10 Rock Riffs You Should Know
- The American Guitar Academy
- 35 minutes ago
- 5 min read
One thing that surprises me all the time with rock guitar players is how many random bits of riffs they know. In fact, I would hazard a guess that the average player would only be able to get through the whole song that those riffs come from 1 in 10 times. This is where rock guitar players differ from a jazz guitarist, because the latter tend to memorize changes and melodies much more frequently.
Some players, like Paul Gilbert, are a veritable encyclopedia of guitar riffs, and could probably play you every riff ever (as long as they have heard it once!). I am definitely not at that level, and the purpose of this blog post is not to turn you into one either, but to showcase ten different rock guitar riffs that, if you do not know already, you should know. These are just excerpts; you should not find them too difficult either and they are in no particular order (some may also have a playthrough by myself linked!).
Let us get stuck in!
The Riffs
This song comes screaming from the smashing seventies, and is very straightforward to learn. I often teach a simplified version to absolute beginner students, but the authentic way to play this riff is not too tricky either – I try to extend my pinky up to the third fret of the low E string for this.
For those that are interested, the tone of the guitar at the start of this tune is right up there with the best recorded Les Paul sounds in existence (all reports indicate that Marc Bolan used a Gibson Les Paul used here, but I am happy to be corrected).
I find it hard to believe that there may be people alive that have not heard of AC/DC, they are one of the biggest and most successful rock bands ever! Sometimes they are criticized for having many songs that sound a bit too similar, but you simply cannot argue with the energy they bring with all of their tunes (even in their most recent live shows, though their age is starting to show!).
This song is great for practicing some simple open chords in a fast moving, rock context. Also, one of the most impressive guitarists of all time is the inimitable Malcom Young – he is one of the most consistent and solid players of all time who sadly passed away in 2017. His guitar tone also goes to show that you really do not need too much gain to pack a punch!
A colleague of mine once had a student ask him why the singer of the song they were learning sounded like a motorbike – and if you know this song, you will know what they meant! Motorhead had a reputation for being almost unbearably loud and the quintessential rock party animals!
Their most famous song, which is the one in question, is a little more difficult than it first might appear. The fifth of the power chord up on the seventh fret of the A string quickly starts to descend and I personally find it easier to start with my pinky, play the eighth fret with my middle finger and then barre my index finger over the seventh fret on both strings. I recommend that you do whatever works best for you!
I have discussed Diamond Head and the impact they had on the rock and thrash metal community. The riff is so simple, but it hits so hard! When you play this song, you are really forced to get your palm-muting perfect because there are no other instruments playing and, with the riff being quite slow, there is lots of room for complacency!
Oozing with all of the coolness the 1980s had to offer, at least according to some, Bon Jovi cemented themselves as rock legends with hits such as ‘Bad Medicine’, ‘Bed of Roses’ and ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’.
This is another riff suitable for beginners, but played with the song or with a band it sounds powerful and does exactly what it needs to – rock out!
I played this song a lot in college, so there is a sense of nostalgia surrounding this song for me. The riff is simple yet effective, it can help you develop your strumming and the simple structure allows you to learn the song in record time.
This is probably one of the harder riffs on this list because of the speed that you have to play it at, but if you slow it down enough it should be manageable. This riff is from the verse of the song, and sounds great with one or two guitars (though you will need two to sound like Glen Tipton and KK Downing!).
Not only was Ronnie James Dio one of the best rock and metal vocalists of all time, but the guitarists he had alongside him over the years, legends such as Vivian Campbell and Doug Aldrich, really knew how to create a riff that knocks your socks off.
There are some fast movements along the A string, but overall it is not too hard to learn – try it with some palm-muting too!
Slash and Lenny Kravitz have been friends for many years, and have written or performed with each other on many occasions. The main riff from this song features Slash’s signature, slippery and greasy phrasing with the straight ahead groove that Kravitz is known for.
You simply cannot have a list of rock riffs without some Metallica. There are so many riffs inherently part of a modern rock guitar player's DNA, but I chose this one for the simplicity and, although it is not directly related to the guitar, it is the ultimate calling card for the late bass legend Cliff Burton.
To pull this riff off successfully, you will need to work on your palm-muting and also the accuracy of your fingers when moving those power chords around quickly. The rest of the song is a good challenge if you are brave enough!
Final Thoughts
There are countless classic rock riffs that I could have included in this list, and perhaps I will do another similar blog post in the future. Of course, there is going to be some overlap with riffs when they share similar building blocks, and a riff does not have to be complicated in order to be effective as I hope to have demonstrated in this blog post. A great riff is just one part of an amazing song!
Why don’t you ask your teacher what the first riff was that they ever learned?
Keep rocking!