Most recognizable guitar riff

[sweet-t310]

This poll has nothing to do with the song itself, more of the famous guitar riff from it. I.E., you tell a buddy to play air guitar, this is the first song that comes to mind or if you hum these out, anyone knows what you're talking about.

Back in Black (AC/DC) - Main riff at beginning
Enter Sandman (Metallica) - Right before first vocals
Freebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) - First part of solo, after Cha-ee-a-ee-a-ee-ange
Iron Man (Black Sabbath) - Main Riff
Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple) - duh-duh-duhhhhh, duh-duh-da-duhhhhhh
Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) - Fast part before "And as we wind on down the road"
ADDED: Money for Nothing (Dire Straits) - First guitar after "I want my MTV" and crazy drums
ADDED: Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) - Opening notes

I'm sure I'm missing some major ones, but these were the ones that struck up a debate in my office.

[borrowedchief]

I would have to say smoke in the water, just because it has been used in so many commercials.

[opak3]

Dont Fear the Reaper - BOC

[topperharley]

Smoke on the Water, followed by Back in Black, then Iron Man (of the listed choices)

[afterstasis]

i am iron man.

[kiggidykev]

Definitely "Smoke on the Water".

Wasn`t there a Pepsi or Coke commercial a while back with a bunch of different people playing it? I liked that ad.

[Gatorguy91]

I said smoke on the water but i think it's Iron Man actually.

[killer_roach]

Either Smoke On The Water or Iron Man, although I went with Iron Man.

[vedis]

20 years ago i saw beavis and butthead
now i cant get the iron man riff out of my head

[sweet-t310]

20 years ago i saw beavis and butthead
now i cant get the iron man riff out of my head

To be fair, they did the Smoke on the Water riff wayyy more times....really any time they were excited about something

[vedis]

To be fair, they did the Smoke on the Water riff wayyy more times....really any time they were excited about something

yeah but when the damn episode where they did iron man stood out more to me, it got stuck in my head way easier

hell, they did ALOT of dumb things, and mouthed alot of riffs, i think we can all agree on that lol

[Renrock]

Sweet Child of Mine (beginning) - GnR - maybe not the best , but one that def sticks out.

[Lurker37]

Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones. As soon as that song begins, you know its time to get started.

[Nourez]

Pretty close between Back in Black and Smoke on the Water. Most people should be able to recognize both. I voted Back in Black mostly because I like it better.

[Bonez]

Learning Smoke on the Water as one of the first songs you know is almost a rite of passage for the guitarist.

[elfreako]

Not exactly a riff, but "A Hard Day's Night" i instantly recognized by a vast majority of people by it's single first chord alone.

[Alright_Computer]

Definitely Smoke on the Water. Iron Man is close too.

[The_Wurm]

Just to say something different.

Highway to hell

[navaha42]

Smoke on the ****ing Water.

Ignore the bleep. XD

[ThrobingCane]

WALK by Pantera.

[DarkSide247]

WALK by Pantera.
Agreed. I haven't met a single who doesn't know that, SotW, and Iron Man.

[Saoshen]

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNaKWXqXkhw

[Dustincopter]

Smoke on the Water
it's the most common thing to be learned on guitar.

[ThrobingCane]

Agreed. I haven't met a single who doesn't know that, SotW, and Iron Man.


Yea I was blowen away that no one mentioned walk.

[bood-boy]

i thought "Smoke on the water" before i even opened the thread.

[sweet-t310]

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNaKWXqXkhw

Dire Straits is definitely deserving of being on the poll, can't believe I forgot about that one.

SotW was my choice, but I didn't think it would be this much of a blowout, and definitely didn't think freebird and sandman would only get 1 vote each.

I had them ranked as:
1)SotW
2)Back in Black
3)Iron Man
4)Sandman
5)Freebird
6)<Insert Money for Nothing>
7)Stairway

[G_tarRoCK3R]

I believe you forgot Hotel California and Crazy Train

[Mister_Rogers69]

back in black, its used for everything nowadays, after that id say iron man then smoke on the water.

most people who claim stairway to heaven is great and mention no other zep songs have never actually listened to the song.

[Tego1in]

How could you not list Crazy Train

[Aragha]

Lack of Smells Like Teen Spirit makes me wet myself.

[Transbrak]

the opening riff of sweet dreams by marilyn manson

I find that everyone knows that

when I was growing up that was the must learn first riff to learn on guitar hehe

[CheezerRox]

Probably "Iron Man" or "Smoke on the Water".

I always hum the "Iron Man" riff loud in Home Ec. class. :D

[bierfaht]

a case could definitely be made for "eye of the tiger"

[CheezerRox]

a case could definitely be made for "eye of the tiger"

I agree.

P.S. My brother's actually playing that song on Rock band 2 right now. :D

[Hamsterhitman]

Who doesn't know Smoke on the Water?

[scixxor_emo]

no "sunshine of your love"????? i think im having a panic attack right now

[BaneOfIcarus]

I knew Smoke on the Water from you typing the riff, so Smoke On the Water wins.

[Oz1215]

I find the lack of sunshine of your love in this poll very disturbing....

VERY disturbing.


edit: and tom sawyer's main riff.

[Cpt. Overkill]

I find the lack of sunshine of your love in this poll very disturbing....

VERY disturbing.


edit: and tom sawyer's main riff.

This.

Hai.

[scixxor_emo]

I find the lack of sunshine of your love in this poll very disturbing....

VERY disturbing.


edit: and tom sawyer's main riff.


lol, beat you to it

[Oz1215]

lol, beat you to it

noone pays attention to YOUR posts though :p

also, you really got me.


edit: and enter sandman's intro

[scixxor_emo]

noone pays attention to YOUR posts though :p

also, you really got me.

lol, i notice that is true *corner time*

w/e being childish entertains me in these times of boredom

[flop404]

Not considering quality, there hardly is any debate :
Everyone knows Smoke On The Water Riff. Even the most hardcore pop admirer knows this riff.

It even shows in the poll, as proposed by the OP : it's not "the intro riff", it's just the sing-along.

Back in Black is the only one on this list that has somewhat the same iconic status, that transcends musical genres

[sweet-t310]

Re: Sunshine of your Love, Crazy Train, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Tom Sawyer, etc.

Yes, those are all great songs, and have amazing guitar parts, but I go back to a form of the original question: If you hummed or vocalized these parts to ANYONE...would they know what you were talking about or be able to at least join in without missing a beat? While anyone on these forums could identify Crazy Train, if you go up to joe-office-worker who only listens to music on his drive in to work on the FM, would he recognize it? Smells Like Teen Spirit has a strong case, but I don't know if I would put it above any on the poll (however I did add it to my OP).

[FloodOne]

SotW
iron man
enter sandman

in that order. EVERYONE knows these riffs. even your little sister wh jams to hannah montana

[KFelon]

Slayer - Angel of Death the riff at the beginning. I've heard many bands use this riff or bits of it in their songs. ( like KMFDM - Godlike )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZ-W9gO-RM

[HappyCat]

smoke hands down

[Hibou77]

Sweet Child of Mine (beginning) - GnR - maybe not the best , but one that def sticks out.

Same for me.

[FlameSama1]

What? No Sweet Child Of Mine?

[KampfVerein]

"Baba O'Riley," you fools.

F-C-Bb.

[A New Pyro Fool]

I think that Highway to Hell should be up there, although I voted for Smoke on the Water

[R33DH4M]

purple haze