The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
As voted by Planet Rock listeners
Last updated 30th Aug 2024
We’re pleased to reveal The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time as voted by Planet Rock listeners.
A truly democratic vote, thousands of you picked your favourite guitar riffs, and the Top 40 was first unveiled on air during an August Bank Holiday Monday special on Planet Rock.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Deep Purple’s seminal 1972 anthem ‘Smoke on the Water’, which is powered by Ritchie Blackmore’s iconic riff, took the coveted Number 1 spot.
‘Smoke on the Water’ is one of three Ritchie Blackmore riffs to make the Top 40 as a pivotal member of Deep Purple and Rainbow.
Tony Iommi is the best-represented guitarist on the list with six Black Sabbath songs making the countdown, including one in the Top 10.
Thanks to the inimitable Angus and Malcolm Young, AC/DC have four songs inside the Top 10 while Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page have three songs on the Top 40.
In terms of decades, songs from the 1970s dominate the list with 23 entries, while the 1980s is represented by 10 tracks.
There was also a complete curveball at the No.28 spot featuring a band that doesn't feature on the Planet Rock playlist.
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time:
40. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
39. Van Halen – Unchained (1981)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
38. Black Sabbath – Supernaut (1972)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
37. Rainbow – Stargazer (1976)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
36. The Rolling Stones - (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
35. Muse - Plug In Baby (2005)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
34. Eagles - Hotel California (1976)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
33. Uriah Heep – Gypsy (1970)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
32. Motörhead - Ace of Spaces (1980)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
31. Derek & The Dominoes – Layla (1970)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
30. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog (1971)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
29. Rush – The Spirit of Radio (1980)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
28. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (1984)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
27. Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (1985)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
26. Status Quo – Caroline (1973)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
25. Van Halen - Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love (1978)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
24. Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile (1968)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
23. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
22. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird (1973)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
21. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
20. Heart – Barracuda (1977)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
19. Black Sabbath – Symptom of the Universe (1975)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
18. UFO - Rock Bottom (1974)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
17. Budgie – Breadfan (1973)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
16. Deep Purple – Burn (1974)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
15. Free - All Right Now (1970)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
14. Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
13. Black Sabbath - Iron Man (1970)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
12. Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train (1980)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
11. Metallica - Enter Sandman (1991)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
10. Iron Maiden - The Trooper (1983)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
9. Led Zeppelin – Kashmir (1975)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
8. AC/DC - Highway to Hell (1979)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
7. AC/DC – Thunderstruck (1990)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
6. AC/DC - Whole Lotta Rosie (1977)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
5. Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
4. Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
3. AC/DC - Back in Black (1980)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
2. Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love (1969)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time
1. Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water (1972)
The 40 Greatest Rock Riffs of All Time