of The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ to the rebellious swagger of The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, here are the riffs that have won the hearts of music lovers worldwide...
A riff is a short, catchy, and repeated sequence of notes or chords, making them the most recognisable and memorable parts of a song, especially in rock, funk, jazz, blues, and metal music. They often appear as a melodic intro, a recurring theme, or the track’s main hook.
Muddy Waters’ ‘Mannish Boy’ embodies the Chicago blues – and a masterclass in blues riffing. Its two hypnotic, call-and-response power chords, played with a heavy, swaggering feel, have since been covered and imitated by bands such as The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
Spotted on:
Rolling Stone Magazine: Number 230 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (2004).
Muddy Waters Live at the Checkerboard 1971 concert - featuring ‘Mannish Boy’ - is available to stream On Air.
The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ is one of the earliest examples of hard rock and proto punk. Dave Davies’ use of distorted power chords – made by slicing his amplifier’s speaker cones – gave the song a raw, aggressive sound, influencing countless bands from The Who to Van Halen.
Spotted on:
Rolling Stone Magazine: Number 82 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (2004).
Q Magazine: Number 9 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks list (2005).
Not all great riffs are loud and distorted – or fit the traditional rock category. The smooth and soulful guitar intro to The Temptation’s ‘My Girl’ is one of Motown’s most timeless melodies. Played by Funk Brothers guitarist Robert White, the beauty of the riff lies in its simplicity – delicate yet instantly recognisable.
Keith Richards dreamed up the riff to ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ in 1965. Its fuzzy, driving guitar hook and rebellious energy made it one of the most noticeable in music, transforming The Rolling Stones from up-and-coming stars into rock legends.
Spotted on:
Rolling Stone Magazine: Number 2 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (2004).
The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers Live At The Fonda 2015 concert - featuring ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ - is available to stream On Air.
Sometimes, the simplest ideas hit the hardest, as in Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’. Tony lommi’s thick, distorted guitar creates a slow, crushing, unstoppable rhythm which perfectly matches the song’s dark, dystopian theme, while its subtle bends and power chords add a haunting edge.
Spotted on:
Total Guitar Magazine: Number 11 on the Best Guitar Riffs Ever list (2017).
Black Sabbaths’ The End 2017 concert – featuring ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Paranoid’ - is available to stream On Air.
Positioned at number 4 on Total Guitar magazine’s Greatest Guitar Riffs Ever list, Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’ is a household classic. Richie Black’s signature four-note blues scale melody played in fourths, has been a rite of passage for guitarists since its release in 1972.
What makes it legendary? It’s straightforward, powerful, and unforgettable. The riff’s raw, unpolished tone captures the song’s story of a fire at a Frank Zappa concert – which the band witnessed in Montreux on 4 December 1971.
Spotted on:
Q Magazine: Number 12 on the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks list (2005).
Rolling Stone Magazine: Number 434 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (2004).
Deep Purple’s Live At Montreux 2011 concert - featuring ‘Smoke on the Water’ - is available to stream On Air.
One of the most infectious guitar riffs in rock history, Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’ became an anthem for outsiders everywhere. Released in 1974 - at the height of London’s ‘Glam Rock’ era - the gritty, repetitive note, played by Bowie himself, captures the story of a young boy who revolts against his parents by wearing feminine clothing.
Spotted on:
Rolling Stone Magazine Number 200 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (2004).
Delve backstage and beyond as we walk you through the production of our live concert streams.
We’re revealing what really happened the night The Rolling Stones grooved with bluesman Muddy Waters on stage.
