There’s a song for all of us that made us want to be musicians at some point in our lives. Whether it’s a short-lived childhood musing or a long-standing dream, the right song can instill a sense of possibility in us. Take a strong guitar riff, for example. The three iconic rock guitar riffs from the ’60s below have moved many to pick up a guitar for the first time. Did you have a rock star dream after hearing these?
“Sunshine of Your Love” (Cream)
Cream‘s “Sunshine of Your Love” features not only one of the greatest guitar riffs of the ’60s, but one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time. It’s a rite of passage for any burgeoning guitar player to learn how to play this deceptively simple melody. Bassist Jack Bruce helped develop this now-iconic riff, setting the stage for the band to earn one of their biggest hits. In the years since its release, many musicians have caught the bug after hearing Bruce’s guitar line. Few riffs from the ’60s have been as transformative as this one.
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“Day Tripper” (The Beatles)
The Beatles had many timeless riffs to their name, but the one we want to focus on today is “Day Tripper.” The fuzzy, bluesy guitar riff throughout this song remains one of the most instantly recognizable pieces of music from the decade. Developed by John Lennon, the strength of this riff lies in its simplicity. It’s impossible to forget once you’ve heard it, since it’s only a handful of notes. Many novice guitar players have learned their craft through playing Beatles songs. We venture to guess that this is one of the first songs from their catalog that players try their hand at.
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (The Rolling Stones)
In a similar vein, The Rolling Stones‘ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is simple, but timelessly effective. Born out of a dream Keith Richards had, this riff is the stuff of rock mythology. We’re sure many musicians have tried to earn divine inspiration while sleeping, thanks to this story. This riff is so strong, it’s easy to believe it came to Richards like magic. Many artists have tried to earn iconic riffs over the years, but few have managed to measure up to this Stones classic.
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More The List
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CIRCA 1966: Singer Mick Jagger of the rock and roll band "The Rolling Stones" performs onstage in circa 1966. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Aerosmith Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Vorst-Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 31st October 1993. (Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: John LENNON between 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) -
1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)
