What’s the best guitar riff of the decade?

[ScottyBHarris]

Van Halen's “She’s the Woman” made the list. Just voted for it.

Well, the 2010s are nearly over and the electric guitar is still very much alive. And to celebrate that fact, we want you to let us know your favorite riff of the decade (that’s 2010-2019, to be precise).

We’ve populated the list below with picks from the GW team and readers, spanning djent fury, funk floor-fillers and straight-up rock anthems, but if none of those choices float your proverbial boat, you’re welcome to suggest your own fave.

Keep your votes coming in until polls close on November 30, and we’ll reveal your winners in December. Here’s to the next 10 years!

Check it out here:

https://www.guitarworld.com/news/wha...-of-the-decade

[Dave's Dreidel]

Wow, that website sucks. Only about 950 fucking ads on it.

[danielleesale]

I voted for St. Vincent’s “Cruel”.

[noise next door]

The Kills
"Future Starts Slow"

Straight time, and very simple, but uses very interesting half-time triplets between the "3" and the "1" of the next measure.

Great long drones on B2/D3/G2.

..1---2---3.t.t.1---2---3-&-4---
E ------------------------------|

B ------------------------------|

G --------2-2-2---------2-------|

D --------------0---------0-----|

A 2-----------------------------|

E ------------------------------|


..1---2---3.t.t.1---2---3.t.t.
E ------------------------------|

B ------------------------------|

G --------2-2-2---------2-2-2---|

D --------------0---------------|

A ------------------------------|

E 3-----------------------------|

Repeats...

..1---2---3.t.t.1---2---3-&-4---
E ------------------------------|

B ------------------------------|

G --------2-2-2---------2-------|

D --------------0---------0-----|

A 2-----------------------------|

E ------------------------------|


..1---2---3.t.t.1---2---3.t.t.
E ------------------------------|

B ------------------------------|

G --------2-2-2---------2-2-2---|

D --------------0---------------|

A ------------------------------|

E 3-----------------------------|

[noise next door]

[noise next door]

Erik Ferentinos,
IMO best hard rock player around
(and nobody knows he exists)

[Jedi McFly]

I love Van Halen, I love ADKOT, but there is no way in hell I'm voting for a riff from the 1970's as the riff of the current decade. There are a ton of other bullshit choices on there too, tunes that were weak singles. Wtf?

Based on this list it's gotta be either Get Lucky (Nile Rogers/Daft Punk), Lonely Boy (Black Keys) or Girls (The 1975). Catchy riffs on big songs.

[noise next door]

Erik Ferentinos
IMO best hard rock player around
(and nobody knows he exists)

Just had to tab out this Stephen Pearcy "Ten Miles Wide" main riff this morning... so killer!

Tuned down 1 whole step

Lots of classic RATT/EVH rhythm techniques employed here...
(ala Dance the Night Away and Round & Round)

The three G2 notes (sounding as F2) on the low E in the last bar all have a small 1/4 bend.

I'm sure people can figure out the proper UP and DN strokes needed at this tempo...


Best riff of the decade!

............(4).&.
e|----------------|
B|--------------9-|
G|-----Pick-Up--9-|
D|-----Bar------9-|
A|--------------7-|
E|----------------|


..1.&..2..&.3.&.4.&..1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.
e|------------------|----------------|
B|--10-10---9-10--8-|--8-8---------5-|
G|--9--9----9-9---7-|--7-7-7-7-----5-|
D|--9--9--9-9-9---7-|--7-7-7-7---7\5-|
A|------------------|--------5---5\3-|
E|------------------|----------------|

..1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&..1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.
e|----------------|----------------|
B|--5---5---5---5-|--------------9-|
G|--5---5---5---5-|--------------9-|
D|--5---5---5---5-|--------------9-|
A|------3-------3-|------5---5---7-|
E|----------------|--0-3---3---3---|

[KS 5150]

i think "As Is" would have been a much better choice than "She's The Woman". Or "China Town" for that matter.

[ScottyBHarris]

I love Van Halen, I love ADKOT, but there is no way in hell I'm voting for a riff from the 1970's as the riff of the current decade. There are a ton of other bullshit choices on there too, tunes that were weak singles. Wtf?

Based on this list it's gotta be either Get Lucky (Nile Rogers/Daft Punk), Lonely Boy (Black Keys) or Girls (The 1975). Catchy riffs on big songs.

To most people (ie. anyone who doesn’t frequent this site), STW was a new VH song on ADKOT. That being said, I get your point. I agree with KS 5150, As Is or Chinatown would have been a better choice for best riffage.

[RRvh1]

Greta Van Fleet - Highway Tune.

I wouldn't have voted for STW if this poll had been taken in '77. Eddie did some neat stuff, yet the diads on the D & G strings with the galloping open A, sound like a slew of their other demos from that era.