A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: superval99 on November 25, 2023, 08:27:32 AM

Title: Best guitar riff
Post by: superval99 on November 25, 2023, 08:27:32 AM
Just read this in the Mail-on line:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12789329/Music-fans-vote-best-guitar-riff-time-placing-Princes-Purple-Rain-second-Dire-Straits-hit-Sultans-Swing-third.html

Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: JF on November 25, 2023, 09:12:23 AM
thanks for the link

the riff in Beat it is Steve Lukather. Van Halen only played the solo
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: JF on November 25, 2023, 09:15:42 AM
I remember an interview of Joe Satriani.
the journalist talked about the most iconic riff in music history and quoted smoke on the water
but Joe Satriani replied :"no ! the most iconic riff is Beethoven's fifth symphony !"
I agree with him, I think it's the most famous four notes around the world
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: Knopflerfan on November 25, 2023, 09:56:49 AM
Two in the top 20!!
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: quizzaciously on November 25, 2023, 10:03:41 AM
The problem with these lists is what's a riff exactly? I don't think Sultans is a riff anyway, more like a hook, and Every Breath You Take is a rhythm guitar part.

By the way, you can hear Mark here attempting to play the riff #1 according to this list, no wonder it's the best since even MK struggles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6CJG9NDfI
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: ds1984 on November 25, 2023, 12:59:45 PM
They should no write  "best" but "favourite".

And I agree that Sweet Child O' Mine is a fuckin' good one.

The studio take is insane.

Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: Matchstickman on November 25, 2023, 02:01:59 PM
Like Pavel, I am not sure that I would view Sultans as having a riff, but there is a grey area. It does not start the song, but it is repeated several times.

MFN is clearly one of the best riffs of all time. It is also much longer than most of the iconic riffs (Satisfaction, etc.). But Sweet Child is great also.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: ds1984 on November 25, 2023, 02:29:45 PM
MFN and Satisfaction are same inspiration : classic Rythm and Blues horn lick.

And in the case of Satisfaction it was intended at first to be performed by a horn section.

Keith used the fuzz for the demo and others had to convince him to keep the guitar fuzz instead of putting a horn section.
In the end it is Otis Redding that recorded Satisfaction the way it was initially meant.

During the Steel Wheels\Urban Jungle tour you can clearly hear the Stones at some point performing it including the horn section.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: Eddie Fox on November 27, 2023, 12:58:41 AM
I’m shocked Layla isn’t on it. In my opinion MFN has a better riff but SOS is certainly more iconic. That three chord progression is genius.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: dustyvalentino on November 27, 2023, 10:52:34 AM
Huge Prince fan here, but could you sing the "riff" from Purple Rain?

Silly list.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: Kris-b on November 27, 2023, 04:45:08 PM
The problem with these lists is what's a riff exactly? I don't think Sultans is a riff anyway, more like a hook, and Every Breath You Take is a rhythm guitar part.

By the way, you can hear Mark here attempting to play the riff #1 according to this list, no wonder it's the best since even MK struggles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6CJG9NDfI

I wonder if this video is a joke, but I am sure it is Sultans of Swing with other music.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: quizzaciously on November 27, 2023, 08:02:59 PM
The problem with these lists is what's a riff exactly? I don't think Sultans is a riff anyway, more like a hook, and Every Breath You Take is a rhythm guitar part.

By the way, you can hear Mark here attempting to play the riff #1 according to this list, no wonder it's the best since even MK struggles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6CJG9NDfI

I wonder if this video is a joke, but I am sure it is Sultans of Swing with other music.

You wonder? ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: Eddie Fox on November 28, 2023, 01:02:28 AM
Huge Prince fan here, but could you sing the "riff" from Purple Rain?

Silly list.

I think they meant that intro… but yeah, makes no sense to me as well.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: dustyvalentino on November 28, 2023, 01:06:47 AM
Huge Prince fan here, but could you sing the "riff" from Purple Rain?

Silly list.

I think they meant that intro… but yeah, makes no sense to me as well.

The intro, good as it is is just a bunch of arpeggios on chords isn’t it?  Arguably the repeated figure at the end of the song is more of a riff.
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: dustyvalentino on November 28, 2023, 01:08:16 AM
PS no Sunshine of Your Love?! Really?!
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: mariosboss on November 30, 2023, 03:50:36 AM
thanks for the link

the riff in Beat it is Steve Lukather. Van Halen only played the solo

Exactly, in fact as you probably know a lot of that Thriller album were the folks from Toto. Great session musicians. Jeff Porcaro on drums wow... and as we all know he was the king on "On Every Street."
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: JF on November 30, 2023, 11:49:13 AM
thanks for the link

the riff in Beat it is Steve Lukather. Van Halen only played the solo

Exactly, in fact as you probably know a lot of that Thriller album were the folks from Toto. Great session musicians. Jeff Porcaro on drums wow... and as we all know he was the king on "On Every Street."

yes . I was never found of Toto. But like very much the musical arrangmeents on Human nature and the girl is mine, especially the guitar
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: dustyvalentino on November 30, 2023, 12:27:27 PM
thanks for the link

the riff in Beat it is Steve Lukather. Van Halen only played the solo

Exactly, in fact as you probably know a lot of that Thriller album were the folks from Toto. Great session musicians. Jeff Porcaro on drums wow... and as we all know he was the king on "On Every Street."

yes . I was never found of Toto. But like very much the musical arrangmeents on Human nature and the girl is mine, especially the guitar

Surely everybody loves Africa :)
Title: Re: Best guitar riff
Post by: ds1984 on November 30, 2023, 06:59:15 PM
thanks for the link

the riff in Beat it is Steve Lukather. Van Halen only played the solo

Exactly, in fact as you probably know a lot of that Thriller album were the folks from Toto. Great session musicians. Jeff Porcaro on drums wow... and as we all know he was the king on "On Every Street."

But it's not him on my fave track of the album, PONO.
Manu did a perfect job.