Top 10 Guitar Riffs of the 2000s

#10: “Welcome Home” (2005) Coheed and Cambria

Also in:

Top 20 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time

Starting from the simple guitar chords played at the beginning of the song, listeners know that they are in for something sinister and dark with this tune. As the beat builds, the electric guitar begins to wail as it’s paired with the daunting sound of the drums. “Welcome Home” has a heavy metal sound that pairs perfectly with its killer riff. The Coheed and Cambria tune has also found a home in pop culture, most notably with an inclusion in the “Rock Band” video game.

No stranger to shredding, Avenged Sevenfold have many notable guitar riffs – just check out “Afterlife.” But it’s the frantic pacing and urgency of “Beast and the Harlot”’ that more often gets the praise of fans and critics alike. The song’s guitar riff is rapid and fights with the beat, but instead of clashing, the two sound perfect together. As theriff builds, it also helps support the song’s lyrics about the fall of Babylon and its similarities with the Hollywood lifestyle.

#8: “Can’t Stop” (2003) Red Hot Chili Peppers

Also in:

Top 10 Best Punk Rock Guitar Riffs of All Time

Melodic and complex are the perfect words to describe the guitar work on this track. With this song, the band offers audiences a throwback to their earlier work while demonstrating how skilled they’ve become at their instruments. With his gentle strumming, guitarist John Frusciante adds a reggae feeling. Then, as the song builds, he ratchets up his playing, which gives “Can’t Stop” the Chili Peppers’ signature funk style. Another number one on the Modern Rock Tracks Chart, the By the Way singlealso found moderate success around the world.

#7: “Take Me Out” (2004) Franz Ferdinand

Also in:

Top 10 Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs

From the beginning of this track, listeners are given a somewhat light repetition of a few chords, but somewhere around the one minute mark, those chords get harder and heavier - creating an addictive melody that’s hard not to move to. “Take Me Out”’s lyrics are so simple they play second fiddle to the groove of the guitar. It was only Franz Ferdinand’s second ever single but thanks to its indie rock and dance punk vibe, it quickly catapulted them into the spotlight.

#6: “Mr. Brightside” (2004) The Killers

Also in:

Top 10 Classic Rock Guitar Riffs

As far as debut singles go, this one is pretty much the best kind to have. The riff in “Mr. Brightside” is sweeping, and as it builds, it creates an anthemic feel. At the same time, it’s melodic and tightly controlled, which helps gives The Killers’ track the kind of beat that you can’t help but nod your head to. This riff is largely responsible for crafting the band’s synthpop, past-meets-present sound that they’re known for today.

The title of this track matches its main guitar riff perfectly: starting off slowly but building alongside Scott Weiland’s vocals, it then rises until it reaches a climax of pure hard rock. On “Slither,” Slash proved his guitar-playing has only gotten better with age and he’s still at the top of his game. The riff brought the song to the next level so it’s no surprise that the Contraband single also earned Velvet Revolver a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.

#4: “The Dark Eternal Night” (2007) Dream Theater

Also in:

Doug Aldrich On His Guitar Collection

When a song begins with a minute of powerful, uninterrupted guitar playing, listeners know they’re in for something good. The guitar riff of “The Dark Eternal Night” is loud, complex, and quick and builds layers on top of itself. Guitarist John Petrucci plays at such a rapid speed that it creates a sense of controlled chaos with each pick of his fingers. Meanwhile, the song’s lyrics borrow from an H.P. Lovecraft story that perfectly matches the guitar’s frenzied sound.

#3: “No One Knows” (2002) Queens of the Stone Age

Also in:

Top 10 Hard Rock Guitar Riffs

The guys knew exactly what they wanted for this song’s sound, and so it spent five years in the making before Queens of the Stone Age finally saw it fit to record. “No One Knows”’s recognizable riff is catchy enough to draw in large audiences but it also has enough of an edge to please hard rock purists. The riff adds soul to the stoner rock track and matches Josh Homme’s vocal performance to a tee. The Songs for the Deafsingle wasn’t only a critical success, it was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Known for their larger-than-life sound, Muse always puts their instruments front and center in their music. Songs like “Knights of Cydonia” demonstrate this as well, and while it’s got a killer riff, it’s this Origins of Symmetry track that’s got our vote. Starting with Matthew Bellamy playing the electric guitar at a dizzying tempo of 135 bpm, “Plug In Baby” only builds and gets better from there. What makes it even more special is that the riff is influenced by one of Bach’s toccatas, making it both an homage to classical music and a rock classic at the same time. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Reptilia” (2004) The Strokes - “I Disappear” (2000) Metallica - “Psychosocial” (2008) Slipknot - “Romantic Rights” (2004) Death from Above 1979

#1: “Seven Nation Army” (2003) The White Stripes

Also in:

Top 10 Metal Guitarists Who Define Heavy Riffs

You can’t escape the riff in this song. It’s the undercurrent of “Seven Nation Army,” and it runs deep with an intrinsic ear-worm quality to it. As Jack White picks up the pace in the chorus, there’s something almost terrifying and daunting about it all. The sound is so deep it reminds us of a bass, but it’s actually being produced by a semi-acoustic guitar filtered through a DigiTech Whammy pedal. A number one hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the Grammy-winning tune has also become a sports event staple, as it’s the perfect song to build up anticipation among both fans and players alike. Do you agree with our list? Which riff from the 2000s blows you away? For more badass Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.