Rock Guitar Riffs

56 rock riffs — loop any section, learn at your speed

Bryan Adams — Heaven
10s

Bryan Adams — Heaven

Emotional fingerpicked intro, iconic rock ballad

Intro Intermediate Fingerpicking
Chuck Berry — Johnny B. Goode
18s

Chuck Berry — Johnny B. Goode

Foundational rock and roll electric guitar staple

Intro Beginner Alternate Picking
Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms
38s

Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms

Melodic fingerpicking defines 80s rock elegance

Intro Intermediate Fingerpicking
Eric Clapton — Layla Unplugged Acoustic
33s

Eric Clapton — Layla Unplugged Acoustic

Iconic fingerpicked intro with delicate emotional resonance

Intro Intermediate Fingerstyle
Fleetwood Mac — Never Going Back Again
13s

Fleetwood Mac — Never Going Back Again

Elegant fingerpicked melody, instantly recognizable classic

Intro Intermediate Fingerpicking
Heart — Alone
10s

Heart — Alone

Emotional fingerpicked arpeggio, haunting and memorable

Intro Intermediate Fingerpicking
Journey — Separate Ways
30s

Journey — Separate Ways

Memorable synth-like melodic line, perfectly executed

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
Led Zeppelin — Over the Hills and Far Away
55s

Led Zeppelin — Over the Hills and Far Away

Fingerpicked acoustic intro, timeless folk-rock foundation

Intro Intermediate Fingerpicking
Lenny Kravitz — Sister
10s

Lenny Kravitz — Sister

Funky groove with syncopated power chord rhythm

Intro Beginner Power Chords
Living Colour — Cult of Personality
20s

Living Colour — Cult of Personality

Funky, syncopated groove defines 80s rock

Intro Intermediate Palm Muting
Queen — Friends Will Be Friends and
26s

Queen — Friends Will Be Friends and

Driving rhythmic foundation Queen's signature rock sound

Intro Beginner Power Chords
Ram Jam — Black Betty
36s

Ram Jam — Black Betty

Iconic heavy power chord riff, instantly recognizable

Intro Beginner Power Chords
Brenda Lee — Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
7s

Brenda Lee — Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Classic rock and roll Christmas chord progression

Intro Beginner Power Chords
Spinal Tap — Stonehenge
68s

Spinal Tap — Stonehenge

Iconic heavy metal riff, simple and crushing

Intro Beginner Power Chords
The Beatles — Get Back
9s

The Beatles — Get Back

Simple, driving power chord intro, iconic Beatles rock

Intro Beginner Power Chords
The Black Crowes — Hard To Handle
11s

The Black Crowes — Hard To Handle

Funky, syncopated groove with rhythmic precision

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
The Eagles — Hotel California
55s

The Eagles — Hotel California

Haunting fingerpicked arpeggios define classic rock

Intro Intermediate Fingerpicking
The Knack — My Sharona
21s

The Knack — My Sharona

Infectious staccato riff defines new wave rock

Intro Beginner Alternate Picking
The Outfield — Your Love
59.5s

The Outfield — Your Love

Soaring melodic solo with smooth bends and vibrato

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
The Rolling Stones — Sympathy For The Devil
16s

The Rolling Stones — Sympathy For The Devil

Hypnotic rhythm riff with Eastern influence

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
The Tragically Hip — New Orleans is Sinking
19s

The Tragically Hip — New Orleans is Sinking

Hypnotic, repetitive riff defines Canadian rock classic

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
Thin Lizzy — The Boys are Back in Town
25s

Thin Lizzy — The Boys are Back in Town

Iconic two-note riff defines classic rock era

Intro Beginner Alternate Picking
Tom Petty — Love is a Long Road
35s

Tom Petty — Love is a Long Road

Melodic clean tone intro, instantly recognizable

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
Toto — Hold The Line
19s

Toto — Hold The Line

Iconic synth-like funky rhythm guitar pocket

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
Bryan Adams — Heaven
20s

Bryan Adams — Heaven

Soaring melodic lead with emotional sustain

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run
7s

Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run

Classic rock and roll intro, simple and infectious

Intro Beginner Alternate Picking
Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms
18s

Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms

Melodic masterpiece showcasing Knopfler's signature tone

Solo Intermediate Fingerpicking
Eric Clapton — Tears in Heaven
15s

Eric Clapton — Tears in Heaven

Delicate fingerpicked arpeggios, emotionally resonant

Intro Intermediate Fingerstyle
Journey — Separate Ways
29s

Journey — Separate Ways

Soaring melodic solo with iconic sustained notes

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Led Zeppelin — Over the Hills and Far Away
30s

Led Zeppelin — Over the Hills and Far Away

Fingerpicked acoustic melody, timeless folk-rock classic

Solo Intermediate Fingerpicking
Lenny Kravitz — Are You Gonna Go My Way
32s

Lenny Kravitz — Are You Gonna Go My Way

Heavy palm-muted groove driving the entire song

Intro Intermediate Power Chords
Living Colour — Cult of Personality
11s

Living Colour — Cult of Personality

Funky rhythmic precision defines Living Colour's signature

Solo Advanced Alternate Picking
Queen — Friends Will Be Friends and
22s

Queen — Friends Will Be Friends and

Driving rock foundation with punchy rhythmic intensity

Intro Intermediate Power Chords
Ram Jam — Black Betty
42s

Ram Jam — Black Betty

Iconic hard rock riff with heavy palm-muted power chords

Solo Beginner Power Chords
Brenda Lee — Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
12s

Brenda Lee — Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Festive rock rhythm with driving power chord progression

Solo Beginner Power Chords
The Beatles — Get Back
16s

The Beatles — Get Back

Simple blues-rock solo, iconic Beatles style

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
The Black Crowes — Hard To Handle
36s

The Black Crowes — Hard To Handle

Bluesy, soulful lead with classic rock swagger

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
The Knack — My Sharona
91s

The Knack — My Sharona

Infectious syncopated rhythm defines new wave rock

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Tom Petty — Love is a Long Road
17s

Tom Petty — Love is a Long Road

Smooth, melodic solo with classic rock sensibility

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Toto — Hold The Line
39s

Toto — Hold The Line

Smooth, melodic solo with classic rock sensibility

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Bryan Adams — Heaven
26s

Bryan Adams — Heaven

Soaring melodic solo defines 80s rock ballad

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Chuck Berry — Johnny B. Goode
33s

Chuck Berry — Johnny B. Goode

Iconic rock and roll lead guitar staple

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Dire Straits — Money for Nothing
30s

Dire Straits — Money for Nothing

Iconic synth-like guitar tone, instantly recognizable

Intro Intermediate Power Chords
Eric Clapton — Tears in Heaven
25s

Eric Clapton — Tears in Heaven

Emotional, melodic fingerstyle with tasteful bends

Solo Intermediate Fingerpicking
Lenny Kravitz — Are You Gonna Go My Way
40s

Lenny Kravitz — Are You Gonna Go My Way

Heavy palm-muted groove driving the entire song

Intro Intermediate Power Chords
Living Colour — Cult of Personality
54s

Living Colour — Cult of Personality

Fluid, shredding solo with funky rhythmic backbone

Solo Advanced Alternate Picking
The Beatles — Get Back
16s

The Beatles — Get Back

Simple blues-based solo with rhythmic punch

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Bryan Adams — Heaven
60s

Bryan Adams — Heaven

Smooth, melodic solo with classic rock feel

Solo Intermediate Legato
Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run
19s

Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run

Fast-paced rock and roll solo with rhythmic drive

Solo Intermediate Alternate Picking
Dire Straits — Sultans of Swing
14s

Dire Straits — Sultans of Swing

Legendary clean tone, precise picking, timeless groove

Intro Intermediate Alternate Picking
Eric Clapton — Layla Unplugged Acoustic
41s

Eric Clapton — Layla Unplugged Acoustic

Melodic acoustic fingerpicking with emotional depth

Solo Advanced Fingerstyle
The Beatles — Something
11s

The Beatles — Something

Elegant ascending melody with smooth chromatic movement

Intro Intermediate Fingerstyle
Bryan Adams — Heaven
77.5s

Bryan Adams — Heaven

Smooth, melodic solo with sustained emotional notes

Solo Intermediate Legato
Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms
31s

Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms

Melodic fingerstyle solo with expressive bends

Solo Advanced Fingerpicking
Dire Straits — Sultans of Swing
32s

Dire Straits — Sultans of Swing

Defining lead riff of 80s rock guitar

Solo Advanced Alternate Picking
Dire Straits — Sultans of Swing
44.5s

Dire Straits — Sultans of Swing

Virtuosic lead showcasing Knopfler's fingerpicking mastery

Solo Advanced Alternate Picking