Entre_Perpetuo Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Here's a list of 10 certified riff masters! I didn't just pick ten random riff lords out of a hat--all of them are considered in the upper echelon of riff legend--but if your personal favorite isn't on here feel free to notify me and perhaps we'll see a part 2! Honestly though I'm not sure how many people are going to seriously consider anyone after Tony Iommi... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Much as I love Page, Tony Iommi is the God of Riff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J2112YYZ Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Iommi is riff God Master Lord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
custom55 Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Keith Richards for me. So many memorable riffs: Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, Bitch, Can't You Hear me Knocking, etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Carmina Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 I'm going for Pagey. From "Good Times, Bad Times" to "Achilles Last Stand" there are so many instantly recognizable, variable, hummable, air-guitar playable riffs. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Black Sabbath. Iron Man. Sweet Leaf. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Heaven and Hell. Is this a serious question? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted December 14, 2021 Author Share Posted December 14, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible airwave Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Without Iommi, there's no Hetfield and Dimebag. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithrandir Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Here's a list of 10 certified riff masters! I didn't just pick ten random riff lords out of a hat--all of them are considered in the upper echelon of riff legend--but if your personal favorite isn't on here feel free to notify me and perhaps we'll see a part 2! Honestly though I'm not sure how many people are going to seriously consider anyone after Tony Iommi...Page has created more great riffs than Iommi. That's a FACT! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Here's a list of 10 certified riff masters! I didn't just pick ten random riff lords out of a hat--all of them are considered in the upper echelon of riff legend--but if your personal favorite isn't on here feel free to notify me and perhaps we'll see a part 2! Honestly though I'm not sure how many people are going to seriously consider anyone after Tony Iommi...Page has created more great riffs than Iommi. That's a FACT!With help from JP Jones. Page, Iommi and Richards is the best answer for this poll. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex’s Amazing Arpeggios Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 EP ... I think you forgot to include Lerxst in this poll sir ! ������������������ That was on purpose. For one thing I don't think he'd win, even on this board. And for another I thought it would be a fairer question for many people to answer if they weren't thinking about Rush. Fair enough Entre :-)I still personally highly rate Alex’s riffs though ! ;-) For the purpose of this Poll .. I’ve gone forMr.James Patrick Page :-) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted December 14, 2021 Author Share Posted December 14, 2021 EP ... I think you forgot to include Lerxst in this poll sir ! ������������������ That was on purpose. For one thing I don't think he'd win, even on this board. And for another I thought it would be a fairer question for many people to answer if they weren't thinking about Rush. Fair enough Entre :-)I still personally highly rate Alex’s riffs though ! ;-) For the purpose of this Poll .. I’ve gone forMr.James Patrick Page :-) He's not the first guy I think of when it comes to riff masters, but like in everything I think Alex is underrated in the riff department. I mean, from album one there's Working Man, which is pretty on par with Iommi and Page's output from the same period. Then there's Anthem, Bastille Day (the song I like to imagine was used as the blueprint for Iron Maiden a few years later), A Passage To Bangkok, that opening bit of Cinderella Man, the "Monsters" section of La Villa, the ascending line throughout The Spirit Of Radio, Limelight, and let's not forget The Analog Kid. All that just leading up to the synth years. When I think about it, the real reason he probably doesn't come to mind at first is his riffs usually don't totally drive the song the way Iommi's do, where the song is basically just the riff repeated until a new riff comes along. Alex tends to let a riff shine for a few bars before transitioning into a more Townsend or Summers style of rhythm playing, very chordal stuff. So it takes some focus off of his riff writing abilities since he's so versatile. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 EP ... I think you forgot to include Lerxst in this poll sir ! ������������������ That was on purpose. For one thing I don't think he'd win, even on this board. And for another I thought it would be a fairer question for many people to answer if they weren't thinking about Rush. Plus, how many of Rush's riffs were written by Geddy? Probably more than you think. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driventotheedge Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Iommi is riff God Master Lord.ThisCouldn't have said it better myself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted December 14, 2021 Author Share Posted December 14, 2021 EP ... I think you forgot to include Lerxst in this poll sir ! ������������������ That was on purpose. For one thing I don't think he'd win, even on this board. And for another I thought it would be a fairer question for many people to answer if they weren't thinking about Rush. Plus, how many of Rush's riffs were written by Geddy? Probably more than you think. Another great point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union 5-3992 Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 Iommi and it's not even close 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Interesting how folks seem to put Iommi far ahead of Page or Richard's. Anyone up to creating a list of iconic riffs of each to see how they stack up? My guess is it's closer than some suggest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Iconic Page riffs, off the top my head... Communication BreakdownGood Times Bad TimesHow Many More TimesDazed and ConfusedWhole Lotta LoveWhat Is And What Should Never BeLemon SongHeartbreakersLiving Living MaidRamble OnMoby DickImmigrant SongBlack DogRock and RollBattle of EvermoreStairway to HeavenWhen The Levee BreaksSong Remains the SameOver the HillsNo QuarterThe OceanCustard PieKashmir Nobody's FaultIn the EveningFool in the Rain Those are one's that stand out as recognizable to casual Zep fans, imo. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Songs that are purely riff driven: Black SabbathThe WizardNIBWar PigsParanoidIron ManElectric FuneralHand of DoomRat SaladFairies Wear BootsSweet LeafChildren of the GraveLord of the WorldInto the VoidWheels of ConfusionTomorrow's DreamSupernautSnowblindSabbath Bloody SabbathSabbra CadabraKilling Yourself to LiveHole in the SkySymptom of the UniverseSupertzarBack Street KidsRock and Roll DoctorNever Say Die!Junior's EyesNeon KnightsLady EvilHeaven and HellLonely is the WordTurn up the NightVoodooSIgn of the Southern CrossThe Mob RulesCountry GirlFalling Off the Edge of the WorldOver and Over 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjbear05 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 EP ... I think you forgot to include Lerxst in this poll sir ! ������������������ That was on purpose. For one thing I don't think he'd win, even on this board. And for another I thought it would be a fairer question for many people to answer if they weren't thinking about Rush. Fair enough Entre :-)I still personally highly rate Alex’s riffs though ! ;-) For the purpose of this Poll .. I’ve gone forMr.James Patrick Page :-)^Yep, this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J2112YYZ Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Songs that are purely riff driven: Black SabbathThe WizardNIBWar PigsParanoidIron ManElectric FuneralHand of DoomRat SaladFairies Wear BootsSweet LeafChildren of the GraveLord of the WorldInto the VoidWheels of ConfusionTomorrow's DreamSupernautSnowblindSabbath Bloody SabbathSabbra CadabraKilling Yourself to LiveHole in the SkySymptom of the UniverseSupertzarBack Street KidsRock and Roll DoctorNever Say Die!Junior's EyesNeon KnightsLady EvilHeaven and HellLonely is the WordTurn up the NightVoodooSIgn of the Southern CrossThe Mob RulesCountry GirlFalling Off the Edge of the WorldOver and Over And you stopped at 1981. On Sabbath albums in the years that followed, Iommi still had some really good riffs on each album. Even on albums that someone may not like, he always had a few standout riffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J2112YYZ Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Is it odd that I never quite thought of Jimmy Page as a riff master? I'm not sure why, I just never have. I have just always thought of him as great, versatile and innovative guitarist. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted December 15, 2021 Author Share Posted December 15, 2021 Songs that are purely riff driven: Black SabbathThe WizardNIBWar PigsParanoidIron ManElectric FuneralHand of DoomRat SaladFairies Wear BootsSweet LeafChildren of the GraveLord of the WorldInto the VoidWheels of ConfusionTomorrow's DreamSupernautSnowblindSabbath Bloody SabbathSabbra CadabraKilling Yourself to LiveHole in the SkySymptom of the UniverseSupertzarBack Street KidsRock and Roll DoctorNever Say Die!Junior's EyesNeon KnightsLady EvilHeaven and HellLonely is the WordTurn up the NightVoodooSIgn of the Southern CrossThe Mob RulesCountry GirlFalling Off the Edge of the WorldOver and Over Not to mention there are still some great riffs in the not purely riff driven songs. A National Acrobat being my favorite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Entre_Perpetuo Posted December 15, 2021 Author Share Posted December 15, 2021 (edited) While it's very difficult to argue for anyone other than Iommi or Page... I would think Malcom Young would garner a few votes. It's my understanding he wrote most of the riffs for AC/DC, whereas Angus was more focused on his solos. TNT, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Highway To Hell, Back In Black, and on and on... Surely not as many as Iommi I guess, but perhaps as many which society at large would consider quintessential. Edited December 15, 2021 by Entre_Perpetuo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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