riffs

Latest about riffs

Charlie Benante and Scott Ian of the band Anthrax
Why Anthrax’s riff-writing isn’t like other bands’

By Phil Weller Published

Scott Ian might be their figurehead, but he’s not always the one driving the riffs

Bands
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform live on stage during the 'No Filter' tour at The London Stadium on May 25, 2018 in London, England
Mick Jagger on how his guitar playing adds another element to the Rolling Stones

By Phil Weller Published

The legendary frontman is behind more guitar riffs on the new Stones record than most would assume

Guitarists
Slash of Guns N' Roses at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, July 19, 1988. Duff McKagan is visible in the rear
How Slash’s throwaway riff became the most successful Guns N' Roses song ever

By Janelle Borg Published

Sweet Child O’ Mine was a happy accident, and a lucrative one at that

Guitarists
Jimmy Page performs onstage during the 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 03, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
How the hunt for clicks has made the lone guitar intro obsolete

By Phil Weller Published

Contemporary counterparts to Smoke on the Water and Whole Lotta Love are increasingly rare. Are we about to see the tables turned?

Guitarists
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana during MTV Live and Loud: Nirvana Performs Live - December 1993 at Pier 28 in Seattle, Washington, United States.
Guitar Center reveals the 10 most-played guitar riffs in its stores – and no, Stairway to Heaven isn’t one of them

By Michael Astley-Brown Published

CEO Gabe Dalporto surveyed GC staff to discover the riffs that torment them on a daily basis – but some surprisingly big names don’t get a look-in

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Music Industry
Gibson Warren Haynes Les Paul Standard 60s Cherry
Warren Haynes picks his favorite Gov’t Mule guitar riffs and shows you how to play them – properly

By Phil Weller Published

The blues rock giant sits down with Guitar World to go through his back catalog of riffs, picking out a few favorites along the way

Guitarists
Chuck Berry, Dave Grohl, Jimmy Page and Johnny Marr
How the guitar riff has developed since the 1950s – and what you can learn from its evolution

By Simon Barnard Published

From Chuck Berry to Dave Grohl via Johnny Marr, Jimmy Page and more, this rhythm guitar masterclass offers a decade-by-decade study in the evolution of the riff

Techniques
Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd perform live at The Oakland Coliseum in 1976 in Oakland, California.
How to play Sweet Home Alabama on guitar

By Chris Bird Published

Learn one of the most iconic guitar intros of all time from this Lynyrd Skynyrd classic

Lessons
Angus Young
5 ways to write a great guitar riff

By Total Guitar editors Published

How to incorporate the chords and composing tricks that built rock’s greatest riffs in your own writing

Beginner Lessons
Guitar playing
How to play minor pentatonic riffs

By Chris Bird Published

Learn how to use this essential scale, with two hard-rock riff tabs and two scale shapes

Beginner Lessons