Top 10 Iconic Guitar Riffs of the ‘70s

Get ready to rock as we dive into the Top 10 Iconic Guitar Riffs from the 70s! These unforgettable riffs defined a generation and continue to inspire guitarists worldwide. From the heavy grooves of "Smoke on the Water" to the southern charm of "Sweet Home Alabama," these legendary tracks showcase the best of 70s rock. Which riff is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! 🎸🔥

Top 10

Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple (1972)
Universally recognized, even by non-guitarists, and a gateway riff for many beginners.

Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
A Southern rock staple that resonates across genres and audiences.

Paranoid – Black Sabbath (1970)
The riff that defines heavy metal, cementing Black Sabbath’s legacy.

Layla – Derek and the Dominos (1970)
Clapton’s passionate and intricate riff remains a masterpiece of emotion and skill.

Highway to Hell – AC/DC (1979)
A rock anthem with a riff that embodies rebellion and raw power.

Black Dog – Led Zeppelin (1971)
A technically brilliant and syncopated riff showcasing Jimmy Page’s creativity.

Money – Pink Floyd (1973)
A genre-defying riff in 7/4 time that is as unique as it is iconic.

Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones (1971)
A groovy and edgy riff from the kings of rock and roll swagger.

Walk This Way – Aerosmith (1975)
A funky, genre-blending riff that helped shape hard rock’s evolution.

(Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult (1976)
Haunting and melodic, with an enduring appeal that still feels fresh.

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[philipveerman]

Glad to see Smoke On the Water rated at number one. Ritchie Blackmore had to be in there somewhere.

[Ghostguitars]

I see everyone talking bad about this list but There are SO many incredible guitar riffs from the 70s so everyone has there different ones

[LandoBassMan]

thanks for the bass riff on a guitar riff video

[painter]

Wonderful guitar riffs! If you make a short video like this, it's nice for the viewer that all the riffs are about the same volume.

[donkick]

Kudos to the Late Ed King who was also an Ace Psychedelic Lead Guitarist with The Strawberry Alarm Clock.

[j.reveille]

Pretty cool….number 10 liked my tunes and was going to produce some music for me…played that riff in my living room and number 1 with his wife invited me out for a pint after seeing me play regularly at their favorite hidden local bar restaurant. Not bad.

[piotrbartoszewicz]

No, no man! You you forgot about Jimmy Hendrix - the guitar genius
First place: - "Hey Joe",
Second: - "Crosstown Traffic",
Third: - "All Along The Watchtower",
Fourth: - "Voodoo
...and then, the rest of your list :-)

[adam_p]

Can’t you hear me knocking by the Rolling Stones

[tc]

Would like to add Mountain Mississippi Queen and Ted Nugent Strangle hold.😊

[tomtrana]

Humble Pie - I don't need no doctor

[Rude_i_Wredne]

I'd cut "Money" on a fact it's a bass riff and "Brown Sugar" on a fact that it's not even close to any of the rest.
I'd probably cut "Highway to Hell" as well. It's an iconic song, but I doubt it's the riff.

What to put in the place of those? Trying to keep 1 song per band - "Message in a Bottle" by The Police, "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who and "Hotel California" by The Eagles (I'm really surprised this didn't make it, one of the best acoustic riffs of all time)

[robertmurphy]

HONORABLE MENTION, GARY GLITTER ROCK AND ROLL

[roberthickman]

Replace 2 with I’m going home by ten years after

[LuisGomez-osrm]

El 10 no lo conozco, el 4 nunca me ha gustado, el 2 no me gusta....a fin de cuentas son los peores....habiendo mejores