Best guitar riff

[hunter]

My top 3:

Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
Always on the Run - Lenny Kravitz/Slash
Whole Lotta Love - Pagey

[il˙ti]

Burn, Stargazer, Gates of Babylon, Black Night are my favourites of Blackmore's. He really knew how to base a good song around a good riff.

Others:
Megadave: Symphony of Destruction, Hangar 18, She-Wolf (verse),  Reckoning Day
Jon Schaffer: Setian Massacre, I Walk Alone, Infiltrate/Assimilate (Tim, if you wrote that riff, credits go to you), Dracula, Phantom Opera Ghost, Frankenstein. Heck, when he's not singing Star Spangled Banner to European journalists, he's galloping out the best riffs in metal, by the bulk.
John Petrucci: About to Crash Reprise. THAT is one rockin' riff.

[Johnny Mac]

Jeff Beck Scatterbrain

Jimi Hendrix Foxy Lady

The Sex Pistols Holidays In The Sun

[Lucifuge]

When I started trying to think about this, I quickly realised that my favourite riffs are actually bass riffs.

Not necessarily the best, but the first three that spring to mind:

Black Sabbath: NIB
The Violent Femmes: Breakin' Up
The Sisters of Mercy: Lucretia My Reflection

When it comes to guitar riffs, again, the first three that leap out at me:

Iggy Pop: The Passenger
Tracy Chapman: Fast Car
PJ Harvey: Teclo

[Mr. Air]

So many great riffs have been mentioned already and I can't say the following list is final.

The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (almost a mythic riff. Why didn't anyone come up with this earlier?)
RATM - Ending of Bullet in the Head
Incubus - Sick Sad Little World

[fbloke]

Yes, La Grange is a great riff (John Lee Hooker was a talented lad), but I think the best ZZ Top riff is often overlooked - Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.

[AndyR]

but I think the best ZZ Top riff is often overlooked - Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.

Yesssss (indeedy! :D)

[jibidy]

I was gonna say dude looks like a lady.

I don't really listen to all that old school music but I think as far as riffs go i'de have to say;

Roots bloody Roots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEZwA9i-XzM
Ich will http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlPhAmaFtVE

Because this is what got me playing guitar haha.

[choucas09]

How about Reef. I would have left you baby...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLowZHyPV6I

[cjpmmd]

Robin Trower --- Bridge of Sighs
Ritchie Blackmore --- Man on the Silver Mountain
Pat Travers --- Snortin Whiskey

[MrBump]

NIB - yes, most definitely.

I remember hearing that song as a kid and it scared the sh!t out of me - love everything about it though.

To be honest I could probably bypass most of the angst and say that my favourite riff of all time is Iommi...

[Ian Price]

Yes, La Grange is a great riff (John Lee Hooker was a talented lad), but I think the best ZZ Top riff is often overlooked - Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.

Oh yes - I was playing this today. I must say that it sounds better on an Esquire (that I sold) than a Strat (that I have). Great song, great riff.

[Twinfan]

Great riff, and one I learnt after hearing Ian play it!

Oh, and it still sounds great on the Esquire matey  ;)

[Ian Price]

Great riff, and one I learnt after hearing Ian play it!

Oh, and it still sounds great on the Esquire matey  ;)

It sounds great no matter how bad I play it!

I'm loving having a Strat but missing having an Esquire. If I get the job I have just gone for I may well be in the market for an Esquire at some point in 2010.

[Ratrod]

No mention of The Who's My Generation?

Has to be the most influential riff of the sixties. It was what every aspiring guitarist back then learned first.

Jus two notes and in it all the rage and frustration of a teanager growing up.

Brilliant!