seriously, the most reconizable riff in history is...

[MBreinin]

It's in G, double stops. You can either use open G and D, then 3rd, 5th and 7th frets, or start on 5th fret D and A strings. Or to make it fuller use the R5O 3-string power chords, but Ritchie just played double stops through a Marshall Major 200-watt head.

Actually, one that's even easier and more recognizable is probably the riff in Satisfaction by the Stones.

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????

You think something is so simple........

Mike

[texasfury]

You guys forgot about "Johnny B. Goode" and Satisfaction. Although I would probably eliminate JBG because it's a long extended phrase more than a riff. A riff is short and to the point.

The acid test of a recognizable riff is that you can sing it, and even people who don't play music can still recognize it. I doubt Layla would pass this test, even among guitarists.

[El_Kabong]

Louis Louis~

In August 1983, a marathon celebrating the song was held at KFJC Radio in Los Altos Hills, California. For 63 hours, the event known as "Maximum Louie Louie" captivated local and international media alike, playing every known version of the song, encouraging others to deliver their own recording of the song up to the station, where it would find a guaranteed audience on the radio. At the time of the marathon, there were over 800 documented recordings of the song. Since that point in time, the number of known recordings has at least doubled, with the last count somewhere around the 1,600 range.

Beyond hard and hillybilly rock, I would think this is the most recognised riff by the general public. I wouldn't think anyone under 30, that isn't a guitar player, cares about a band named, "Derek and the Dominos" anymore.

http://www.louielouie.net/05-louie-faq.htm

[texasfury]

After thinking about it some more, the most recognizable riff in history has to be the intro to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

[len]

Wild Thing -troggs
all day and all of the night -kinks
you really got me -kinks and VH

[777]

Unchained! Well, i wish it was.

+1..........

[MichaelLitvak]

when i come inside my local guitar store everyone plays the riff for fade to black :S ( the chords Am C G E G Am)

[lerxstcat]

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????

You think something is so simple........

Mike

Well, it IS simple, but I made an error telling you! The highest notwe of the riff is on the 6th fret, not the 7th. Must've been braindead there, I need to shit some 3-foot logs and a couple of egg sacs out so I can clear my head!

That's definitely a riff that is easier to play than to describe. Double stops is just playing 4ths on 2 adjacent strings if you didn't know already.

[Chad]

Layla?? Give me a break. What were they smoking?

Within rock music, I vote for Smoke on the Water as well. I taught myself that riff the first day I ever played a guitar.

[Accept2]

Summertime Blues.........

[circle of the tyrants]

think you mean sweet home alabama? there really is no riff per se in free bird.

+1. I was thinking Sweet Home Alabama all throughout the first page, then I got to the second and you'd beat me to it! Every time I hear the intro now, my mouth starts watering for KFC like I'm Pavlov's dog or something.

[VulfgangPfuck]

I'm going with Stairway....

But yeah...Smoke on the Water takes a very close second IMO

[Big D]

If we're talking about rock music, it has to be Smoke on the Water. But there are at least 10 other famous riffs that would be close seconds. Most of them have been mentioned on this thread.

[RacerX]

when i come inside my local guitar store

You'd think they'd ban you....

[Ace]

Strangel by DUDEFUCKINHELLYEAH!

Duh, that was easy. Second would be either Iron Man or Highway to Hell, maybe.