Simple, catchy, killer riffs?

[Dominik Gräber]

I want to expand my library of riffs I can play to make myself better at rhythm as well as improvising. (Cause ripping off some stuff and mixing up to create something new is the best way to start imrpovising, right?)
So, which are the best heavy or catchy, badass, killer riffs that aren’t overly complicated in your opinion, besides Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and the really ‘old’ classics? Oh, and actual recommendations would help, not like “basicly anything from *instert band name* ”

 

[Filip Tomiša]

Square hammer by Ghost, first thing that came to my mind.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

Yes, right! Also the new song Dance Macabre when I think about it. Noted them^^

 

[idssdi]

Symphony X has some great riffs. In their Song The Oddysey are some really cool ones (it’s a 22 minute song ). I meant the song but the record with the same name is also really full of great riffs. Arctic monkeys has some fun ones (Dancing Shoes, do you wanna know, why’do you only call me when your high) , Death To all but Metal, Glory hole, Eyes of a panther, turn out the lights (M shadows also sings in this one) by Steel Panther, I always like absolute zero, gone sovereign and say you’ll hand me by Stone Sour too. There are some Dream Theater ones that absoluter really cool too but I feel like I started writing alot so not gonna specify songs.
I kinda neglected A7x, Iron Maiden etc.

 

[Ana Psuturi]

Arctic Monkeys Do I wanna now. First thing that came to mind. Really like playing it.

 

[Dan Shipway]

Every Rammstein riff

 

[Dan Shipway]

Sorry, allow me to elaborate.
I would definitely take heirate mich, Engle, and Mein Teil
These have pretty strong picking patterns and some good rhythms to steal, Heirate mich is also very good for improving down picking

 

[Dominik Gräber]

Thank you all so far, I will definetly check out these songs.
@dan yes I really like the riff in Engel, I might try approaching this one

 

[Jake Young]

What’s some of your favorite bands man?

 

[Dominik Gräber]

@jake Avenged, Bullet for my Valentine, Metallica to Name the top 3 at the Moment

 

[Filip Tomiša]

Seek and destroy

 

[Ed Seith]

If you want to build your right hand stamina, try to tackle Atlas Rise by Metallica.
Flying Monkeys by Tremonti is a great riff, and fun to play.

 

[Alan Celis]

id say aqualung and chapter four

 

[Dominik Gräber]

@Ed I actually already know atlas rise^^
I will check out the tremonti song

 

[Sayonil Mitra]

Revolution Radio of Green Day. In general they have easy riffs. Seek and Destroy from Metallica (it’s actually easier than it sounds).

 

[Calvin Phillips]

Fear Factory.

Dino’s tone kills me everytime. Sometimes a simple chug is all you need to get that riff going. I think he uses a 7 string too, but yeah. Most of his stuff is literally chugging of one or two chords.

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Dammit by Blink 182! That and fat lip by Sum 41. A lot of pop punk bands have simple riffs that are fun! Good to see you’re digging into rhythm!

 

[Tory Capman]

If you like Bullet, their riffs helped me a lot with rhythm (and are still good workouts).
Definitely try: Suffocating Under the Words of Sorrow (this one was good for my alternate picking), Her Voice Resides, 10 Years Today (first BFMV song I learned), My Fist Your Mouth Her Scars, Waking the Demon, etc. Lot of opportunity as I’m sure you already know lol.

 

[Mariler]

Iron man by black sabbath
Green Day
Ramones

 

[Adin Shepherd]

I throw down a list of some of my fave Metallica riffs to play.
Jump in the fire – intro and verse riffs
Seek and destroy – intro and the riff before the solo
For whom the bell tolls – the whole song is one cool riff
Creeping death – intro and bridge riffs
Master of puppets – take your pick, they’re all good
Leper messiah – again, full of cool riffs
Orion – intro
…And justice for all – full of cool riffs too
The shortest straw – intro
The frayed ends of sanity – intro
Through the never – intro
Of wolf and man – into and verse sections
The god that failed – intro and verse
My friend of misery – verse and chorus
Heaps of cool riffs in the cover songs too, Am I evil?, blitzkrieg, the small hours, crash course….