20 Best Classic Rock Guitar Riffs Of All Time
9. Day Tripper - The Beatles
The Beatles are a pretty safe bet for the greatest rock band of all time. Though they didn't necessarily have riff-based songs exclusively, each of their tracks seemed to set a new precedent for the rock world to follow. Then again, the band could still write a killer guitar hook if the tune called for it.
With other British Invasion acts like the Animals and the Rolling Stones getting heavier, John Lennon wanted to write a riff that could compete with their fury. The entire song is centered around a bluesy vamp which is a great exercise for anyone just starting to delve further down the six-string rabbit hole. Staying true to the blues, the verses don't let up, transposing the riff from one key to another to keep the old 12-bar tradition going.
The lyrics match the intensity of the riff, with the song centered around a woman who is a big teaser and "only plays one night stands" with all the men she encounters. This mix of sex, drugs, and rock and roll may seem tame by today's standards, but in the 60's, it suited the rock world just fine. Where would the Beatles go from here: anywhere and everywhere the music would take them.