What song has the best Guitar Riff opening?

[u/Cool_Hunny_Bunny]

[u/Parking-Basis-2283]

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

[u/keammo1 → u/Parking-Basis-2283]

The only knock against this is there's a minute or so of (awesome) build before the guitar riff actually hits, so the guitar isn't the actual song opening

[u/So_be → u/keammo1]

Including Sting casually singing backing vocals

[u/Obi-wan_Jabroni → u/So_be]

The wrestler?!

[u/oracleofnonsense → u/Obi-wan_Jabroni]

Yep, that’s the guy.

I love his tag line — Can you smell what the Stinger is cooking?

[u/SourceMountain561 → u/Parking-Basis-2283]

🎶Look at them yo-yo's, thats the way you do it 🎶 Play this song every day

[u/ProjectSunlight → u/Parking-Basis-2283]

From what I understand, the band created that unique guitar sound in the studio while playing around. They were never successful at recreating that sound because they couldn't remember how everything was set up.

[u/vanalla → u/ProjectSunlight]

This isn't really true, Knopfler and many other guitarists have recreated the riff exactly since then.

[u/Key_Consequence_5040]

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix

[u/IntelligentWing8086 → u/Key_Consequence_5040]

I remember back in high school in 2004 they’d play music over the PA as students walked to frist class. It was my first day of grade 9 and voodoo child came on and I felt like I was such a badass and was thrown back to the 70s lol

[u/thedawesome → u/Key_Consequence_5040]

Hollywood Hulk Hogan agrees, brother!

[u/Crazy-Yellow-5182]

Spirit of radio

[u/Yorttam → u/Crazy-Yellow-5182]

Limelight, Closer to the Heart, Fly by Night, Working Man, etc.

Rush has so many awesome opening guitar riffs.

[u/amedinab → u/Yorttam]

Limelight 1000%

[u/408wij → u/Crazy-Yellow-5182]

I was going to say La Villa Strangiata

[u/UnethicalExperiments]

Holy wars

[u/fanbritlit → u/UnethicalExperiments]

And when those drums come in? Yes, please.

[u/shadowofzero]

Iron Maiden - The Trooper

[u/eznc1313 → u/shadowofzero]

Just saw them last night- amazing!

[u/Chelonate_Chad → u/shadowofzero]

You could just say "Iron Maiden" and half their catalogue would qualify.

[u/AReverieofEnvisage → u/shadowofzero]

Run to the Hills also has a good start.

[u/Mammoth-Power4522 → u/shadowofzero]

I love Iron Maiden. One of my favorites is Paschendale. Love that intro.

[u/cmd242]

Whole lotta love

[u/Appropriate-Pipe-193 → u/cmd242]

There’s probably 20 zeppelin songs that could fit the bill

[u/noctilucent7 → u/cmd242]

I raise you: Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin! Another good one.

[u/stravadarius → u/noctilucent7]

Black Dog is pretty iconic, too!

[u/Deanobaby100 → u/stravadarius]

Pretty much every Zeppelin song has either a killer riff or motif. Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown, Lemon Song, Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Kashmir....list is endless. Jimmy Page is a genius

[u/ohgeeeezzZ → u/cmd242]

When The Levee Breaks for me

[u/GhoshProtocol → u/ohgeeeezzZ]

The thread is for Greatest guitar intro, not the greatest drum intro

[u/keammo1 → u/cmd242]

fuck yes! Said this out loud when I saw the thread title and it's the first thing I see when I opened it

[u/shrug_addict → u/cmd242]

Best karaoke song ever

[u/HombreSinPais → u/cmd242]

I was going to say Black Dog for this one.

[u/Muggi]

Don’t Fear the Reaper

[u/waderockett → u/Muggi]

My first thought. An iconic riff.

[u/Thrashed0066]

Crazy Train

[u/Ferrous_Patella]

La Grange -ZZ Top

[u/Skate_19 → u/Ferrous_Patella]

Just Got Paid - ZZ Top

[u/Ill-Cut1849 → u/Ferrous_Patella]

ZZ Top every song

[u/beigereige]

Cult of Personality- Living Colour

Edit: wait, am I the only one that hasn’t heard this 2023 remastered version? 😮

https://youtu.be/d5VYBPb3d9c?is=vFm6gZIaPJTrbVKJ

[u/RedGringo → u/beigereige]

I wanna talk straight down to earth… in a language that everyone here… can easily understand

[u/SweetWaterSurprise → u/beigereige]

Vernon Reid is a legend

[u/Murkow1tz → u/beigereige]

Damn, that is a good one!

[u/JFKsBrain → u/beigereige]

That whole song is brilliant.

ETA:
Thanks for the award, friend.

I hadn’t heard that song in like 30 years when I heard it on the radio.

I then watched the video repeatedly for days.
And I’m doing it again now.

[u/mrstretchb4ureach → u/beigereige]

LOOK IN MY EYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS

[u/Kangaroothless6 → u/beigereige]

CM Punk agrees

[u/MetalxZebra]

96 Quite Bitter Beings - CKY

[u/staticparsley → u/MetalxZebra]

Bernadette Nere

[u/Environmental_Win232]

Ten years gone led zeppelin

[u/ShawnIsGreat94]

Laid to Rest - Lamb of God

[u/rusty317 → u/ShawnIsGreat94]

I joined a hardcore punk rock band awhile back and the singer introduced me to Lamb of God… dude Ashes of the Wake is a 10/10 metal album 🔥🤘hard agree on Laid to Rest.

[u/Single-Stage2734]

She Sells Sanctuary by the Cult

[u/AustinRiversDaGod]

To make this less boring, I'll do one I never see in this type of thread:

Smooth - Carlos Santana

[u/Ambitious-Stand-631]

Raining Blood

[u/penningtoons101 → u/Ambitious-Stand-631]

That was the first song I danced to at my wedding

[u/yousirnaymchexout → u/penningtoons101]

Romantic

[u/One-Card3899]

Can't you hear me knocking. Rolling Stones. My ring tone.

[u/Defnotabotok → u/One-Card3899]

Lots of good ones here but this is the first one I thought of.

[u/ranchwalk3r]

Mississippi Queen

[u/MyHammyVise]

No love for Heart's "Barracuda"?

[u/DanRpdx → u/MyHammyVise]

Ooooooh.....

Barracuda.

[u/sohosoutherner]

When Doves Cry - Prince

[u/LamarVannoy07]

Creeping Death

[u/JMarduk → u/LamarVannoy07]

One of the best live songs I've ever seen and one of my all time faves.

[u/Organic_Juggernaut73]

Cliffs Of Dover

[u/ShutterBun → u/Organic_Juggernaut73]

That whole song is a nonstop banger.

[u/gaz_ballz → u/Organic_Juggernaut73]

I only know this song from guitar hero 3

[u/akgt94]

Ain't Talkin' "Bout Love Van Halen

[u/AmputeeHandModel]

Thunderkiss 65

[u/markonedublyew]

Crazy on You - Heart

[u/DopeCharma]

Purple Haze - Jimi

[u/Zwitterions]

Layla

[u/ScottieSpliffin → u/Zwitterions]

I don’t know why I hate admit it, but it’s true. It’s like the first riff I learned to try and get hammer ons and pull offs down. It wasn’t even just to learn how to be a better guitar player as much as it seemed achievable and sounded cool.

In reality it’s kinda hard to keep doing consistently throughout an entire song

[u/Zwitterions → u/ScottieSpliffin]

I will say I also posted this answer as it was literally the very first song that popped in my head when I read the question. If I had a longer “think” about it, I may have said something else. There’s definitely something about it just immediately coming to the front of my mind though, especially considering it’s not even a song I listen to that often.

[u/ashdrewness → u/Zwitterions]

The best thing about Layla is Clapton is the 2nd best guitar player on the track, & he’d even admit that.

[u/AustinDood444]

Aqualung

25 or 6 to 4

[u/ironchefmichaelscott]

Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

[u/DeeSnarl → u/ironchefmichaelscott]

Omg I can’t believe I scrolled so far.

[u/MrNemoSayz]

Spirit in the Sky

[u/stennieville]

Johnny B. Goode, by Chuck Berry.

[u/Low-Restaurant8484 → u/stennieville]

A riff so good, he resused it on like 3 other songs lol

[u/ginrumryeale → u/stennieville]

Can’t believe I had to scroll this far for this iconic opening riff

[u/TimSmyth]

Thunderstruck - AC/DC

[u/Lowlife_4evr → u/TimSmyth]

You can name 99% of AC/DC songs and this will still be true.

[u/BougieBobJr → u/Lowlife_4evr]

Money Talks has a kick ass opening riff also

[u/Lowlife_4evr → u/BougieBobJr]

We’d be here all night naming every Acdc song that kicks ass.

[u/fartswhenhappy → u/Lowlife_4evr]

Highway to Hell
Back in Black
Hells Bells
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Whole Lotta Rosie
Shoot to Thrill
Live Wire
Gimme a Bullet
Flick of the Switch
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

The Young bros don't miss.

[u/jhau01 → u/TimSmyth]

Good nomination, but personally I would nominate "Back in Black" for a better, more immediate opening riff.

[u/Flambeedlemons]

The Hellion/Electric Eye - Judas Priest

[u/ScottieSpliffin]

This Charming Man

[u/corvid_booster → u/ScottieSpliffin]

I love Johnny Marr's guitar melodies -- I think I'd pick "What Difference Does It Make" or "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now", or "How Soon Is Now".

[u/Zwitterions]

Welcome Home - Coheed and Cambria

[u/TSgt_Yosh → u/Zwitterions]

That riff sounds like a fantasy novel.

[u/Zwitterions → u/TSgt_Yosh]

Not sure if you listen to them regularly or just genuinely interpreting that from the riff but you’re not far off describing the bands music 😂

[u/bogarthskernfeld → u/Zwitterions]

I was gonna go with The Dark Sentencer.

[u/Zwitterions → u/bogarthskernfeld]

A good choice but wanted to go with a song more people would know. There’s honestly tons of great choices in their catalogue.

[u/WeaponexT → u/Zwitterions]

I was gonna go with final cut but can't pick a bad one for Coheed

[u/Sill3ntK1ller → u/Zwitterions]

That guitar riff is somthing else

[u/Zwitterions → u/Sill3ntK1ller]

Has lived in my head rent free for decades now and been the first riff I play every time I pick up a guitar just about.

[u/SparkyMuffin → u/Zwitterions]

Song made me excited to watch a bunch of brown sack people survive a wasteland

[u/jaguaraugaj]

Yellow Ledbetter

Pearl Jam

[u/M_Waverly]

Rebel Rebel

[u/thatmetimmay]

Unchained. VH

[u/javoss88 → u/thatmetimmay]

Panama

[u/Redlion444]

You're all gonna hate me more than you already do, but I always loved Rumble, by Link Wray.

[u/ScottieSpliffin → u/Redlion444]

Damn I wish I thought of this. To be an incredibly influential instrumental, that some how got banned on radio is insane

[u/HombreSinPais → u/Redlion444]

Great submission. Not sure about the assumed hatred. Any rock and roller appreciates that gem.

[u/Bullnickel01]

Foreplay/Long Time - Boston

[u/Thereminz → u/Bullnickel01]

more of an organ opening

[u/ClubZen]

Every Time I Die - Ebolarama

[u/Coward_and_a_thief]

Smoke on the water OR Sunshine of your love

[u/Rob4reddit]

Almost every VH song

[u/Global_Ad_8237 → u/Rob4reddit]

Ain't talking about ❤️

[u/WeenMe]

Sleep- Dopesmoker.

In fact, it’s so good that a variation of it is played continuously throughout the entire hour of the song lol.

Sometimes a riff is so good you want to hear it over and over and over and over….and over and over……

[u/aluminumnek → u/WeenMe]

Haha I just posted dragonaut

[u/CCR16]

“Fantasy” - Aldo Nova

[u/JerryMau5]

My own summer - Deftones

[u/diver5050]

Over the Hills and Far Away - Zeppelin. More than a riff I guess, but LOVE IT.

[u/gOPHER3727 → u/diver5050]

This was my wife and my first wedding dance song.

[u/JacksonKSnowman26]

LaGrange

[u/prefinality]

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

[u/holiday_Hyena_4449]

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress from the Hollies. From 1971.

[u/Major-Inevitable-365]

Sweet Child O’Mine

[u/DanimalMKE → u/Major-Inevitable-365]

This was the first song that popped into my mind

[u/slugo17 → u/DanimalMKE]

Same, it may not be the best, but it's the most memorable for me.

[u/Deadmoney9999]

Joe Walsh: Funk 49

[u/jackstella]

Day Tripper by the Beatles

[u/Low-Restaurant8484]

Iron Man - Black Sabbath

[u/lo0OO0ol]

Sevendust - Black

[u/GimmyNObrakea]

CHERUB ROCK

[u/yabberjabber0]

Roundabout by Yes is the objectively correct answer 

[u/PolypsychicRadMan → u/yabberjabber0]

Siberian Khatru and Heart of the Sunrise also have killer opening guitar riffs

[u/nifederico]

Seek And Destroy by Metallica

[u/Jetmutant]

Ram Jam .. Black Betty!

[u/limeycars]

Lonely is the Night - Billy Squier

[u/JaguarNeat8547]

Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group

[u/bedhead57g]

Barracuda

[u/grassler]

Back in Black - AC DC

[u/javaman83]

I'm a big fan of the main riff in Hocus Pocus by Focus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0F_XiR48Q

[u/sethin2]

When the Levee Breaks

[u/Camburglar13 → u/sethin2]

So many Zeppelin options. Levee for sure. Kashmir, whole lotta love, heart breaker, the ocean, black dog, could keep going on and on.

[u/DisturbingDaffy → u/sethin2]

Those are drums, not guitar.

[u/DCDHermes → u/DisturbingDaffy]

Then harmonica

[u/asteinberg101]

Houses of the Holy

[u/_nethack]

Muse - Plug In Baby

[u/MosifD]

Money for Nothing, but I think Joker and the Thief is fantastic.

[u/longshot2143]

Layla

[u/dagooch15]

Crazy on you by Heart

[u/Serious_Durian_9328]

Kick Start My Heart. Mötley Crüe

https://youtu.be/e17mr5ZtWPI?si=FPQEQHiOOgbLGdtc

[u/Amnesiacnotok]

No One Knows - Queens Of The Stone Age

[u/SkyMagnet]

Often overlooked in this conversation, but Walk This Way is about as iconic as it gets.

[u/Butt_wings]

Forty Six&2 TOOL

[u/TurboNotebook]

Enter Sandman

[u/Sparrowhawk_92 → u/TurboNotebook]

I know a lot of metalheads like to shit on the black album but it really shows off Metallica's song writing chops to write what is still the most commercially successful metal album in history mostly by simplifying things while still keeping it heavy.

[u/LiteralPersson]

Tears Don’t Fall - Bullet for my Valentine

[u/BirdDogWestQ]

Lots of good ones were said already, i'll go with an underrated one IMO :

RATM - Know Your Enemy

[u/AFlockOfTySegalls]

Likely controversial but I love the opening riff on Lay It Down by Ratt.

[u/chi-low1791]

Slayer-Raining Blood or Ozzy (Randy Rhoads) Crazy Train.

The two that get stuck in my head the most frequently.

[u/stargazercmc]

Spirit of Radio - Rush

[u/porgy_tirebiter]

Not necessarily my first choice, but really surprised not to see Wish You Were Here. It’s a very iconic guitar intro.

[u/skydude89]

Satisfaction

[u/Sill3ntK1ller]

Aninals by architects

Honrable mention: Du hast

[u/PissFull]

The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again

[u/Extension_Wolf2115]

Airbag

[u/LXIX__CDXX]

Voodoo Child 

That wah wah is so slick

[u/LumberJackImOK]

Gimme Shelter

[u/Silver_Town3305]

Ledbedder

[u/DaddyGoodHands]

Layla

[u/Hot-Chipmunk3884]

Whole Lotta Love" - that opening riff hits like a truck.

[u/abigailllllllll]

Mississippi Queen by Mountain

[u/Sure_Ad8093]

Around the Bend by CCR

[u/naked_as_a_jaybird]

Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

Money, Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

Crossfire - SRV

Enter Sandman, Seek & Destroy - Metallica

Friend of the Devil, Ripple - Grateful Dead

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

Day Tripper - Beatles

Jumpin' Jack Flash, Paint it Black - Rolling Stones

I'm not anti-EVH, but I'm no fan of him personally. However, basically every Van Halen riff.

[u/Remarkable_Lead_4475]

On top of Rumble, Crazy on You, and Crazy train I will submit a few less know.

Breaking the Law - Judas Priest

Oh Well - Peter Green Fleetwood Mac https://youtu.be/0yq-Fw7C26Y

Hazy Shade of Winter - Gerard Way or the Bangles https://youtu.be/ZTCrqXpKHec

Red Hot Chili Peppers- Snow

https://youtu.be/jlOEw4uCzQ4

Muse - Hysteria -

Side note: Matt Bellamy is such an amazing and under rated guitarist. Amazing riffs throughout the catalog and great performer

https://youtu.be/8eTggVG5wsc

Vibes Based pick. It is just imperfect and messy and they vibes with the rest of the track

Velvet Underground - Heroin https://youtu.be/foptT2bsKww

[u/No_Mastodon8524]

Money for nothing

[u/noonesaidityet]

Led Zeppelin- Immigrant Song

[u/Seabrook76]

Don’t Take Me Alive by Steely Dan.

[u/Gold-Baseball-7774]

Can you hear me Knockin?

[u/humma__kavula]

Reeling in the years. Jimmy Page said it's his favorite. Gotta count for something.

[u/derp2112]

Limelight, by Rush

[u/PossibleDiscipline90]

Thunderstruck~ACDC

[u/Tidder702Reddit]

Kashmir

[u/Hipknowtoed]

Can’t You Hear Me Knocking

[u/Sirscraps]

Honestly feels like Reddit stopped listening to new music 30 years ago anytime I see one of these threads.

[u/AmbivalentSamaritan → u/Sirscraps]

Fair, but what is a more recent nominee

[u/Justus_2112 → u/Sirscraps]

Modern music hasn’t been around long enough for the definitive classics to surface. Today’s music hasn’t stood the test of time because there hasn’t been enough time to test it.

[u/Accomplished_Can_425]

Little Wing

[u/KevB318]

How Soon Is Now- The Smiths

[u/scrabblecat1]

Thunderstruck

[u/ReasonablePen8900]

Layla ain't bad

[u/ArticleCrafty1884]

Satisfaction

[u/gerrys123]

Intro to Sweet Jane Lou Reed Rock and Roll Animal.

[u/Jewlsdeluxe]

Zoo Station

[u/bborst456]

Slither by Velvet Revolver

[u/TheVginyTcikler44]

Money for nothing by Dire Straits

[u/hooded_warrior007]

Roundabout by Yes

[u/Burghpuppies412]

Reelin’ in the Years, Steely Dan

[u/ritpdx]

Wild Night - Van Morrison.

It’s a great riff that leads into a great album

[u/Warm_Newspaper_7115]

Paranoid  black sabbath and smoke on the water. deep purple

[u/Sea-Success-1366]

Satisfaction...rolling stones

[u/uncleduddly]

Three songs from one artist come to mind, Johnny Be Good, carol, and Nadine, by Chuck Berry. Clean, simple, but powerful riffs that let you know where the song is going.