[Western Music] A Compilation of the Coolest, Most Rocking Guitar Riffs [2025]

Scarlet CrossBlack Veil Brides

BLACK VEIL BRIDES – Scarlet Cross (Official Music Video)

A digital single by the glam metal band Black Veil Brides, formed in Ohio, USA and officially debuting in 2010.

Despite their distinctive look clad in gothic fashion, it’s an accessible track with catchy melodies that stick in your head.

The classic single-note riffs with palm-muting and the twin-guitar harmonies in spots evoke the sound of ’80s hard rock and heavy metal—elements that are sure to grab any rock fan’s attention.

Simple yet energizing, it’s a song worth checking out even if you’re not a dedicated rock listener.

CrossroadsCream

Cream Crossroads

Cream’s songs, like Sunshine of Your Love and White Room, all have cool, memorable riffs.

Crossroads was originally by blues singer Robert Johnson, but Cream’s cover differs quite a bit from the original.

The key difference is that the song features a guitar riff—and it’s that very riff that elevated the track into a rock classic.

Take CoverMr. BIG

Mr. Big – Take Cover (MV)

Mr.

Big is a U.

S.

-born rock band boasting extraordinary performance and songwriting skills—so much so that every member can take center stage—and they enjoy immense popularity in Japan.

Take Cover, included on their fourth album Hey Man, was also released as a single in Japan and has become a live staple.

The memorable guitar riff—said to have been composed on piano—uses just four notes, yet creates a sense of expansiveness in the song.

It’s one of Mr.

Big’s signature tracks, producing depth and a floating feel despite its simple arrangement.

ReptiliaThe Strokes

The Strokes – Reptilia (Official HD Video)

In the early 2000s, bands influenced by genres like garage rock and post-punk emerged one after another, producing many classic tracks that defined rock ’n’ roll of the decade.

Among them, The Strokes from New York stood out as exceptional; their songs, packed with urban sophistication and the essence of rock, had a tremendous impact on the bands that followed.

Their catalog is a treasure trove of killer guitar riffs, and I’ll go so far as to declare that the riff by guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.

in Reptilia—featured in this article—is one of the great guitar riffs in rock history.

Two years after their explosive debut Is This It, the band released their second album, Room on Fire, in 2003, a clear step up in their evolution as a rock band.

Reptilia, included on that album, was later released as a single and became a smash hit.

The riff that comes in over the intro’s bass and drums is extremely simple, yet it makes an instant, unforgettable impact that defines the song’s character—astonishingly cool and stylish.

The melodic riff that runs beneath the chorus also functions perfectly as a second melody.

It’s a textbook example of tasteful, versatile guitar riffing, so rock guitarists should definitely give it a listen.

Cupid's DeadExtreme

Extreme – Cupid´s Dead (1992)

The metal band Extreme’s song “Cupid’s Dead.” This is another track that ranks among the ones guitarists want to try at least once—and would look seriously cool if you can pull it off.

From the intro, it’s a full display of Nuno Bettencourt’s top-tier skills.

That razor-sharp precision is tough to copy.

Listening from the perspective of refrains, several phrases repeat, so why not use it like a “refrain dojo” to hone your guitar skills?

Them BonesAlice In Chains

Alice In Chains – Them Bones (Official HD Video)

Alice in Chains’ timeless classic “Them Bones” is a song that epitomizes the American rock scene of the ’90s.

Released in 1992, its guitar riff—built on heavy yet straightforward power chords—carries a visceral impact that strikes at the very heart of rock.

Jerry Cantrell’s riffs, paired with odd-time rhythms, feel as if they deliver a direct jolt to the listener’s brain.

The low end, amplified by down-tuning, pounds relentlessly, and together with Layne Staley’s eerie yet powerful vocals, it heralded a new dawn for the grunge-to-rock landscape of the 1990s.

Highway TuneGreta Van Fleet

Greta Van Fleet – Highway Tune (Official Video)

A song that embodies the unique allure of the guitar riff—that’s Greta Van Fleet’s “Highway Tune.” Released in 2017, this track captivated listeners with a scorching guitar riff that evokes the golden age of rock.

The riff, which had already been conceived by 2010 when guitarist Jake Kiszka was still a boy, creates an outstanding sound where the band’s technical skill and musical sensibility align perfectly.

It’s a riff that makes you want to move the moment you hear it—an irresistible impulse and a must-listen.