10 Incredible Guitar Riffs On Songs That Nobody Will Admit They Love

Incredible guitar riffs are the backbone of excellent songwriting across genres, providing a powerful and emotional cadence unique to the instrument. Still, many casual listeners often overlook some of the most driving, melodic and technical riffs in popular music, whether that be due to mainstream saturation, cultural context or simply personal preferences.

Riffs have no perfect middle ground, as many stretch concepts of complexity and others test the tolerance of simplicity. Some cross the threshold of predictable and formulaic, while many masterful moments become so iconic they are wrongfully relegated to overlooked clichés. Appeal is never universal nor timeless, with fresh and exciting shifting to stale and irritating in an instant, but greatness still deserves its flowers, nonetheless. Even if you don’t want to admit it.

10

“Seven Nation Army” — The White Stripes

Guitarist: Jack White

Have you ever heard this played in a stadium filled with 100,000 raucous weekend warriors? Come back to me when you do and tell me why so many purists are afraid to show love here. It sounds like a bass line, but it’s not a bass line (semi-acoustic with a DigiTech Whammy, actually).

Get over it: the technicality of that debate is far overblown at this point. If overexposure is the problem you have… well, that’s what happens when a riff this good catches on in mainstream culture. This is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable riffs modern rock has to offer, and even the haters have love for it when it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

9

“House Of The Rising Sun” — The Animals

Guitarist: Hilton Valentine

Some people disregard this riff solely because of its repetitive, arpeggiated style. Others within the folk community, notably Bob Dylan (who recorded an earlier version), felt the electrified version stole from previous arrangements while also turning its back on a traditional folk feel.

Nonetheless, acoustic preference and/or an obsession with complexity shouldn’t block love for this now-iconic approach from guitarist Hilton Valentine. It didn’t need variety or development to become one of the most-played pieces of all time. Many even consider it a forbidden riff, adding fuel to just as overplayed arguments.

8

“American Woman” — The Guess Who

Guitarist: Randy Bachman

The guitar riff is only really considered controversial due to the song’s overall anti-American messaging, criticizing war policies and highlighting key social debates. Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman famously came up with the iconic groove by pure happenstance, improvising on his ‘59 Les Paul after breaking a string on stage.

Coincidence generates magic for many musicians, as this riff — the song’s most identifiable component even despite its overwhelming theme — is an unforgettable piece of classic rock and roll history that continues to endure time. Beyond the political undertones, everyone should be able to admit they love this rock anthem.

7

“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” — The Rolling Stones

Guitarist: Keith Richards

While this cover was well-received overall, there have been countless debates regarding a lack of emotion within the guitar riffs. Many Motown and classic R&B purists feel that the rock version of the sensational hit was too rough and aggressive to encapsulate the depth of The Temptations’ original delivery, to them thus capitalizing on the music without any focus on an authentic interpretation.

Covers are meant to be a place for musicians to reinvent the artistry of an original while staying natural to their own sound and identity, though, which is exactly what The Rolling Stones did here. Keith Richards’ raw and gritty tone is admittedly simple in this instance, but we can’t help but come back for more.

6

“All Star” — Smash Mouth

Guitarist: Greg Camp

Long a source of online humor, this song receives a lot more hate than you would imagine. Sure, it’s another riff critics can rightfully label as nothing more than basic — but simplicity is also what makes the Smash Mouth hit song “All Star” as catchy and memorable as any work you could name in comparison.

Early 2000s pop-rock culture hasn’t aged terribly well, often landing within an unending universe of memes and comedic parodies, but this rare Smash Mouth masterpiece reached a level of cultural significance (thanks, Shrek!) remembered fondly by most.

5

“The Game of Love” — Santana

Guitarist: Carlos Santana

This pop-rock Santana moment isn’t held in high regard compared to his more intricate and expressive guitar prowess, but how could you not love the mix alongside Michelle Branch’s vocals? Some call it a sellout move, while others rightfully cling to Santana’s riff and the smooth pop hook for all its glory.

As you can tell from this list, any commercial success that differs from an artist’s norm quickly becomes a niche debate among guitarists, purists and fans alike. No, Santana doesn’t exactly bring out his signature Latin rock flair given the radio-friendly and mainstream production, but saying this song is watered down by that sentiment, to take away from Santana’s presence, would be an unwarranted stretch.

4

“Ashes In The Fall” — Rage Against The Machine

Guitarist: Tom Morello

“This is the new sound” and for whatever reason, nobody wants to admit they love it. When you’re as unconventional and experimental as Tom Morello has been over the course of his career, that usually comes with the territory. The siren-esque sound puts emphasis on its dark, haunting effect much more so than your typical riff-based approach.

Maybe love is reserved because the piece contains more development than fans are used to finding within Rage Against The Machine’s polarizing and explosive approach, but the unsettling tone and structure is exactly why this stands out as one of the band’s more incredible collections of riffs.

3

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” — Guns N’ Roses

Guitarist: Slash

Is it because this riff has simply become too familiar? The hate here is blasphemous, and no one even means it, whether they admit that or not. Listener fatigue is understandable, but overlooking Slash’s greatness isn’t. It’s not a song that showcases the most complex riff or solo in his repertoire, but it’s also the most iconic Slash has for a reason.

Even decades after its release, the riff stands strong against widespread backlash. For whatever reason, people love to hate it — and god forbid you ever play GNR’s most anthemic work inside a guitar store (keep your head on a swivel).

2

“One Last Breath” — Creed

Guitarist: Mark Tremonti

You can mock Scott Stapp’s vocals all you want. You could find the melody and post-grunge aesthetic to be predictable, dramatic and theatrical; many even claim lack of originality here. This track is often dismissed as overly introspective, just like many of you who still pretend you don’t love it.

Mark Tremonti’s soothing guitar riff serves as the perfect build into an intense and emotional chorus that none of our memories will ever escape. Creed has been and always will be low-hanging fruit for cheap parodies and labels of ‘corporate rock,’ but the melodramatic expression in “One Last Breath” showcases a level of musicianship that can’t be ignored.

1

“Headstrong” — Trapt

Guitarist: Simon Ormandy

Nostalgic value and hate is at an all-time high when it comes to this Trapt hit. Once the straightforward aggression wears off, the lack of variation seems to play a factor in its overall distaste. Many felt this riff was just a reused nu-metal tactic that didn’t advance the genre’s sound despite a platform to do so, breeding resentment paired with the band’s declining reputation over time.

Hot take: Brute force over musicality is okay sometimes. Why does a riff being one-dimensional or somewhat generic have to mean it’s not incredible? It doesn’t. Maybe after another listen you’ll finally admit you’ve loved it all along.