The Riffiest Riffmeister

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by bzfgt, May 25, 2018.

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  1. bzfgt

    bzfgt The Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler Thread Starter

    Who is the best composer of riffs in the history of rock (there doesn't have to be one single "greatest" person, of course)? Lately I have been thinking it may be Tony Iommi. It's hard for me to think of a band that has close to as many great riffs as Black Sabbath, and often there are several of them in a single song. Lately I am in awe of Iommi's riff writing chops. The percentage of Sabbath riffs that are not merely good but actually great is awe-inspiring.

    The beginning of "Cornucopia" is extremely badass:

     
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  2. danasgoodstuff

    danasgoodstuff Forum Resident

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    Portland, OR
    I'd be more interested in a discussion of what makes a great riff, has it changed over time? Not sure if I have the chops for it though.
     
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  3. bzfgt

    bzfgt The Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler Thread Starter

    Ha, that's a funny typo! It should be this:

    Black Sabbath - Cornucopia
     
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  4. jeffd7030

    jeffd7030 I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.

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  5. bzfgt

    bzfgt The Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler Thread Starter

    I suppose to the extent that music changes, but riffs are still incorporated, it would change, at least from some people's perspectives. But I think there were always a pretty good variety of types, so it's a broad category.
     
  6. danasgoodstuff

    danasgoodstuff Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Part of my interest here is to understand why I tend to like riffs from a certain period but not so much after, did things change or did I just get my fill?
     
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  7. bzfgt

    bzfgt The Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler Thread Starter

    I would think you just haven't heard the right things after a certain point, as there are so many bands these days that do just about every style you can think of...
     
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  8. Crimson jon

    Crimson jon Forum Resident

    Location:
    Houston
    I love James hetftields riffs for the metal side.


    Love rage against the machine riffs for alternative hard rock

    Love Tommy iomi and Jimmy page for hard rock riffs

    Love the octave riffs of Wes Montgomery for jazz
     
  9. Rhett

    Rhett Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cool City
    Riff Robinson from The Black Crowes and The Magpie Salute.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2018
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  10. Cassiel

    Cassiel Sonic Reducer

    Location:
    NYC, USA
    Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Page, Daft Punk.
     
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  11. notesofachord

    notesofachord Riding down the river in an old canoe

    Location:
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    Biff, the master of the riff.

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. jon9091

    jon9091 Master Of Reality

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    I will certainly have to agree with Tony Iommi. He’s got a wizard’s book hidden somewhere full of them.
     
  13. mcchocchoc

    mcchocchoc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Oregon
    As far as 70s riff rock, Tony and Jimmy were tops for me.
    For the past couple of decades I'd say Buckethead may well be the riffiest riffmeister. lol. "riffiest riffmeister". Good one man.
     
  14. jalexander

    jalexander Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    I have only a cursory interest in Smashing Pumpkins, but I might just hand the award to Billy Corgan. After releasing one of the highest quality double albums ever (triple if we’re talking vinyl), he managed to compile a half hour medley of leftover riffs. He was seriously in fire for a while there.
     
  15. telepicker97

    telepicker97 Got Any Gum?

    Location:
    Midwest
    Riff Robinson
    Keef Riffhards
    'Riffin'' Ronnie Wood
     
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  16. DJ LX

    DJ LX Forum Resident

    Location:
    Madison WI
    The late 'Fast' Eddie Clarke -- to name someone who doesn't get mentioned much -- came up with some good 'uns -- both with Motorhead and Fastway.
     
  17. Man at C&A

    Man at C&A Senior Member

    Location:
    England
    Malcolm Young
     
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  18. Efus

    Efus Senior Member

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    USA
    Bob Mould, Josh Homme, Billy Gibbons, Kurt Cobain, Angus Young, others mentioned already.
    I like guitar based music a lot.
     
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  19. SurrealCereal

    SurrealCereal Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    Either Keith Richards or Tony Iommi. They both have too many iconic riffs to their name to choose between the two.
     
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  20. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

  21. Jeff Kent

    Jeff Kent Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mt. Kisco, NY
    Iommi is King
     
  22. Apesbrain

    Apesbrain Forum Resident

    Location:
    East Coast, USA
    Pete Townshend
     
  23. bzfgt

    bzfgt The Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler Thread Starter

    I think Iommi has him at least as far as quantity, since some of those Sabbath songs have like 4 quality riffs in them....that's what's really been striking me lately, how there are multiple riffs in so many of their songs.
     
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  24. bzfgt

    bzfgt The Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler Thread Starter

    I could have edited this but the mistake made me laugh so I left Hank in...
     
  25. Lynxwizard

    Lynxwizard Forum Resident

    Location:
    Minnesota
    Ritchie Blackmore
     
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