Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time
Well its been quite some time that i have been thinking of writing about the greatest RIFF’s of all time or lets say the greatest hits i have listened to. So i took some time off to make a list of the songs which struck me the most and trust me it was not easy!!. Well i have come up with a list of 10 songs, and i could not resist myself from posting them even though there are many more songs which leave people amazed with their guitar tunes 
First of all, you might be wondering what is a RIFF anyway!!! Well it is a musical phrase/chord progression which can be repeated several times during the course of a song. We generally associate RIFF’s with rock and jazz. and before we actually go on to the list, I must admit i have a bit of craze for music especially Rock and Metal, so i might be inclined towards talking about songs of those genre.
Well lets go from 10 to 1
10. Fear of The Dark by Iron Maiden
This one has to be one of the best guitar compilations put together by the band from Leyton,London. Personally its one of my favourite songs. Steve Harris..hats off for such a masterpiece with such cool lyrics and a very moody introduction! Bruce Dickson’s vocals backed by Smith and Murray intricate harmony guitars. Iron maiden rule!!
9. Plug in Baby by Muse
Another one of those super bands coming from UK, Muse front man Matt Bellamy is a modern-day guitar hero and it’s astonishing that Plug In Baby’s spiralling guitar line manages to pack such urgency and bite whilst cramming in so many damned notes. Surely one of the wildest riffs here by Muse from album Origin of Symmetry!!
8. Sad but True by Metallica
If you ever thought you will encounter a monster of a song,then here it is “Sad but True”, the riff at the intro is absolutely breathtaking. From 1991’s famous “Black Album” that earned Metallica their mainstream rock titans image. This was one of the best compilations by James Hetfield with that guitar riff which made people groove!!!
7. Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love by Van Halen
If you wanted some electric guitar then this is the right song to listen to which is not very heavy but still has a lasting impression. Eddie Van Halen is one of the many guitarist who revolutionised the electric guitar and the riffs in this song is one such example. This song would make the top 10 no matter who picks it!!!
6. Layla by Eric Clapton
Clapton the man!! his fingers are priceless, what a guitarist!! It’s a treat to listen to his amazing riffs and this one is right up there. Clapton shows the world how to play an acoustic guitar in this song with Duane Allman in perfect sync from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, released in December 1970.
Here come the top 5!!!
5. Back in Black by AC/DC
From the famous album by the same name released in 1980, this one got to be one of the best riffs by the band from Australia as a tribute to former singer Bon Scott. It’s got to be one of the greatest metal songs ever. This is easily one of the songs which people would remember AC/DC for and would play this riff on their guitars. Ahem! Cant get past Back In Black..
4. Enter Sandman by Metallica
Enter Metallica, Enter Sandman and thus Enter,ahem,their biggest hit….:) I mean you got to be insane to compose such a song with such urgency and the result is a Monster of a song!!! Kirk Hammett you beautiful piece of guitar in this song and to back that up Hetfield on vocals is monstrous as always and Metallica have proved they are the heavyweights of rock once again with such riffs. Metallica are well and truly one of best bands world has come across.
3. Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple
There is smoke everywhere ( not only on the water !!) as this riff heats everyone up and lasts a eternity in everyone’s memories. Wow what a song by Deep Purple and its their ultimate guitar anthem. I’m wondering how people come up with such wonderful riffs, i guess that’s why they are called “Legends”. From album Machine Head released in 1972 has to be best Hard Rock songs ever written!!
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Now this song is what i call a absolute breathtaking crazy stuff. The starting riff by Cobain will remain in our minds for ever!!. Even though the legend is no more his legacy still lives on. From the album Nevermind released in 1991 ,this is one of the best riffs the grunge rock genre has seen. It really smells like Teen Spirit Take a bow Kurt Cobain!!!
And finally the numero uno!!!!
1. Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
Show me one hardcore music fan who has not heard this song, it has got to be the best and one of the classics of all time. This would figure in anybody’s playlist of great riffs. I can listen to this song over and over again a million times!!! One of my personal favourites ( well il bet favourite of most!!). An interesting piece of info i found that Slash’s iconic intro riff of this song started out as a prank in rehearsal, and it’s not even his favourite GN’R riff, but it’s a classic all the same. Sweet Child O’ Mine has amassed an incredible 21 million YouTube views and is one of the riffs you are most likely to hear played wrong in guitar shops the world over. How about that!!
Well outside the top 10 i want to add one more song, which is one of my personal favourites and its a song which took rock to a newer level.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Greenday
From album American Idiot released in 2004 this one has come close to many of the songs above . I must say, this one is a unforgettable song and especially the introductory riff by Mike Dirnt which feels like a tender acoustic guitar coupled with Billie Joe’s melancholic and ever enthusiastic vocals take centre stage. This is one song which can easily get you singing along its meaningful verses.
P.S
I know that there are many more songs which can make it to the top 10 list .But I’m afraid these ten are the best that i could think of. Any suggestions and comments are most welcome 
