“The four-chord pattern riff is unoriginal but the dynamic contrasts add to the potency of one of the best guitar riffs of the ’90s”: Nirvana track named the best guitar riff of all time by surprising new study – which leaves out some huge hits
Yet another eyebrow-raising best guitar riffs of all time list has been published, and – as is usually the case with such round-ups – it has drafted up some rather interesting results.
The 40-strong list comes from uDiscoverMusic, which is part of Universal Music Group’s stable. With that in mind, it’s noting that, in the list, the top five riffs all come from Universal artists or bands signed to one of its numerous subsidiaries.
Other notable caveats are that some big hitters and popular Guitar World poll-toppers are questionably relegated to more humble positions (or omitted entirely, in some cases) and the most ‘modern’ offering of the compiled list dates back 22 years to 2006.
That means that none of the riffs of our best riffs of the 2010s poll feature, as the likes of Tool (7empest), Arctic Monkeys (Do I Wanna Know?), and Gary Clark Jr. (Bright Lights) all miss out.
However, there is never an exact science behind compiling such lists, and while the resulting run-down leaves plenty of room for commenters to swing an argument, it’s still an interesting list nevertheless – even if there are some totally bizarre absences.
Kirsten Hersh’s acoustic-led Your Dirty Answer creeps in at the 40th spot on the list, hailed for its “pulsating main guitar riff” and deemed more worthy of a spot than White Stripe’s Seven Nation Armywhich is left out entirely.
Eddie Van Halen and Van Halen make one sole appearance with Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love peaking at a fairly lowly 25, one place behind Johnny Marr’s spangly This Charming Man riff, and two behind Mark Knoplfer’s dancefloor-filling antics on Money for Nothing.
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Led Zeppelin’s hip-shaking Whole Lotta Lovewhich topped Guitar World’s poll of the 50 best guitar riffs of all time in 2023, has to settle for 7th place, not even making it into the top 10. AC/DC’s Back In Blacktriumphant in NME’s 2012 pollfalls to 16th.
(Image credit: Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images)
They weren’t the only world-conquering riffs to be humbled here, either. Crazy Train (15), and Enter Sandman(14), both nestle outside the top 10, while The Kinks’ You Really Got Me (10) just makes the top bracket.
ZZ Top’s ever-cool The Barn (9), Hendrix’s Purple Haze (8), and Link Wray’s hugely influential 1958 cut Rumble all follow, before Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine – which Slash says did not come from a warm-up routine, despite popular belief – kicks off the top five.
But it’s Nirvana’s ’90s-shaping Smells Like Teen Spirit that reigns supreme, edging out Smoke on the Water (4), The Rolling Stones’ (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (3), and Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode, despite the poll describing the four-chord smash as “unoriginal”.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video) – YouTube
UDiscoverMusic notes: “The four-chord pattern of the riff is unoriginal but the quiet-loud dynamic contrasts of the song, and Cobain’s visceral delivery, add to the potency of one of the best guitar riffs of the ‘90s”.
As reported by Guitar World“while the Studio preamp, Boss DS-1, and Small Clone provide the essence of Cobain’s guitar tones on the song, several other production flourishes influence the finished recorded sound.”
Luckily, replicating the song’s iconic tones can be done on the cheap. Check out Guitar World‘s guide to nailing Smells Like Teen Spirit’s tone.
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