If riffing is your thing, you’re going to want to check out the following five classic rock songs. Each one has a killer riff that’s instantly recognizable to fans of classic rock and metal, and that will have you wishing you had a guitar in your hands so that you could play along.
“Dr. Feelgood” by Motley Crue
To play this riff correctly, you’ll need to play it the way Mick Mars does from Motley Crue: with attitude! Much like many other Motley Crue songs, the riffs are quick and filled with energy, making it hard to resist head-banging or tapping your foot to the beat. The pounding drums and bass further add to the high-energy feel, so this would be a great song to play with some friends.
“Working Man” by Rush
The main riff in “Working Man” is a bit slower, but nonetheless fun to play. While there’s a central riff holding the song together, you’ll also enjoy playing the other riffs, lines and solos that make it such a diverse song in general. Being a trio, each instrument in Rush has its time to shine, making this also a great song to riff on bass.
“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses
“Welcome to the Jungle” features another sick riff that’s high-energy and may sometimes make you feel like dancing. Like “Dr. Feelgood,” you’ll have to play it with attitude; you can’t be shy, especially not alongside Axl Rose’s vocal performance.
“Mr. Crowley” by Ozzy Osbourne
Anything played by the late Randy Rhoads is going to sound fantastic, and the riff from “Mr. Crowley” is no exception. Rhoads paired powerful chords with quick fills to make the riff not only fun to listen to, but also to play. Try not to stop with the riffs though; being able to play a Rhoads solo will truly prove you’ve mastered the guitar.
If you like Ozzy Osbourne, you may enjoy this CLASSIC GUITAR RIFF
“Rainbow in the Dark” by Dio
“Rainbow in the Dark” is one of Dio’s most memorable songs, and for a good reason. The powerful riff, accompanied by strong vocals, is what makes it such a moving song. This is one of those tracks you can have playing on repeat without ever growing tired of it, and while the riff sounds simple to pull off, you still have to play it with feeling.
Try listening to each of these tracks and playing along to practice your riffing chops. Let us know in the comments how you like them, and if you have other favorite songs with killer riffs.
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