There are two surefire ways to get laid: 1) Be Ryan Gosling; and 2)
Learn how to play the guitar. But since there’s only one Ryan Gosling
(he also plays guitar, which is like, totally cheating), we suggest
picking up an axe and start writing some love songs. But before you can
write your own stuff, you have to know what came before. Thankfully,
Ubisoft’s Rocksmith allows gamers to plug in any guitar to their
video
game console and play along with any of the game's 50 featured
songs. To get you ready, here are 10 guitar riffs that are easy to learn
and constantly played -- so if you've got your guitar in-hand, you'll
undoubtedly get your moment in the spotlight
10."Smoke on the Water"
Deep Purple
Difficulty: 2
This riff is
proof that sometimes in rock music, simplicity works best. The
pulverizing four-note melody is one of the most recognizable riffs in
the history of hard rock, and once it's joined by the hi-hat, the
distorted organ, the drums, and the electric bass, the sound reaches
musical heights few dream of. A favorite of beginners and seasoned vets
alike.
9."My Sharona"
The KnackDifficulty: 4
“My Sharona” became the
fastest-selling debut single since The Beatles' “I wanna Hold Your Hand”
in 1964. Why, you might ask? The band’s guitarist Berton Averre wrote
that riff years before he joined the L.A. New Wave outfit The Knack.
Never underestimate the power of a catchy riff.
The Wild Ones
Difficulty: 3
Though
written by Chip Taylor and originally recorded by The Wild Ones, it's
the version recorded in 1966 by British band The Troggs that catapulted
this song to ubiquity. Written in the key of A major, the riff is based
on a four-chord progression and is a perfect starting point for
beginners everywhere. It’s also the perfect entry song for a fictional
relief pitcher played by a real-life bi-polar drug addict with an
affinity for hookers.
7."You Really Got Me"
The Kinks
Difficulty: 4
Many experts
contend that this song was one of the major precursors to heavy metal.
Written by Ray Davies, the power-chord driven ditty became The Kinks’
first crossover hit. It captured the essence of hard rock and paved the
way for the British Invasion that would change rock music in America
forever.
6."Johnny B. Goode"
Chuck Berry
Difficulty: 7
Contrary to popular belief, this pioneering riff wasn’t written by Back to the Future's Marty McFly, but Chuck Berry, who many contend is the godfather of rock 'n’ roll. In 2008, Rolling Stone named
"Johnny B. Goode" No. 1 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of
All Time. This is rock 'n’ roll in its purest, most unadulterated form.
5."Sweet Child O' Mine"
Guns N’ RosesDifficulty: 9
Although the entire
band receives writing credits on the song, it was Slash’s riff that
became its defining force, making it Guns n’ Roses’ only number one hit.
Legend has it that Slash began playing the riff as a joke during
rehearsal, but when Axl Rose heard the playful jam session, he began
writing lyrics to it, and just like that, one of the defining songs of
the '80s was born.
4."Smells Like Teen Spirit"
NirvanaDifficulty: 6
When Nirvana
unleashed their rebel anthem in 1991, which rode the back of the most
iconic four power chords of the '90s, disillusioned teenagers officially
took over rock 'n’ roll and the grunge movement that would eventually
define an entire era officially went mainstream.
3."Iron Man"
Black Sabbath
Difficulty: 5
While Ozzy
Osbourne was busy eating bat heads, lead guitarist Tony Iommi was
crafting one of the most menacing riffs in the history of heavy metal.
Iommi famously came up with a surprisingly melodic riff during
rehearsal, and after Ozzy doubled the guitar part with his vocal, the
quintessential metal song was born.
2."Enter Sandman"
MetallicaDifficulty: 8
There’s a reason this
song is Metallica’s biggest hit to date. From their eponymous fifth
album, this sinister ode to things that go bump in the night -- which
Lars Ulrich has called “a one-riff song” -- transformed them from thrash
metal outsiders to alt rock darlings almost overnight, for better or
for worse.
1."Seven Nation Army"
The White StripesDifficulty: 5
If ever
there was a track defined by its riff, this is it. Playing throughout
the entire song like an ominous warning, Jack White’s densely hypnotic,
uber-catchy chord progression has become an anthem for sports teams
everywhere looking to send a menacing message to their opponents. It’s a
wonder it took until 2003 for someone to stumble upon it.
This article is sponsored in part by Rocksmith, available October
