20 Best Classic Rock Guitar Riffs Of All Time

After the punk revolution left the music scene wide open, bands were emerging with a much more authentic approach to their songwriting. This blossomed into the alternative scene, where the Smiths proceeded to dominate thanks to the combination of Morrissey and guitar wizard Johnny Marr.

"This Charming Man" is just one example of Marr's incredible knack for coming up with guitar riffs. His playing was never flashy like a typical lead guitar player, but the way he sculpted guitar parts managed to fill a lot of space in the sound rather than just showcasing his technique. The entire basis of this tune is based around Marr's guitar part, which seems to take off with a faster tempo than you might expect from a Smiths song. Performed in an unorthodox guitar tuning, the riff drives the entire track while the drums and bass provide a steady backing so to not muddy the mix.

There are probably many virtuosos who would slag off Marr's technique as amateurish, but they change their tune quickly once they try to actually play it. The entirety of the riff sounds straightforward on paper, but "This Charming Man" shows the heart of any riff is in the hands of the guitar player playing it rather than just notes on a page.