Ten favorite guitar riffs from the 1990s

[Jerk Shapiro]

With the 90s being, in my opinion, the second best decade in music ever, it brought with it some amazing guitar songs with some amazingly catchy and genius riffs. Here are ten of my personal favorites:

"Spoonman" - Soundgarden
"Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
"Freedom" - Rage Against the Machine
"Israel's Son" - Silverchair
"Corduroy" - Pearl Jam
"Give It Away" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins
"Outshined" - Soundgarden
"5 Minutes Alone" - Pantera
"Sludge Factory" - Alice in Chains


With Kim Thayil, Dimebag, and Tom Morello being some of the most creative riff-makers of all-time, the 90s was an amazing time for guitar rock, and just fucking rock in general.

Five minutes alooooone!

[Criminal Rock]

great list...

[Brando @$$ Fat]

revising list

[The Postmaster General]

I know some people will give me guff for this one, but "Smells Like Teen Spirit" really sticks out for me simply because it's somewhat iconic at this point. Yeah, on a technical sense, I can think of a lot of better ones, but this riff is just nostalgic for me. This is a total cliche, but it's sort of the sound I associate with the start of the decade.

[Superplasmatron]

Public Witness Program by fugazi

Lounge Act by nirvana

A Minute by shellac

Wish Fulfillment by sonic youth

give me daughters Jonathan Fire Eater

Make Up is Lies by the make up

just by radiohead

start choppin dinsaur jr

Suck My Kiss by chilli peppers

boiler maker by jesus lizard

[Tree0404]

Alright....clarity time

Riff - strictly power chord progression (that thends to be what I think of when I hear the word riff) or could say the opening/main theme to "Hunger Strike" by Temple of the Dog be considered a riff as well?

[therealjohng]

"Jesus Christ Pose" - Soundgarden
"Wish" - Nine Inch Nails
"Aenema" - Tool
"We're In This Together" - Nine Inch Nails
"Intolerance" - Tool
"Them Bones" - Alice in Chains (90's?)



I'll be back with more.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by Tree0404
Alright....clarity time

Riff - strictly power chord progression (that thends to be what I think of when I hear the word riff) or could say the opening/main theme to "Hunger Strike" by Temple of the Dog be considered a riff as well?


I know, I wrote that list really late last night. I was thinking of mostly solos, but I did put a few riffs in there. Don't know what I was thinking.....

[Tree0404]

Originally posted by Brando @$$ Fat
I know, I wrote that list really late last night. I was thinking of mostly solos, but I did put a few riffs in there. Don't know what I was thinking.....


Actually it was just more of a question from my perspective....because there is a noticeable difference between the intro to Spoonman or Hunger Strike...because Spoonman is more of a power chord progression and Hunger strike is not....would they both be considered riffs?

[Brando @$$ Fat]

riff
–noun 1. a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.


That's the definition I found, at least. I suppose a riff would be more power-chord related but I guess it doesn't have to be.

[LordSimen]

Originally posted by Brando @$$ Fat
riff
–noun 1. a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.


That's the definition I found, at least. I suppose a riff would be more power-chord related but I guess it doesn't have to be.

A riff does not have to be a power chord, but, it usually is in rock music.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

Originally posted by LordSimen
A riff does not have to be a power chord, but, it usually is in rock music.

I think as long as it has a distinct melodic pattern repeated through much of the song it's all right.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

1. "Eternal Life"- Jeff Buckley
2. "Only Shallow"- My Bloody Valentine
3. "Coffee & T.V."- Blur
4. "Dirty Boots"- Sonic Youth
5. "Song 2"- Blur (far from their best song I know but a universally recognizable riff nonetheless)
6. "Let it Be Me"- Social Distortion (I believe this counts)
7. "Semi-Charmed Life"- Third Eye Blind
8. "Columbia "- Oasis
9. "Bombtrack"- Rage Against the Machine
10. "We Die Young"- Alice in Chains

[therealjohng]

"Street Spirit" - Radiohead
"Forty Six and 2" - Tool



Basically Adam Jones has created some pretty badass riffs in his career.

[starcat]

i am not a huge manson fan, but beautiful people has one of the greatest riffs of the decade

also thunderstruck by AC/DC

[franky4fingerz]

"alive" pearl jam

[moviemaniac8210]

I can think of one for now..."No Rain"- Blind Melon. This song always makes me think about the ninties.

[Tyler_Durden_208]

Originally posted by starcat
i am not a huge manson fan, but beautiful people has one of the greatest riffs of the decade
Considering it's lifted from Black Sabbath, maybe you should be complementing Tony Iommi.

[Tree0404]

1. "Hunger Strike" - Temple of the Dog
2. "Dissident" - Pearl Jam
3. "Killing in the Name" - Rage Against he Machine (There are better overall Rage songs, but this riff is great)
4. "Lie in Our Graves" - Dave Matthews Band
5. "Nutshell" - Alice in Chains
6. "Touch, Peel & Stand" - Days of the New
7. "Prison Sex" - Tool
8. "Angeles" - Elliott Smith
9. "Shine" - Collective Soul
10. "King of Carrot Flowers, Part One" - Neutral Milk Hotel

Hon. Mention

- "Fell On Black Days" - Soundgarden
- "Dear Lover" - Social Distortion

[Badbird]

Really going off the top of my head, but:

Megadeth - Train of Consequences

Slayer - War Ensemble

KMFDM - Juke Joint Jezebel

Dokken - Erase the Slate

Marylin Manson - Beautiful People

Metallica - Ain't My Bitch

Judas Priest - Painkiller

Die Krupps - Bloodsuckers

Pig - Prayer, Praise and Prophet

Ozzy - No More Tears

Armored Saint - Reign of Fire

[starcat]

megadeth - symphony of destruction
greenday - brainstew
ozzy - i dont wanna change the world
white zombie - thunderkiss '65
skid row - youth gone wild
nirvana - smells like teen spirit (somebody had to say it)
guns n roses - you could be mine
enter sandman and on through the never - metallica

[therealjohng]

OMFG, Thunderkiss 65 by White Zombie rules.