Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Favourite Guitar Riff/Solo

What's your favourite guitar riff or solo? or any memorable riff/solo that comes to mind....

Riff "Slash" Solo is a good character name.

He is Hans Solos younger brother...train has derailed before leaving station,LOL!!

Ha ha, yeah, sorry. I'm musically ignorant, despite always listening to the stuff.

Oh, I guess I can link to this one. Jeff Lynne cracks me up.

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony - Rock and Roll style (ELO)

Is it the hair?

That makes Beethoven roll over? Maybe.

Gone but not forgotten

Dang, that's a lot of guitarists.

Oh, for me? Anything Randy Rhoads did with Ozzy. Mr Crowley is what springs to mind.

However, I must say that linking youtube videos for music on an audiophile site is kind of... well, sad.

Jimmy Page also had so many great riffs, it's hard to pick just one, I always thought the riff in " All Right Now " by "Free" was the quintessential rock riff.

I'm not a big Rolling Stones fan - I always preferred the Who in that rivalry - but I do think the riff that opens "Start Me Up" is about perfect.

Adrian, since classical music was mentioned, that's all the encouragement that I need to point out one of my favorite guitar CDs with the wild-and-crazy John Williams, although I suspect that this isn't what you had in mind by "riffs". Note the beginning of the Asturias sample Amazon gives.

Yes, you're right John, I was selfishly thinking along "rock" based riffs, but every genre's welcome. I'm glad you added the John Williams link as I'd not have heard of him otherwise...I just checked him out, he's clearly very talented.

My favourite? So many... Clapton, White Room, various from Steve How from any of the 3rd 4th or 5th Yes albums, Any from a number of Pink Floyd albums, anything from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd... Led Zeppelin albums (his playing on the first is my favourite), Niel Young Out of the Blue, Bruce Cocburn Barrel House Rock, various stuff by Jerry garcia (damn he was versitile), Hendrix Voodoo Child. Geez I could go on.

Edit: Oooh! There's that guy that Randy Bachman talks about all the time. He did all sorts of amazing stuff including classical on an electric guitar. Dang, whats his name?!

Go on, then.

Don't call me Geez.

Help on the Way Slipknot - Blues for Alah is a great example of Garcia's ability. He did everything from Bluegrass to country to rock and he did it all really well.

Awesome album art too. I'm still pissed my brother got rid of this one!

Both solos in Comfortably Numb.

The guitar riff that starts Iron Maiden's Wasted Years has always stuck with me. It's not difficult or very "guitar wanky" but it's always stuck in my head.

Bren R.

I'm always amazed at the cast of characters in that video. Jackson Browne, J.D Souther (wrote a lot of songs for the Eagles in addition to doing solo work and having a number of groups of his own {The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band}), Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and legendary guitarist James Burton (lead guitarist for Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley).

I have the HD-DVD of Orbison's "Black and White Night". The sound quality is excellent, and I highly recommend any Orbison fans to pick up that version (for real cheap!), or the Blu-Ray version.

Oh, how could I not provide a link to Regina Spektor being cute on guitar.

Oh, even cuter Regina video where she self-censors her song, "Bobbing For Apples". The overuse of the whammy bar in the later part of the song always cracks me up.

Anything by Tom Morello, here's a great clip of some of his best, with and innovative move at approximately 4:20

link

Here's another Very popular (55 million hits) video on YouTube of an extremely talented kid

link

Some of my fav. opening Riffs (you know these songs just after the 1st of 2nd note.

AC/DC - You shook me all night long

Rush - Limlight

Asia - heat of the moment

Def Leppard - Photograph

Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

Guns N Roses - Sweet child of mine

Heart - Beracuda

Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch fever

Truimph - What's another day of Rock n Roll

And oh, so many more.

A similar thread and maybe more challenging would be the most reconizable / fav. bass lines.

For example: Queen - Another one bites the dust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNQRfBAzSzo


paul

Beat me to it on Tom Morello...was going to single out Bulls on Parade.

And I know this is sacrilege to say in these parts for some people, but Regina Specktor? I don't find her attractive at all...she seems a bit funny looking to me. Sorry to those that adore her. *ducks*

I'll point in a direction most people wouldn't expect, The Carpenters - Goodbye to Love. A song mostly played on easy listening AM stations yet the last minute of the song has a very cool, at least to my ears, guitar solo.

So cool in fact that most stations in the day would quickly fade the song out as soon as the solo started.

Never really a fan of the group this song does however showcase Karen's stunning voice. The ending of the song was a real shock to me when I first heard it, I remember thinking "The Carpenters??????"

judge for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdG-ITxL8ok

Here's one for Rick.

Always nice to run across someone who feels the same as I do about the Carpenters, Wayne. First, that voice. I alternate between heartbreak over the loss of a voice that special and rage at her for depriving us of such a profound gift. If she stood before me, right this moment, I don't know if I would hug her and weep for joy or shake her silly.

Second, Richard was a much underrated keyboard player and arranger. Yes, their stuff was POP, and if you don't like POP, it's understandable if you don't care for The Carpenters. No problem. Just don't try to tell me they weren't talented and didn't deserve their success.

RE: Guitar work. Having been a musician all my life, I am not impressed by instrumental calisthenics (YMMV). To me, the measure of greatness is taste - i.e. what notes are played, and when, in the course of a song. Sometimes, speed and a thousand notes per second is EXACTLY the right thing. Often, it is not.

I remember being impressed by a 2 note riff that Jim Messina (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins and Messina - another underrated musician) played in a Poco song, the name of which escapes me at the moment. At that particular moment it was the PERFECT thing to play. Just two notes. Brilliant!

Of course, taste is subjective. What would lift my heart and make my soul soar might bore you to death..............and vice versa. Doesn't matter. All that matters is that the music, whatever the genre and whatever the reason, touches something within YOU.

I've got the Carpenters SACD on right now!

I always do mellow stuff on Sunday mornings when reading the paper.

Jack, I agree with your post. When I was growing up there was a lot of peer pressure to listen to certain types of music. It would have been 'peer pressure suicide' where I grew up to say you liked artists like The Carpenters, Gordon Lightfoot, Bee Gees and even Janis Joplin (to name a handfull). Thankfully, as we get a little older and wiser(just a little!), we care less about what other people impose on us, and you're very right about Karen Carpenter...I can't listen to here without feeling a sense of loss, a haunting sadness, if you will.

Chet Aitkins - I remembered at 4:00am. This guys playing is downright amazing. You listen to a track and are left thinking its at least two guys playing. I don't own any of his tracks so I can't recommend one, but you should check this guy out.

Here's one of Chet playing a "classic"

I didn't know he played in Buffalo Springfield.

That reminds me of another nice riff CSN Suite Judy Blue Eves. I loved the accoustic in that song. Never knew it was an open E tuning.

Adrian. I went strait from the Highschool AM pop peer pressure group right to the deep end when I took two years of fine arts in college. The first year class was average of 10 years older than me. Imaging going from the carpenters (good) and bubble gum pop (not so good) to Frank Zappa! That was like going from VW beetle (old style) to a Ferrari.

Pop was a no-no when I was going through school. Basically the "battlelines" were drawn between Rock (Sabbath, Zeppelin, Boston, Pink Floyd ect) and the Disco/pop crowd (Abba, Bee Gees, and a whole host of 'one hit' bands). There really was no middle ground, you were for one or the other which was sad because I'm sure many on each side liked some of the 'other' music.

What’s a Riff?

I love to listen to music, pretty much all types, but sadly, I have absolutely no musical ability or talent. I tried the violin and then guitar for several years and just couldn’t get my mind and fingers to cooperate. I can design and build a 6000 HP top fuel engine, but can’t play a note to save my life…..

My favorite guitarist is Angus Young, but that could be that AC/DC is my favorite group, so I’m biased.

I think the most talented guitarist (living) is Tim Reynolds. The things he can make that guitar do simply amaze me. I was in tears a couple times during his and Dave Mathew’s concert DVD.

The one guitar solo that sticks in my mind every time this subject is mentioned is the “duel” scene on the move Crossroads. I think Stevie Vie was the devil?? Not real sure, but I do enjoy the guitar playing on that part of the movie.

Heh... if your favorite group is AC/DC, you know what a riff is. It's that little section of maybe 10 notes they play over and over and over again to make up the song.

Ouch!

Thats funny! Neither of those bands were one hit wonders or even close to it. I know what you mean though. The funny thing is that the first album I owned was CSNY Deja Vu, pretty far from the other stuff I listened to.

Fred, I wasn't inferring that either Abba or the Bee Gees were "one hit" bands. I mean like, your Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge types. Omg, why do I remember these people?

To be fair, I do enjoy AC/DC quite a bit. In small quantities.

Here's a pretty heavy riff and a favourite solo of mine by Rush

Well, you scared me Fred. I was afraid my aging memory had failed me once more. Happily (and surprisingly), it hadn't.

Dewey Martin, Messina, Neil Young, Richie Furay, Steven Stills


And, thanks for mentioning Chet Atkins. Truly a guitar virtuoso.

Don't worry. I think I'm the only one who likes her that much, and it doesn't hurt my feelings when other people fail to see her in the same way. I'm sure I would think you're crazy for some of your crushes, too.

I feel like I did music a great disservice by not immediately thinking of the greatest surf guitar band of all time.

Walk Don't Run, Hawaii Five-O, Apache, Wipe Out... The Ventures.

Bren R.

Take me to Surfin' Turf, the Ventures capital of the world.

I have no idea to what you refer.

Bren R.

Nothing. You just said the word "surf," which made me think of "surf 'n' turf," which sounded like it could be a place they hail from, and venture capital was something else.

I love it when CV has to 'splain himself.

And I would never have heard from him were it not for Bachman and his radio show. I try to catch every one.

I'm not submitting it for my favorite but coincidentally, while I was reading this thread last night, a podcast of new metal songs I subscribe to was playing this video.

Check out who the guest guitarist is in Alice Cooper's first song of his new 3 song video/movie. He does a great job on the strings and in is a natural to fit into Alice's dark story.

Along Came a Spider

Edited:
And No it is not Alex Lifeson........ heh heh

Aren't you supposed to be looking for drummers?

That would be thread hijacking and we all know that never happens here. <insert smiley emote of choice here>

Sick! Stop smiling at me like that!

Jimmy Page on "Stairway to Heaven". Also very much appreciated are Richard Thompson, Joe Walsh and Duane Allman.

Satisfaction.

Back in Black.

Never said AC/DC didn't have good riffs...

Whole Lotta Rosie!!

I was going to start a thread about favorite drummers, and this is the perfect opportunity .

Carter Beauford from Dave Matthews Band

Just check this out; unbelievable!!

As a brand new student to drumming, that was both inspiring and very depressing.

This one is my fav so far. It's an oldy and it's long but Neal Peart demonstrates just about every drum style known to man from basic rock, percussion instruments, (fill in a bunch of others), to finally kickin it Jazz style.

Who says rock drummers can't do jazz?

Neal Peart

For sheer memorabilia, John Bonham's solo in Moby Dick (Led Zeppelin II) comes to mind.

Worst drum solo I ever saw, Tommy Lee. Playing upside down doesn't excuse the fact that you were too wasted to speak.

You have to go back a little further to see some of the real greats.

Buddy Rich
and
Sandy Nelson

Bren R.

I went looking for some Buddy Rich clips on Youtube to throw in here (and was very surprised to actually find some) but didn't figure anyone else had heard of him. Only reason I knew the name was that I have a friend in a blues band and his hobby is making posters of older musicians from whatever sources he can find.

I won't admit that I first saw him in the drum duel with Animal on The Muppet Show and that's how I came to know about him.

Bren R.

I knew him because Letterman liked to call his drummer, Anton Fig, Buddy Rich, Jr.

Letterman's band was always underrated I think.

Anton Fig, Will Lee, Sid whazzizname on guitar, and Paul Schaeffer - a guy could do worse.

Bren R.

Yeah, Paul could open his mouth.

<< Carter Beauford from Dave Matthews Band. >>
He's certainly a great drummer but too metronome-like for my taste. I prefer drummers like the late Jeffrey Porcaro & Steve Gadd, w/ musicality and nice subtle groovy shuffles.

Absolutely!! I thought I was the only one ... Will Lee is very good; there are a couple of songs on the Letterman show where the bassist begins w/ an intro/solo... wow! you can't help but to start tapping your foot right away...very few bassists can pull that off.

Now, Paul Schaeffer used to be the man... he's a bit coo coo now. :P

Here's a good drum solo from a few years ago.

Listened to Van Halen's Eruption leading in to You Really Got Me Know earlier today. Good guitar riff by Eddie. Also, the drum solo leading in to Van Halen's Hot For Teacher. Gives the m80s and sub a good workout. Not to mention, a mighty fine video for a young teen to watch, back in the day.

VH all the way...

My personal favs:

Mean Street
Hang 'Em High
Fools
Panama
Hot for Teacher

Rock guitar don't get no better!

Metallica 'Disposable Heroes'
Accept 'Balls to the Wall'
Sammy Hagar 'Up In Smoke'
Montrose 'Bad Motor Scooter'
Iron Maiden 'Where Eagles Dare'

There's my two cents. Might not be worth a penny, but there it is.
Play it loud!

Let It Go by Def Leppard. Earworm.

Tom, I was thinking of that song today myself! I remember when I first heard that song, DL was first coming out on the scene(at least in North Am.)in the early 80s and telling my brother about it, but not remembering the group's name, . About the same time were some good double guitar solos in Judas Priest with KK Downing and Glenn Tipton.

Muse's Hysteria or Knights of Cydonia are awesome

Just heard this in the car tonight....Heart - BARRACUDA!

Tragically Hip- New Orleans is Sinking
Van Halen- Unchained
Metalica- Enter Sandman

Bobby McFerrin, is that you?

LOL! Good one, Doc.

I know it was in my list already, but damn, I just listened to the opening of VH's "Fools" again. My god that's just sick.

Resurrecting an old thread to offer:

1- Mississippi Queen
2- Crazy Train
3- Walk this Way

Not so much a Riff, but the signature guitar chords in, "More than a Feeling". Also, the more delicate, acoustic peice to that song.

I really like Warren Haynes guitar licks in this version of Cortez the Killer.

Boy, this thread didn't last as long as it should/could have. I think I'm gonna start cruisin' the Anonymous Online Views for topics more regularly. It's bizarre what old threads "they" find, whoever "they" are.

These are all timeless Classics for me:

George Harrison--Savoy Truffle
Dave Davies--You Really Got Me
Ted Nugent (Amboy Dukes)--Journey to the Center of the Mind
Brian May--Bohemian Rhapsody
Eric Clapton--Sunshine of Your Love
Mick Ronson--All over Ziggy Stardust
Neil Young/Steve Stills--Bluebird

I'm serious, recalling some of these is giving me goosebumps.

It'd take me quite a while just to get outta the 60's and 70's!

Gee, I could name one from probably 1/2 of the cd's I own.

Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)--at least 2 from Three Sides to Every Story alone.