Top Rock Riffs
“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne
Here’s the most popular riff from Randy Rhoads! Click the play button on the left to view the lesson.
Top Rock Riffs
“Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple
So, what’s the very first guitar riff that everyone learns? You got it! It’s “Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple. The main riff is composed of nothing but double-stops and is super easy to learn. Click the play button on the right to view the lesson!
Top Rock Riffs
“Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin
What a crazy sounding riff! It’s fairly easy to play, but the time change may throw many people off.
Click the play button on the right to view the lesson.
Top Rock Riffs
“Back In Black” by ACDC
This signature tune by AC/DC is written in the key of E. It begins with a simple E-D-A chord progression with a lead fill built off of the E pentatonic minor. The lead fill may take a little practice to get up to speed. Click the play button on the left to view the lesson.
Top Rock Riffs
“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin
No guitarist alive has really ever been able to equal the mass appeal that “Zep’s” Jimmy Page does. Robert Plant, the vocalist, and frequent harmonica player pierce your ears just as much as the solos and riffs that Jimmy plays. The band’s music is a fusion of searing rock and hard-as-nails riffs, and their music will continue to impress all of us musicians and music lovers for ages.
Top Rock Riffs
“La Grange” by ZZ Top
The initial groove of the song is based on a traditional boogie blues rhythm used by John Lee Hooker in “Boogie Chillen’” and by Slim Harpo in “Shake Your Hips”. A failed lawsuit by the copyright holder of “Boogie Chillen’” resulted in the court ruling that the rhythm was in the public domain.
Top Rock Riffs
“Auqualung” by Jethro Tull
Here is a cool riff from Tull that has quite a bit of technique that all guitarists need to know. The ribbon-like symbol in the first and second measure is known as “vibrato.” This is when you rapidly shake the string being played with your fret hand. There are also a few slides, which are performed by sliding your fret hand on the strings while playing at the same time.
Top Rock Riffs
“Hair Of The Dog” by Nazareth
Here’s another classic riff that’s super easy to play.
Top Rock Riffs
“All Right Now” by Free
Here’s a classic rock standard. It’s a minimalistic guitar part that uses the silences in between to maximum effect.