10 Instantly Recognizable Rock Riffs

There are tons of guitar riffs out there, but only a few have become deeply ingrained and ubiquitous in pop culture. They’re the ones you can’t wait to learn how to play; the ones you catch yourself humming; the ones that are revered worldwide by musicians and non-musicians alike.

Dig in to 10 of these timeless licks that have inspired so many around the world to pick up a guitar and jam.

1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (Rolling Stones, 1965)

According to Rolling Stone, the catchy riff of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" came to Keith Richards in a dream in a Clearwater, Fla., motel room during the band’s 1965 U.S. tour. As the story goes, he woke up, grabbed his guitar and a tape recorder, played the run of notes once, and promptly fell back asleep. It took on yet another life in the studio, where Richards drenched it in fuzz, one of the first–if not the first–times that effect was used on a rock song. Interestingly enough, Richards actually didn't want to include the distorted guitar sound ... it was supposed to be a placeholder for a horn section, but his bandmates thankfully convinced him otherwise.

2. "Sunshine of Your Love" (Cream, 1967)

Alluringly ultra-catchy 1967 Cream hit “Sunshine of Your Love” began with a bassline Jack Bruce wrote after seeing Jimi Hendrix in concert, and it's beefed up when Eric Clapton plays the memorable riff alongside him. Clapton loved this song so much he continues to play it live at his solo shows, and Jimi Hendrix was even known to cover it from time to time, unaware that he was the original inspiration.

3. "Purple Haze" (Jimi Hendrix, 1967)

Another great 1967 riff is the staccato psychedelic blast that launches Jimi Hendrix classic “Purple Haze". Built around what is commonly referred to as the "Hendrix Chord" (an extended dominant 7th chord with an augmented sharpened ninth), there’s no denying that this hit and its sonically stunning riff worked magic on generations of musicians. In a 1969 New Musical Express interview, Hendrix said “Purple Haze” was all about a dream he had in which he found himself walking beneath the sea.

4. "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin, 1969)

Jimmy Page would easily be a shoo-in for “Greatest Guitar Riff Master of All Time” should such a prestigious title ever be bestowed. Take, for example, one of his greatest riffs—the one from “Whole Lotta Love” on 1969’s Led Zeppelin II. Between the bluesy and strikingly heavy main phrase and the jaw-dropping solo work, this song is the Holy Grail of riffs for Zep Heads.

5. "Iron Man" (Black Sabbath, 1970)

No other guitar riff is as heavy and ominous as that from quintessential Sabbath proto-metal anthem “Iron Man". From the 1970 blockbuster Paranoid, “Iron Man” has transcended generations, inspiring faithful legions of metal lovers young and old alike to play along with Tony Iommi’s menacing main riff. .

6. "Smoke on the Water" (Deep Purple, 1972)

Raise your hand if this is the riff that inspired you to play guitar. Yeah, thought so. “Smoke on the Water” has enjoyed widespread popularity since 1972, when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore conjured what is possibly the world’s most famous guitar riff ever. A four-note blues scale melody in G minor (harmonized in parallel fourths), this classic was recorded on Blackmore's famous 1968 black Stratocaster in Montreaux, Switzerland, while Deep Purple was working on their seminal album, Machine Head.

7. "Walk This Way" (Aerosmith, 1975)

Like the nine riffs listed above, “Walk This Way” has stood the test of time, and it’s no surprise—Joe Perry’s funky, bluesy riff is unbelievably contagious, especially combined with Steven Tyler's rapid-fire vocal delivery. This a song that moves. Plus, with all those positively nasty power-chord extensions and killer soloing, it has to be one of the most guitar-friendly songs ever written.

8. "Crazy Train" (Ozzy Osbourne, 1980)

From debut Osbourne solo album Blizzard of Ozz, “Crazy Train” is epic on many levels. Not only does the song have heavy F# minor riffage going on, but it also has an utterly face-melting solo—all the famously nimble work of late, great guitarist Randy Rhoads. “Crazy Train” has stood strong on the airwaves for more than 30 years, is a popular must-learn on guitar and is a true assault on the senses from beginning to end.

9. "Back in Black" (AC/DC, 1980)

Much like “Crazy Train,” “Back in Black” boasts guitar work of epic proportions, with an airtight Angus Young riff and wild soloing. All it takes to recognize this rock classic right off the bat is the powerful opening E chord (or the muffled strumming at the beginning if you’re paying extra attention).

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10. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana, 1991)

With a Fender Mustang in hand, this supercharged Kurt Cobain riff inspires an anarchic sensation of fury and power, and has done so since the 1991 release of Nirvana's megahit second album, Nevermind. Its disarmingly plain structure (four power chords) is so forceful that it continues to dominate best-of song lists to this day (Rolling Stone ranked it ninth among its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time).