Our favorite players reach a certain celebratory status that is revered and we are in a constant state of awe. You know them by first name—Jimi, Jimmy, Eddie, Eric, etc.—and like us, you probably never tire of learning something new about their approach to the guitar. It’s also important to give props to the newer players who are out there creating incredible music and, in some cases, making us re-think the entire instrument. Our Top Riffs of 2009 contain exemplary examples of the modern voice of the guitar and is indicative of the direction guitar-based music is headed. Whereas the top riffs of earlier decades may have consisted of several variations of pentatonic- blues riffage, here we see variations on drop tunings—only two selections are in standard tuning! Also, marking a shift in the musical climate, two totally diverse country selections have made it into the list. Let the Top Riffs of 2009 inspire you to chart your own course on the guitar.

 

In 2007, after a night of drinking with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Mastodon guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds was savagely beaten by System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and singer/songwriter William Hudson in an altercation after the MTV Music Video Awards. This left him in a coma and his chance of survival looked bleak. Through rehab and the use of…“medicinal marijuana,” Hinds miraculously recovered. Along the way he also wrote the music for Crack the Skye entirely on acoustic guitar while recovering at home in his flannel pajamas. The riff from “Divinations” on Crack the Skye cops the award for The Top Riff of 2009. After an eerie banjo opening, the riff kicks in with snaky open-string triplet hammer-ons and pull-offs.

 

*(Having Trouble Reading the Tab?  Just right click on the image and click view image.) 

 

 

 

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