Greatest Guitar Riffs
Discussion
A repeat of the 3-episode series starts on Sky Arts tonight at 10:00.
Tonight - Episode One
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pulls back the curtain on the creation of Sabbath’s classic riffs and the creation of heavy metal, delving into tracks including Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man. He’s also joined by Queen’s Brian May for an exclusive jam session.
Episode Two
Legendary guitarist Andy Summers reflects on his favourite riffs of all time and tells the stories of the riffs that brought fame and fortune to The Police, including the opening bars of Grammy Award-winning hit Every Breath You Take. Andy also pays a visit to one of the best jazz guitar players of all time, George Benson
Episode Three
Heart’s Nancy Wilson takes us on a very personal journey through the music and the riffs that influenced her, tracing a through-line from the music of Heart into the grunge scene of the 1990s. She’s joined by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil.
Tonight - Episode One
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi pulls back the curtain on the creation of Sabbath’s classic riffs and the creation of heavy metal, delving into tracks including Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man. He’s also joined by Queen’s Brian May for an exclusive jam session.
Episode Two
Legendary guitarist Andy Summers reflects on his favourite riffs of all time and tells the stories of the riffs that brought fame and fortune to The Police, including the opening bars of Grammy Award-winning hit Every Breath You Take. Andy also pays a visit to one of the best jazz guitar players of all time, George Benson
Episode Three
Heart’s Nancy Wilson takes us on a very personal journey through the music and the riffs that influenced her, tracing a through-line from the music of Heart into the grunge scene of the 1990s. She’s joined by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil.
I'll stick my neck out here, and nominate "Black Sabbath" by Iommi.
Simple, consisting of just two notes (G and D flat - the "Devil's Interval"), brutally effective, and perfect for the tune.
Simple, consisting of just two notes (G and D flat - the "Devil's Interval"), brutally effective, and perfect for the tune.
The opening chord does include a D natural note, so it could be argued that the riff has 3 notes. But harmonized, it still functions as a G
To my mind, to qualify as the greatest guitar riff, it has to be instantly recognisable to the average person. There have been some belting ones over the years, a lot featuring the three artists mentioned on the programme but would your average Joe in the street know Ironman? Most likely not, same goes for Heart's Crazy on You. Okay Andy Summers has a better than average chance of being recognised but the one i can say that most people will know straight away.
(i can't get no) Satsifaction by the Stones. That opening riff is instantly recognisable as them.
Just my thoughts on this subject
(i can't get no) Satsifaction by the Stones. That opening riff is instantly recognisable as them.
Just my thoughts on this subject
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