As soon as you’ve got a guitar scale under your belt, the next step is to learn some guitar riffs!
Guitar riffs could be compared to the words that guitar players use to communicate – little snippets of music that can express a certain idea or feeling, and that can be re-arranged in all kinds of different ways depending on your mood at that particular moment.
Most guitar licks (we’ll be using the term licks and riffs interchangeably) can be played on either the acoustic guitar or the electric guitar, although of course you’ll end up with different sounds on both. If your acoustic guitar is setup correctly, you’d be surprised at what can be accomplished!
Before you get started digging into these guitar riffs, make sure you’re at least familiar with a guitar scale or two. If you need a refresher, or are looking for new ideas, checkout our section on guitar scales.
Every guitar riff that has ever existed is derived from a guitar scale, so you really can’t expect to learn licks and riffs without first taking the time to learn the scale. That’s putting the cart before the horse!
Well, if the RIFF Ninja didn’t have any riffs to offer, it would be a strange world indeed, wouldn’t it? Thankfully, riffs are one thing we’re never short on here at RiffNinja.com. Here’s what we’ve got organized by style and technique:
Rock & Roll Rhythm Riffs
Classic rhythm patterns from the pioneers of rock and roll. Chuck Berry double stops, boogie-woogie shuffles, and Rolling Stones-style chord/lead combos.
- Chuck Berry Guitar Licks: Double Stop Rhythm Riffs (Part 1)
- Chuck Berry Guitar Licks: Bending & Muting Techniques (Part 2)
- Chuck Berry Guitar Licks: Double Stops Across String Sets (Part 3)
- Rock and Roll Rhythm Guitar: The Boogie-Woogie Shuffle (Part 1)
- Rock and Roll Rhythm Guitar: Second Riff & Endings (Part 2)
- Rolling Stones Style Rhythm Riff: Combining Chords and Lead
Blues Guitar Licks — Artist Studies
Licks and techniques inspired by the blues greats. Study the styles of Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, John Fogerty, Roy Buchanan, Billy Gibbons, and Eric Clapton.
Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) Licks
- SRV Guitar Licks: Chromatic Pass Notes in E Minor (Part 1)
- SRV Guitar Licks: Open E Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs (Part 2)
- SRV Guitar Licks: Pride and Joy Closing Riff (Part 3)
- SRV Style Closing Riff in E: The One Lick You Need
BB King Licks
- BB King Guitar Licks: Bends, Vibrato & the High B (Part 1)
- BB King Guitar Licks: The Third String Bend (Part 2)
John Fogerty Licks
- John Fogerty Guitar Licks: The Flatted Fifth Riff (Part 1)
- John Fogerty Guitar Licks: The Minor Third Slide (Part 2)
Roy Buchanan Licks
- Roy Buchanan Guitar Licks: One-String Descending Runs
- Roy Buchanan Guitar Licks: One-Tone Bends That Cry
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) Licks
- Billy Gibbons Guitar Licks: The Minor Third Slide in A
- Billy Gibbons Guitar Licks: Chromatic Double Stops (Part 2)
Sunshine of Your Love (Eric Clapton / Cream)
- Sunshine of Your Love Riff: D Pentatonic Scale & Song Structure (Part 1)
- Sunshine of Your Love Riff: Major Thirds & Double Stops (Part 2)
- Sunshine of Your Love Riff: Solo Fill Riffs for the Chorus (Part 3)
Rock & Metal Licks — Artist Studies
Riffs and techniques inspired by the legends of rock and metal guitar, from Hendrix to Iommi.
Jimi Hendrix Licks (Voodoo Child)
- Jimi Hendrix Guitar Licks: The Voodoo Child Bass Riff (Part 1)
- Jimi Hendrix Guitar Licks: One-String Scale Runs (Part 2)
- Jimi Hendrix Guitar Licks: The String Stretch in E (Part 3)
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) Licks
- Tony Iommi Guitar Licks: Chromatic Pass Notes in B Minor (Part 1)
- Tony Iommi Guitar Licks: The Root Six Pentatonic Climb (Part 2)
Iconic Intro Riffs
Learn the intro riffs that made these songs instantly recognizable. Power chords, double stops, and signature lead lines.
- Pipeline Guitar Riff: The Classic Surf Intro
- All Along the Watchtower Guitar Riff: The Hendrix Intro
- Fortunate Son Guitar Riff: Double Stop Intro Technique
- Margaritaville Guitar Riff: Double Stop Intro in B Minor
- 5 Iconic Power Chord Intro Riffs for Guitar
- 2 Classic Double Note Intro Riffs for Guitar
- Green River Intro Riff: E Minor Double Stop Slide
Scale-Based Riffs by Key
Riffs organized by key and scale. Learn how scales become riffs in different musical contexts.
- Open Guitar Riffs in G Major Using E Pentatonic Minor
- Vertical Solo Riff in E Major: Drone Note Technique
- Cool Acoustic Guitar Riffs in C Major / A Minor
Drone Note Riffs
A drone note rings out while you play melody notes around it. It’s one of the most powerful sounds on the guitar.
- Guitar Riffs with Drone Notes: E Minor Single String
- Guitar Solo Technique: Drone Notes on the High E String
- E Major Guitar Riff Trick: Harmonic vs Melodic Playing
Rhythm & Chordal Riffs
Riffs built from chord shapes, inverted thirds, and rhythm patterns that work across genres.
- Cool Chordal Guitar Riffs: Inverted Thirds in G Major
- Awesome Rhythm Guitar Riff in E: Power Chords, Sixths & Sevenths
Beginner Riff Techniques
Essential techniques that every guitarist needs. Transposing, slides, double stops, and classic riffs broken down step by step.
- How to Transpose Guitar Riffs Anywhere on the Fretboard
- Cool Country Guitar Riff: Inverted Thirds with Hybrid Picking
- Tush Guitar Riff: ZZ Top’s Classic in G Pentatonic Minor
- How to Slide in Your Guitar Riffs: Technique Guide
Advanced Riff Concepts
Take your riff playing to the next level. Learn to connect scale positions and build extended solos.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guitar Riffs
What is a guitar riff?
A guitar riff is a short, repeatable musical phrase that forms the backbone of a song or solo. Think of the opening notes of “Smoke on the Water” or “Sunshine of Your Love” — those are riffs. They’re usually built from a scale (most commonly the pentatonic minor) and can be as simple as three notes or as complex as a full-bar phrase with bends, slides, and hammer-ons.
What’s the difference between a riff and a lick?
The terms get used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference. A riff is typically a repeating phrase that defines a song — it’s structural. A lick is more of a standalone phrase you’d drop into a solo or improvisation. In practice, most guitar players (including us) use both words to mean the same thing: a short melodic idea you can play, memorize, and reuse.
What guitar riffs should a beginner learn first?
Start with riffs that use open strings and stay in first position. The acoustic riffs in C major are a great starting point because every note in the diatonic scale works together — there are no wrong notes. From there, move into simple pentatonic riffs like the Chuck Berry double stop pattern and the Sunshine of Your Love riff.
Do I need to know scales before learning riffs?
You don’t have to master every scale first, but knowing at least the pentatonic minor scale in one position will make everything click faster. Every riff comes from a scale, so when you understand the scale, you understand why the riff works — and you can start creating your own.
Can I play these riffs on acoustic guitar?
Most of them, yes. Riffs that use bends, slides, and hammer-ons work on both electric and acoustic. The main difference is that acoustic guitar requires a bit more finger strength for bends, and you won’t get the same sustain on high notes. But the open position riffs and chordal riffs actually sound fantastic on acoustic.
How do I make up my own guitar riffs?
Learn a scale, then experiment. Play the notes in different orders. Try different rhythms. Add slides, bends, and hammer-ons. The drone note technique is one of the easiest ways to sound creative fast — hold one note steady and move the other notes around it. Once you’ve learned a few riffs from this page, you’ll start hearing patterns you can remix into something new.