Check your choices
In an interview with Kerrang! Radio, Dragonforce guitarist Herman Li was asked about his all-time favorite riffs. Check out his picks:
5. Dream Theater – Under a Glass Moon
"This riff is kind of strange. A long progressive song. The first time I heard it, I didn't know you could make riffs just with drum beats in an unusual time signature. If you play guitar and want to learn to play more than 4/4 time, this is a great riff to learn."
4. Symphony X – Sea of Lies
“A very aggressive riff. A bit neo-classical but not entirely classical. It's a really heavy album for a progressive metal band, it's one of their best. It's a good riff to learn as a beginner.”
3. Joe Satriani – The Extremist
“Joe isn’t known for his riffs, but I really like the riff in 'The Extremist'. Joe Satriani is known for his lead guitar playing, but he’s also great at rhythm. I think everyone should learn to play that riff. I remember playing it wrong for years.”
2. Metallica – Creeping Death
“It’s a very simple riff. Almost a chord. But it works, and it gives a lot of energy. Being able to make something sound so memorable with a small number of notes is one of the hardest things to do with a guitar.”
1. Megadeth – Holy Wars
“The first time I heard this I was on the bus going to school. And I thought, 'Wow, this album is insane!' I just loved the riffs.”