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Name a song/songs that you are able to identify by the opening riff. Mine -- Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper. (Original Post) debm55 Sep 2024 OP
Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana EYESORE 9001 Sep 2024 #1
Thank you Eyesore 9001 debm55 Sep 2024 #4
Back when that song was new happybird Sep 2024 #104
I can see that EYESORE 9001 Sep 2024 #121
Beethoven's Fifth Cartoonist Sep 2024 #2
Thank you Cartoonist. debm55 Sep 2024 #5
Hey Cartoonist...how about sdfernando Sep 2024 #9
Many - A Hard Day's Night. samsingh Sep 2024 #3
thank you samsingh. I changed the OP so you can add more then one. debm55 Sep 2024 #6
That's a good one chicoescuela Sep 2024 #109
Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty. sdfernando Sep 2024 #7
Thank you sdfernando. debm55 Sep 2024 #8
Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx Basso8vb Sep 2024 #10
Thank you Basso8vb. debm55 Sep 2024 #11
Train in Vain - The Clash bbrady42 Sep 2024 #12
thank you bbrady42. debm55 Sep 2024 #13
Barracuda! 4TheArts Sep 2024 #14
Thank you 4TheArts Great riff. debm55 Sep 2024 #15
This came to mind because of use in Michelob Ultra ad: Junior Walker and All Stars: Shotgun hlthe2b Sep 2024 #16
Thank you very much hlthe2b. debm55 Sep 2024 #17
Sweet Child of Mine by Guns n Roses Wiz Imp Sep 2024 #18
Thank you Wiz Imp debm55 Sep 2024 #22
Can't Get No Satisfaction.. Permanut Sep 2024 #19
Thank you Permanut. debm55 Sep 2024 #23
Roll with the Changes (REO Speedwagon) hlthe2b Sep 2024 #20
Thank you hithe2b debm55 Sep 2024 #24
Greatest album title ever- you can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish chicoescuela Sep 2024 #110
the ultimate: LAYLA (Derek and the Dominoes... aka Clapton) hlthe2b Sep 2024 #21
Yery much so and Let it Rain by Derek and the Dominoes. Thank you , hithe2b debm55 Sep 2024 #25
American Woman rockbluff botanist Sep 2024 #26
Thank you rockbluff bolanist. debm55 Sep 2024 #33
Year of the Cat Mz Pip Sep 2024 #27
Thank you Mz Pip, When I was in college, that song was popular and the opening riff would tell you. so. Loved the song. debm55 Sep 2024 #34
Maggie May CanonRay Sep 2024 #28
Great opening riff. Thank you CanonRay. You knew what was coming with the riff. debm55 Sep 2024 #35
Both Sides Now by Judy Collins Glorfindel Sep 2024 #29
Thank you Glorfindel. Loved that song. If I remember correctly it was written by Joni Mitchell Great riff. debm55 Sep 2024 #38
We will rock you by Queen 👍 TommieMommy Sep 2024 #30
Thank you TommieMommy. Great opening riff. for a great song. debm55 Sep 2024 #40
Pretty Woman by the iconic Roy Orbison Raven123 Sep 2024 #31
Thank you Raven123. Wasn't that a great opening riff? debm55 Sep 2024 #41
'Hard Day's Night'... Beatles, Jrose Sep 2024 #32
Thank you Jrose, Four great opening riffs. thank you for all of them. debm55 Sep 2024 #42
Probably the First Chord of HDN 😄 electric_blue68 Sep 2024 #117
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak catbyte Sep 2024 #36
Thank you catbyte. Terrific riff. debm55 Sep 2024 #43
Louie, Louie, and Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. n/t whathehell Sep 2024 #37
Thank you very much, whatthehell, for two classic riffs. debm55 Sep 2024 #44
You're very welcome, Deb! whathehell Sep 2024 #50
Heaven Beside You pnwest Sep 2024 #39
Thank you pnwest. debm55 Sep 2024 #45
Gimme some lovin -- Spencer Davis group (early steve winwood) unblock Sep 2024 #46
Thank you unblock. debm55 Sep 2024 #48
Here you go. I agree...(I developed my skiing listening to Winwood--mostly from "Back in the Highlife" era but also hlthe2b Sep 2024 #85
Many Beatles (and post-Beatles) songs have distinctive openings unblock Sep 2024 #47
Thank you unblock. great list. I would like to add one---Norwegian Wood. This Bird has Flown. debm55 Sep 2024 #51
Good one. My parents actually sung this in chorus unblock Sep 2024 #53
Do you know if it is the sitar that George plays in the riff? Thank you unblock. debm55 Sep 2024 #57
Yes it is (pun on another Beatles song!) in fact it was the first unblock Sep 2024 #62
"I'd Love to Change the World" moniss Sep 2024 #49
Thank you excellent riffs and songs. Your list is great. debm55 Sep 2024 #60
The electric piano intro to Supertramp: Bloody Well Right. That was my ringtone at my blood center job. :) n/t brewens Sep 2024 #52
Thank you very much, brewens. Great riff and song. debm55 Sep 2024 #61
Beatles again. I Feel Fine LakeArenal Sep 2024 #54
Thank you Lake Arenal. debm55 Sep 2024 #65
Frankenstein by the Edgar Winter Group subterranean Sep 2024 #55
Thank you subterranean. I really like all your choices. Great Riffs. debm55 Sep 2024 #68
Also, "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder! subterranean Sep 2024 #87
thank you subterranean. Love that song and Stevie. debm55 Sep 2024 #105
Love Me Two Times - The Doors dchill Sep 2024 #56
Thank you dchill. I agree and I would like to add Riders on the Storm. debm55 Sep 2024 #71
Viscious - The Velvet Underground DBoon Sep 2024 #58
Thank you DBoon. debm55 Sep 2024 #70
Sweet Jane from Lou Reed's Rock n Roll Animal -nt CrispyQ Sep 2024 #59
Thank you CrispyQ I totally agree with you. debm55 Sep 2024 #72
Do you mean that dreamy, sort of sonic sparkle before the rawer section electric_blue68 Sep 2024 #118
This thread needs more cowbell underpants Sep 2024 #63
It does , it does. Thank you underpants. debm55 Sep 2024 #73
... Clouds Passing Sep 2024 #83
🔔 underpants Sep 2024 #91
California Girls ArkansasDemocrat1 Sep 2024 #64
Thank you ArkansasDemocrat. debm55 Sep 2024 #67
Right here, deb! True Dough Sep 2024 #66
thank you True Dough. Another Led Zeppelin riff I liked came from the Immigrant Song. debm55 Sep 2024 #74
Too Many To Name ProfessorGAC Sep 2024 #69
Thank you, we play that too. debm55 Sep 2024 #78
One Example, Deb ProfessorGAC Sep 2024 #90
Thank You , I remember that drum lick debm55 Sep 2024 #94
Steppenwolf Born to be Wild redstatebluegirl Sep 2024 #75
Thank you redstatebluegirl. debm55 Sep 2024 #79
Bad to the Bone Sneederbunk Sep 2024 #76
Old Time Rock N Roll murielm99 Sep 2024 #77
Thank you murielm99 All of Bob's songs have great riffs, debm55 Sep 2024 #82
😢 Clouds Passing Sep 2024 #80
Thank you Clouds Passing. If you don't mind I also like the riff to US and Them. debm55 Sep 2024 #81
Love the sax riff too on Us and Them Clouds Passing Sep 2024 #89
Paint It Black-Rolling Stones cloudbase Sep 2024 #84
Thank you cloudbase. debm55 Sep 2024 #88
A lot of Iron Maiden songs jmowreader Sep 2024 #86
jmowreader--thank you very much. have never heard their music, though I heard of them as a group. Thank You for posting debm55 Sep 2024 #97
Seven Nation army k55f5r Sep 2024 #92
Thank you k55f5r debm55 Sep 2024 #96
Low Rider JoseBalow Sep 2024 #93
Thank you JoseBalow debm55 Sep 2024 #95
Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones Beausoleil Sep 2024 #98
Yes , It does have a very distinctive riff. Thank you Beausoleil. debm55 Sep 2024 #100
Wish You Were Here. OldBaldy1701E Sep 2024 #99
Thank you , that is beautiful , the riff and the song. debm55 Sep 2024 #101
You Really Got Me Marigold Sep 2024 #102
Thank you Marigold. and welcome to DU. debm55 Sep 2024 #106
Sunshine Of Your Love FalloutShelter Sep 2024 #103
Thank you FalloutShelter. Loved that song and the riff. debm55 Sep 2024 #107
Many! happybird Sep 2024 #108
Money Ferrets are Cool Sep 2024 #111
Thank you Ferrets are great. Love Pink Floyd and Chicage or Chicago Transit Authority debm55 Sep 2024 #113
Closer to the Heart - Rush VMA131Marine Sep 2024 #112
Wow thank you VWS131 Marine Great list of songs and riffs. Terrific and thank you for your service. debm55 Sep 2024 #114
I got you babe Figarosmom Sep 2024 #115
Thank you Figarosmom. Agree. debm55 Sep 2024 #123
Your Mama Don't Dance - Loggins and Messina Eugene Sep 2024 #116
Thank you Eugene for your choices. debm55 Sep 2024 #124
Thinking of two contrasting sonics - rawer, and more dreamy sounds - electric_blue68 Sep 2024 #119
Thank you very much electric_blue68. Great choices. Great riffs. debm55 Sep 2024 #125
25 or 6 to four RainCaster Sep 2024 #120
Thank you RainCaster. Very good choice. debm55 Sep 2024 #122
This message was self-deleted by its author morillon Sep 2024 #126
Thank you morillon. Yes that riff is very unmistakable. debm55 Sep 2024 #127
"I'll Be There For You" claudette Sep 2024 #128
Thank you claudette. Great riff. debm55 Sep 2024 #129

EYESORE 9001

(27,796 posts)
1. Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 11:51 AM
Sep 2024

I used that opening riff as my ring tone for awhile. It drew lots of attention.

happybird

(5,350 posts)
104. Back when that song was new
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 10:04 PM
Sep 2024

I always thought for a second it was Peace Frog by the Doors coming on.

sdfernando

(5,542 posts)
9. Hey Cartoonist...how about
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 12:03 PM
Sep 2024

Greig's Piano Concerto in Am ???

Maybe not as famous and the 5ths opening but definitely one of the most recognizable openings.

sdfernando

(5,542 posts)
7. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 11:56 AM
Sep 2024

Editing because I almost forgot another of my favs....

Careless Whisper by George Michael.

hlthe2b

(107,830 posts)
16. This came to mind because of use in Michelob Ultra ad: Junior Walker and All Stars: Shotgun
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 12:13 PM
Sep 2024

debm55

(42,469 posts)
34. Thank you Mz Pip, When I was in college, that song was popular and the opening riff would tell you. so. Loved the song.
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 12:47 PM
Sep 2024

debm55

(42,469 posts)
38. Thank you Glorfindel. Loved that song. If I remember correctly it was written by Joni Mitchell Great riff.
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 12:53 PM
Sep 2024

Jrose

(1,408 posts)
32. 'Hard Day's Night'... Beatles,
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 12:39 PM
Sep 2024

and,
-'Billy Jean'... M. Jackson
-'Gimme Shelter'... Stones
-'Ride Like the Wind'... Chris Cross

hlthe2b

(107,830 posts)
85. Here you go. I agree...(I developed my skiing listening to Winwood--mostly from "Back in the Highlife" era but also
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 04:22 PM
Sep 2024

all his old stuff with Spencer Davis, Traffic, and Blind Faith. 'Love it.

unblock

(54,551 posts)
47. Many Beatles (and post-Beatles) songs have distinctive openings
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 01:16 PM
Sep 2024

They didn't waste a lot of time getting right to the point of the song.

Just a few:

Let it be
Imagine
Day tripper
Hey bulldog
Yesterday
Here comes the sun
Blackbird

debm55

(42,469 posts)
51. Thank you unblock. great list. I would like to add one---Norwegian Wood. This Bird has Flown.
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 01:23 PM
Sep 2024

unblock

(54,551 posts)
53. Good one. My parents actually sung this in chorus
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 01:28 PM
Sep 2024

My parents have always been heavy into classical music and some show tunes and maybe a few folk songs. I tried to get them into the Beatles a few times over the decades but no luck.

Then they told me they were rehearsing Norwegian wood for chorus, and of course they had never heard the song before (50 years after it first come out lol) but thought it was a beautiful song. Never too old to learn!

unblock

(54,551 posts)
62. Yes it is (pun on another Beatles song!) in fact it was the first
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 02:13 PM
Sep 2024

European/american song, or at least the first major European /american song to feature a sitar.

moniss

(6,494 posts)
49. "I'd Love to Change the World"
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 01:22 PM
Sep 2024

Ten Years After. "Piece of My Heart" Big Brother and the Holding Company. "Pusherman" Steppenwolf. "Whipping Post" Allman Brothers Band. "Let's Live for Today" The Grass Roots. "Touch of Grey" Grateful Dead. "White Rabbit" Jefferson Airplane. "Let It Rain" Derek and the Dominos Live at the Fillmore. "Roll Me Away" Bob Seger. "La Grange" ZZ Top. "No Woman, No Cry" Bob Marley and the Wailers. "A Pirate Looks at Forty" Jimmy Buffett. "Operator (That's Not the Way it Feels)" Jim Croce.

 

brewens

(15,359 posts)
52. The electric piano intro to Supertramp: Bloody Well Right. That was my ringtone at my blood center job. :) n/t
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 01:27 PM
Sep 2024

subterranean

(3,575 posts)
55. Frankenstein by the Edgar Winter Group
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 01:34 PM
Sep 2024

There are, of course, many others I could name. Stairway to Heaven, More Than a Feeling, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, etc...

subterranean

(3,575 posts)
87. Also, "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder!
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 04:26 PM
Sep 2024

Another great opening riff that just came to mind!

debm55

(42,469 posts)
74. thank you True Dough. Another Led Zeppelin riff I liked came from the Immigrant Song.
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 03:38 PM
Sep 2024

ProfessorGAC

(71,555 posts)
69. Too Many To Name
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 02:52 PM
Sep 2024

My wife is really good at this too.
She'll hear 2 notes, but (after all she's married to me for 44 years) can identify a song by the guitar tone.
There are tons of songs that apply.
The whole premise of "Name That Tune" was based on quickly ID'ing a song. I admit, though, that on that show, there were clues, too.
We do this when listening to the radio in the car, all the time.

ProfessorGAC

(71,555 posts)
90. One Example, Deb
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 04:49 PM
Sep 2024

When The Levee Breaks by Zeppelin.
All I need is that first kick drum. The slapback echo with the natural reverb is all I need to hear. It's not even a note. Just a thump. No mistaking it!

jmowreader

(51,857 posts)
86. A lot of Iron Maiden songs
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 04:24 PM
Sep 2024

Wasted Years



Rime of the Ancient Mariner


Aces High


Where Eagles Dare


(The last one is fun: The drum part in this song is EXTREMELY hard to do. According to Bruce Dickinson's bio, drummer Nicko McBrain was SO happy to finish the studio version of it because he thought he'd never have to play it again. Then the band made it the opening number on the next several tours. Oops.)

debm55

(42,469 posts)
97. jmowreader--thank you very much. have never heard their music, though I heard of them as a group. Thank You for posting
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 08:20 PM
Sep 2024

the videos. It exposed me to a different type of music, Thank you

Beausoleil

(2,953 posts)
98. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 08:27 PM
Sep 2024

I've always had a good ear for music and can recognize many tunes after the first few notes. But this one is the first that comes to mind.

happybird

(5,350 posts)
108. Many!
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 10:13 PM
Sep 2024

SongPop is one of my favorite time killers, and I particularly like the Intros categories (it’s a game app similar to Name That Tune which uses actual clips of each song).

The first one that came to mind, though, is Wilson by Phish:



VMA131Marine

(4,840 posts)
112. Closer to the Heart - Rush
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 10:27 PM
Sep 2024

Aqualung - Jethro Tull
Golden Brown - The Stranglers
Watching the Detectives - Elvis Costello
Are Friends Electric - Gary Numan
YYZ - Rush
Fly by Night - Rush
Pretty much any Rush song, if I’m honest.

debm55

(42,469 posts)
114. Wow thank you VWS131 Marine Great list of songs and riffs. Terrific and thank you for your service.
Thu Sep 26, 2024, 10:34 PM
Sep 2024

Eugene

(63,174 posts)
116. Your Mama Don't Dance - Loggins and Messina
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 12:53 AM
Sep 2024

Head Over Heels - The Go Go's
Raindance - The Guess Who

electric_blue68

(20,048 posts)
119. Thinking of two contrasting sonics - rawer, and more dreamy sounds -
Fri Sep 27, 2024, 01:29 AM
Sep 2024

Rawer
Heaven and Hell - The Who (Entwhistle)
The Real Me - The Who Quadrophrenia
Drums of Heaven - Midnight Oil

Dreamy
City of Blinding Lights - U2
Everybody Wants To Rule The World -
Tears for Fears

Before I acquired the albums way back when each of these songs' opening sequences would come on the radio - my ears would "pick up" metaphorical like an animal hearing a certain sound! 😄🩷

Response to debm55 (Original post)

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