100_greatest_guitar_riffs_of_all_time_part_1 -

: Eric Clapton’s descending blues-rock riff is a masterclass in the "woman tone"—a thick, smooth distortion that influenced early heavy metal.

: This riff introduced the "Hendrix chord" and psychedelic distortion to the mainstream, forever changing the perception of what an electric guitar could do. 100_greatest_guitar_riffs_of_all_time_part_1

: Built on a simple G-minor blues scale played in parallel fourths, Ritchie Blackmore’s creation is perhaps the most recognizable riff in history—and famously one of the forbidden riffs often banned in guitar stores due to overuse by beginners. : Eric Clapton’s descending blues-rock riff is a

As the decades progressed, players like Eddie Van Halen and Jeff Beck pushed the technical boundaries of what a riff could be, incorporating tapping, whammy bar dives, and complex phrasing. As the decades progressed, players like Eddie Van

The early decades established the "vocabulary" of the riff, moving from simple blues progressions to heavy, distorted hooks.