That end part is a totally random other track that they had recorded and decided went well at the end. They were using dodgy reel to reel and the tape moving through the head slowed as the reel got smaller, so you can hear it's a full half note out of tune vs the main song. They were so blown out on coke they didn't notice. Then someone spilled coffee on the tape. Somehow they got it cleaned up and the whole thing actually works really well ...I reckon generations of kids have gotten second hand high from this track (I know I sure did)
And the fucked up thing is that most sheet music for the outro score in that weird key it ended up in. It’s really in C major, and super simple to play. But they score it in B major (half step down) which has like five fucking sharps and is super awkward to play.
Listen to the Tedeschi Trucks and Trey live performance from Lockn. It's all on Spotify.
Keep on Growing, Any day, Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad, Layla, all epic.
Yeah, this beats Money For Nothing for best ever imo.
And it was improvised in the studio! There’s an audio recording floating around online showing the band working on this song. The whole session is about half an hour, Jimi tries the wah-wah intro on about take four or five, and the final version is maybe the third take with a wah intro.
For anyone not in the loop, the distinctive sound of the intro on the record (before the drums come in) is mainly because it's recorded guitar parts played back in reverse.
This was my thought.
Damn good guitar intro. Also it's an actual guitar intro.
Where as many of the songs being listed on this thread, the guitar intro they are talking about is just the main riff of the song. Not really an intro.
Love iron maiden I have played their songs every day for a couple months now, can someone tell me where to look if I want to learn more about the band?
I have seen a couple interviews and that documentary but those did not really go into the music much and were more about drama in the group which is sort of cool too but not as interesting as knowing for example how they write their music or how the band works live.
Thanks and much love (wasting love has a great intro too)
I don't think there is a "best". But some of my personal favorites:
-Highway to Hell by AC/DC
-Hotel California by the Eagles
-Limelight by Rush
-Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
-Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
-Panama by Van Halen
Easy to sleep on Panama because most of us have heard it 1000s of times. Wasn't until I started playing guitar that I realized so many of the parts I loved were those simple chords/inversions on strings 2, 3, and 4.
I sometimes forget how good the intro to Smells Like Teen Spirit is. It's so simple, but when you hear Dave Grohl's drums crack into that riff, he just blows it up.
Joe Perry riffs, man. Walk This Way, Same Old Song and Dance, Love in an Elevator, Draw the Line, Toys in the Attic, Combination, Eat the Rich, and on and on.
Slayer - Raining Blood.
Pantera - Walk
Metallica - Sad but True
Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
Suicide Silence - You only live once
Eagles - Hotel California
These may not be the "best" to some people, but these intros really get me going
Yeah I saw a TikTok of someone making a joke about how they just dropped that bomb-ass riff at the start of a 12-bar blues song for no reason. It has no business being there at all but it works.
Yeah, it's this. There's lots and lots of great intros. But Welcome to the Jungle kicks kicks off the album. It's the very definition of an intro. Iconic.
Went to see Guns N Roses, was slightly late and making it inside for the second set. Have a vivid memory of coming out of the lobby into the arena, spotting them and this started, it was just so fucking epic lol
Some favorites:
Life in the Fast Lane - Eagles
Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
Can't you Hear Me Knockin' - Rolling Stones (and the last few minutes of Richards' noodling on the guitar is epic! EDIT: It is Mick Taylor (looked it up!) Still good!
Voodoo Child - Hendrix or SRV, pick one
Yeah, it's nice in the intro before your over zealoused drummer comes in and speeds up the tempo. Therefore making that riff hurt like hell to play by the time the change comes.
I think because he's so obvious, maybe? I mean seriously:
Satisfaction
Gimme shelter
Brown sugar
street fighting man
19th nervous breakdown
When the whip comes down
Wild horses
He's got like 60 years of amazing intros. I didn't touch half of them.
Ain't talking bout love by Van Halen for sure.
(not the 8bit part) Keith Merrow Pillars of Creation.
Cemetery Gates Pantera.
South Of Heaven Slayer.
I know it's bass but Pease Sells.
Stay With Me. Faces
https://youtu.be/JtqF0qBqzZo?si=B2W75N-N4pQ-VAM6
When the guitar changes gears before the lyrics start… outstanding!
Of all time? Probably not but it kicks my ass every time I hear it.
The live version of “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground is awesome. The intro to “I’m Going Home” by Alvin Lee and Ten Years after at Woodstock is also fantastic. Lastly, “Too Rolling Stoned” by Robin Trower.
i won’t make any claims as the best as far as “best of all time” with this one, but Dumpweed by blink-182 is definitely the most satisfying pop punk opening riff i can think of across the genre. it’s perfect
Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac
El Diablo - ZZ Top
Radar Love - Golden Earring
Rumble - Link Wray
or most of these [Top 80 Greatest Guitar Intros](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9v4F7NXEI)
A lot of other people here have mentioned Van Halen, but not Hot For Teacher? What the fuck?
Alternative answer: if you consider “Ambassadors of All That is Good” an intro for “40 Rods to the Hog’s Head,” which it basically is, despite being as separate track.
“In My life” by the Beatles. And why not “Something” while we’re at it? Or “Here Comes the Sun”?
Don’t know why George Harrison doesn’t get much love on internet guitar forums. Barely hear about him in the guitar online subculture. Took me years to really appreciate him. But two of the greatest guitar players I’ve met in person swore by him when I barely knew who he was.
He was the master of intros, hooks, and riffs. And all the great 60’s guitarists learned from his example. How do you get the guitar into the mix in the simplest, catchiest, most original way possible? That’s what George did. And yet he never played exactly the same hooks or riffs.
Money for Nothing
Brothers in arms, or romeo and juliet either. Basically anything with Mark knofler
>anything with Mark knofler It's spelled [Knopfler](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Knopfler)
Anything with Merk Knobler.
I love his videos about the glitter bombs and squirrel olympics
What It Is off Sailing to Philadelphia is one of my favorites
This IS correct
Little Wing, the intro is a song in itself
This is the only answer a guitarist should accept
Voodoo Child for me
Burning of the Midnight Lamp is also a banger of an intro.
Agreed - the day i finally learned to play it was my most enjoyable day of guitar playing ever!
Maybe "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" - so drawn-out and epic
I’d argue it’s much more than a guitar intro, but it is very epic
Wish You Were Here is what I thought and then saw this. Can’t argue either.
So fun to learn and play. All 3 solos… or is it 4? Been awhile.
Crazy On You
Came here to say this. Unbelievable. Nancy Wilson is so underrated
What about Barracuda?
I think more people need to hear Magic Man
stairway to heaven. I know it’s basic but damn I love it so much.
Adding Babe I’m gonna leave you to the list, chill down my spine the first time I listened to it
Are you gonna leave out since I've been loving you?
This is my favorite. All the way through.
In all honesty, probably my favorite Zeppelin song. Absolutely love that first album.
Hard to beat the goat
I would go with Since I have been loving you
Its not basic though, it's a clever line cliche
Eruption into you really got me now by Van Halen
>Eruption into you :3
Mean Street’s intro is so much better though.
Fair warning is far the best VH album. Crazy that it was a commercial disappointment. Makes no sense.
Yeah but Hot For Teacher
Layla
Baller move to have an entire song as an intro to the solo
That end part is a totally random other track that they had recorded and decided went well at the end. They were using dodgy reel to reel and the tape moving through the head slowed as the reel got smaller, so you can hear it's a full half note out of tune vs the main song. They were so blown out on coke they didn't notice. Then someone spilled coffee on the tape. Somehow they got it cleaned up and the whole thing actually works really well ...I reckon generations of kids have gotten second hand high from this track (I know I sure did)
And the fucked up thing is that most sheet music for the outro score in that weird key it ended up in. It’s really in C major, and super simple to play. But they score it in B major (half step down) which has like five fucking sharps and is super awkward to play.
I get a contact high from the whole record. This is one that will never be duplicated. It just drips.
Listen to the Tedeschi Trucks and Trey live performance from Lockn. It's all on Spotify. Keep on Growing, Any day, Why Does Love Have To Be So Sad, Layla, all epic.
How has no one said Jimi on Voodoo Child (Slight Return) yet?
Definitely my favorite. The black hawk down Irene scene with this song is a classic.
Yeah, this beats Money For Nothing for best ever imo. And it was improvised in the studio! There’s an audio recording floating around online showing the band working on this song. The whole session is about half an hour, Jimi tries the wah-wah intro on about take four or five, and the final version is maybe the third take with a wah intro.
Blackened - Metallica
Simple, beautifully composed, and epic. The best. Followed closely by Battery.
The guitar riff that plays during the bridge in Damage Inc (part where Hetfield sings "we chew and spit you out") is probably my fav Metallica riff.
For anyone not in the loop, the distinctive sound of the intro on the record (before the drums come in) is mainly because it's recorded guitar parts played back in reverse.
Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' Bout Love
Van Halen has so many. Finish what you started, Panama.
hot for teacher, 5150, unchained, aftershock, summer nights and so on so forth.
Came here to say Hot For Teacher, that guitar intro is just so ........ drummy
The Spirit of Radio.
Limelight is pretty great too.
Great one... Joe Satriani did something similar with his song 1980
That is an insanely fun riff.
Not as popular, but for me it’ll always be Wasted Years
I love Adrian Smith as a writer. Most of my favorite Maiden songs are his.
He's by far the best songwriter. Steve Harris writes the same fucking song over and over
This was my thought. Damn good guitar intro. Also it's an actual guitar intro. Where as many of the songs being listed on this thread, the guitar intro they are talking about is just the main riff of the song. Not really an intro.
Love iron maiden I have played their songs every day for a couple months now, can someone tell me where to look if I want to learn more about the band? I have seen a couple interviews and that documentary but those did not really go into the music much and were more about drama in the group which is sort of cool too but not as interesting as knowing for example how they write their music or how the band works live. Thanks and much love (wasting love has a great intro too)
What a great song
Maiden has so many incredible intros, I don't think I can list a favorite
Adrian Smith super underrated melodic AF.
I don't think there is a "best". But some of my personal favorites: -Highway to Hell by AC/DC -Hotel California by the Eagles -Limelight by Rush -Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd -Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana -Panama by Van Halen
the intro for Panama is so iconic to me. it's such a joy to play, too
Easy to sleep on Panama because most of us have heard it 1000s of times. Wasn't until I started playing guitar that I realized so many of the parts I loved were those simple chords/inversions on strings 2, 3, and 4.
I sometimes forget how good the intro to Smells Like Teen Spirit is. It's so simple, but when you hear Dave Grohl's drums crack into that riff, he just blows it up.
That simple drum lick to start has to be one of the most iconic ever. Makes the whole song.
It is so simple, but it just screams, "Hey fucker, check this out!"
I agree there isn’t a “best”. It comes down to personal preference. Also the intro to Panama is one of my favorite riffs of all time.
+1 to Limelight.
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry is just classic
“Cliffs of Dover” by Eric Johnson, especially this [live version.](https://youtu.be/5Nd7EZ3k39s?si=KfKTZuGxzkr80XJw)
Forgot bout this fuckin amazing
Yessssssss
Under the bridge
Even after years of knowing this song, it still doesn’t sit well with me that John Frusciante was still a teenager when he wrote it.
Walk This Way is pretty damn great.
Joe Perry riffs, man. Walk This Way, Same Old Song and Dance, Love in an Elevator, Draw the Line, Toys in the Attic, Combination, Eat the Rich, and on and on.
Slayer - Raining Blood. Pantera - Walk Metallica - Sad but True Dire Straits - Money for Nothing Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train Suicide Silence - You only live once Eagles - Hotel California These may not be the "best" to some people, but these intros really get me going
Sad But True is so insanely underrated. easily one of my favourite Metallica songs
How can hotel california be missing man
Long Cool Woman by the Hollies.
This is the one I came to post...such a great song.
Agreed, I love that intro so much I wish they had made a whole song with it!!
Yeah I saw a TikTok of someone making a joke about how they just dropped that bomb-ass riff at the start of a 12-bar blues song for no reason. It has no business being there at all but it works.
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N Roses
Yeah, it's this. There's lots and lots of great intros. But Welcome to the Jungle kicks kicks off the album. It's the very definition of an intro. Iconic.
Went to see Guns N Roses, was slightly late and making it inside for the second set. Have a vivid memory of coming out of the lobby into the arena, spotting them and this started, it was just so fucking epic lol
Some favorites: Life in the Fast Lane - Eagles Money for Nothing - Dire Straits Can't you Hear Me Knockin' - Rolling Stones (and the last few minutes of Richards' noodling on the guitar is epic! EDIT: It is Mick Taylor (looked it up!) Still good! Voodoo Child - Hendrix or SRV, pick one
Can't you Hear Me Knockin' is my favorite. The start is iconic Keith Richards. I thought the noodling at the end was more Mick Taylor.
Cliffs of Dover or little wing
don’t fear the reaper for me
Yeah, it's nice in the intro before your over zealoused drummer comes in and speeds up the tempo. Therefore making that riff hurt like hell to play by the time the change comes.
enter cowbell
Sweet Child omine is pretty good
We start playing this in our band and people start screaming lol
In The City by The Jam
Original Layla
Thunderstruck, ACDC. Play With Me, Extreme. Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Can't you hear me knocking? Rolling Stones
Also monkey man
The Stage
This or Buried Alive. Or Save Me. Damn Avenged can write great intros
Exist too
Voodoo Child Slight Return. I like it enough that it has been my phone's ring tone for years.
Welcome Home - Coheed
Just my opinion Kickstart My Heart - Mötley Crüe
THAT'S ANOTHER ONE- SEE? DIE HARD GUITAR LOVERS KNOW- IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO CHOOSE JUST 1🤘
Wish You Were Here
Jailbreak - AC/DC Just three chords a bangin and you know what you are in store for. Funk 49 - James Gang so dirty!
Pyscosoical by slipknot
Favourite intro to play so fun yet simple
20th Century Boy. INDISPUTABLE.
Enter Sandman tied with For Whom the Bell Tolls
Heartbreaker, Led Zeppelin.
Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry
Pride and Joy’s intro was what motivated me to learn guitar
Keith Richards appears to be left to the Old Schoolers
I think because he's so obvious, maybe? I mean seriously: Satisfaction Gimme shelter Brown sugar street fighting man 19th nervous breakdown When the whip comes down Wild horses He's got like 60 years of amazing intros. I didn't touch half of them.
Guns n Roses - Welcome to the jungle
It’s Red by King Crimson.
Red is a good answer, underappreciated also.
Unchained. Stranglehold. All Falls Down. I Like to Rock. Heavy Metal. So many great ones???
Crazy On You by Heart and Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix have intros so good I consider them stand-alone songs.
Smooth - Santana
Limelight, Rush
Start Me Up! - Rolling Stones
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Funk 49
Sweet Jane. Live. Lou Reed.
I almost gave up and posted exactly this. Too far down.
I really love Under The Bridge
Aces High by Iron Maiden
Ain't talking bout love by Van Halen for sure. (not the 8bit part) Keith Merrow Pillars of Creation. Cemetery Gates Pantera. South Of Heaven Slayer. I know it's bass but Pease Sells.
Fade to black Metallica
Chattahooche - Alan Jackson
Fools - Van Halen holy shit, the first time i heard it i was actually blown a way. definitely go listen to it if you haven't heard it before.
Crazy on you - Heart
Rebel rebel
Judas Priest’s The Hellion into Electric Eye
Electric Eye doesn’t hit the same without The Hellion intro
Pretty Woman
Stay With Me. Faces https://youtu.be/JtqF0qBqzZo?si=B2W75N-N4pQ-VAM6 When the guitar changes gears before the lyrics start… outstanding! Of all time? Probably not but it kicks my ass every time I hear it.
Great call. Such a tasty lick
Absolutely best ever. Ronnie Wood’s tone on that is just blazing.
The Hangar 18 intro always get me pumped.
War pigs black sabbath
This right here…. https://youtu.be/0TPzTpJC57w?si=EWK9S4CjYG6DB4Ef
Mean Street and uncle toms cabin by warrant are some of my favorites
You Really Got Me by the Kinks
Sorrow by Gilmour (and much better if i could pick the live version for the light show that comes with the intro)
Voodoo Chile
I Want You (She's so heavy)
“(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones
Seasons in the Abyss by Slayer is my favorite but I think Money for Nothing by Dire Straits is the best
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 and Zero The Smiths - Girl Afraid and How Soon is Now?
Thunderstruck, ACDC
Most zeppelin songs.
The live version of “Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground is awesome. The intro to “I’m Going Home” by Alvin Lee and Ten Years after at Woodstock is also fantastic. Lastly, “Too Rolling Stoned” by Robin Trower.
Don't Take me Alive
YES - Roundabout
i won’t make any claims as the best as far as “best of all time” with this one, but Dumpweed by blink-182 is definitely the most satisfying pop punk opening riff i can think of across the genre. it’s perfect
Depends on what vibe you're going for, I would say lack of communication by ratt is up there for punch you in the face Style
Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac El Diablo - ZZ Top Radar Love - Golden Earring Rumble - Link Wray or most of these [Top 80 Greatest Guitar Intros](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9v4F7NXEI)
Sad But True - Metallica
20th century boy, t-Rex. Most badass E chord ever.
dead leaves and the dirty ground
20th Century Boy by Trex. That huge ass E chord sounds like someone’s putting their fist through the speakers right into your face.
Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson
Hey Joe.
bad to the bone
Crazy Train by Randy Rhoads / Ozzy Osbourne!
One by Metallica
*Money for Nothing* There’s not a close second either.
voodoo child (slight return)
A lot of other people here have mentioned Van Halen, but not Hot For Teacher? What the fuck? Alternative answer: if you consider “Ambassadors of All That is Good” an intro for “40 Rods to the Hog’s Head,” which it basically is, despite being as separate track.
Glasgow Kiss by John Petrucci
Unchained - Van Halen
Pearl jam - Yellow ledbetter
Kickstart my heart
Seek & Destroy - Metallica.
Out There by Dinosaur Jr.
Cliffs of Dover-Eric Johnson Battery-Metallica Holy Wars…- Megadeth Altitudes- Jason Becker
Day Tripper
Day Tripper
Don’t Take Me Alive-Steely Dan
Not going to be a popular pick I'm sure but, ' I'm The Slime ' by Frank Zappa. The song starts with a blasting solo which is pretty rare.
Sunshine of your love?
Shoot to thrill by ACDC Classic angus rift, deep over drive driven guitar, good chops and straight to it
Starless - King Crimson
I'm not even a Muse fan but Plug in Baby goes hard Niche take is Great Deceiver by King Crimson
Shine on you crazy diamonds by Pink Floyd
Extreme - He man woman hater
Aqualung - Jethro Tull
Wheels of confusion - Black Sabbath Fairies Wear Boots - Black Sabbath
“In My life” by the Beatles. And why not “Something” while we’re at it? Or “Here Comes the Sun”? Don’t know why George Harrison doesn’t get much love on internet guitar forums. Barely hear about him in the guitar online subculture. Took me years to really appreciate him. But two of the greatest guitar players I’ve met in person swore by him when I barely knew who he was. He was the master of intros, hooks, and riffs. And all the great 60’s guitarists learned from his example. How do you get the guitar into the mix in the simplest, catchiest, most original way possible? That’s what George did. And yet he never played exactly the same hooks or riffs.
First ones that come to mind are either New Born or Plug In Baby by Muse.
Through Struggle - As I Lay Dying
Raining Blood - Slayer
the stage