Sep/14/07
13comments

Top Ten Guitar Riffs for Ukulele: Have Your Say

I’m sure having a top ten list is going to kick off a bit of a debate. The fact is, I’m making the list up as I go along. So, if you want to influence what gets in there or if you just want to call me an empty headed, bat-faeces speckled dolt for my choices so far. Here’s your chance to let me know what your favourite guitar riffs are.

Warning: If you don’t manage to talk me out of it the list will include The Final Countdown and Girls Aloud.

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13 Comments

  1. uncle budd September 14th, 2007 1:55 pm

    I don’t see how you can omit Seven Nation Army, nor do I see how it could easily be tabbed out for our wee trebly instrument.
    Good luck!

  2. pam September 14th, 2007 3:23 pm

    Yesterday afternoon, Neighbor P and I were hashing through Europa (Carlos Santana) on our ukes and were talking about EXACTLY this.

    Nirvana. Duh. Smells Like Teen Spirit. Though I suppose that’s already out there, with the brilliant version by the Uke Orch of GB.

    What about Brick House? Though that’s more of a bass riff…

  3. Stewart September 14th, 2007 4:38 pm

    Hiya Woodshed. Nice site, and great question.

    Here are some faves of mine, but I’m happy to hear something new. After all, the power of the riff is really in the attitude with which you play it… Bring on “Girls Aloud”! ;-)

    satisfaction – rolling stones
    start me up – rolling stones
    day tripper – beatles
    shine on you crazy diamond – pink floyd
    under pressure – queen & david bowie
    smoke on the water – deep purple
    kiss the bride – elton john
    smells like teen spirit – nirvana
    highway to hell – AC/DC
    wild thing – the troggs
    back in black – AC/DC
    eye of the tiger – survivor

    I guess the trick with some of these is to pick the right key so that you can do a “quick change” between power chords…

  4. Woodshed September 14th, 2007 11:14 pm

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    Uncle Budd: 7 Nation Army is one of the tunes Taimane uses regularly so it’s certainly possible on the uke.

    Pam: I’m not sure I should admit this but I don’t like the original Smells… or the UOGB cover.

    Stewart: Excellent list. Some of those will certainly be on.

    Back In Black has the distinction of having two of the greatest riffs ever devised in it.

  5. weelie September 17th, 2007 2:17 pm

    Smoke on the water …or… Heaven’s on Fire: G5 Bb5 C5 etc
    TNT: E5 G5 A5 G-note A5 G-note E5
    Sunshine of your love(in single notes): G G F G D Db C G Bb G etc
    Satisfaction (in single notes): B B B C# D D D/C# C#
    Eye of the tiger: C5 C5 Bb5 C5 C5 Bb5 C5 C5 G5+5 G#5
    Wild thing: A A D D E(m)
    Paranoid: E5… E5… D5…. G5 D5 E5 G5
    Iron man: B#5 D5 D5/E5 E5 G5/Gb5 G5/Gb5 G5 D5 D5/E5 E5
    Tush, Are you gonna go my way, Black dog, purple haze, Layla,

  6. weelie September 17th, 2007 2:21 pm

    oh yes, you had Iron man already… replace that with Sabbath bloody sabbath, then. :D

  7. Woodshed September 17th, 2007 8:03 pm

    Thanks for all the info, weelie. I’d completely forgotten about Sunshine… That has to be in there.

  8. Tim September 18th, 2007 6:45 pm

    Hi!
    Some ac/dc riffs would be nice on the uke!

  9. Woodshed September 18th, 2007 7:56 pm

    I think it’s a very safe bet that AC/DC are going to turn up at some point, Tim.

  10. Tim September 19th, 2007 5:27 pm

    Great!

  11. West September 25th, 2007 4:30 pm

    Hey Woodshed – great site!

    A few more for the pot (hope I’m not too late :-) ):
    Led Zeppelin – Whole lotta love
    G ‘n R – Sweet Child o’ mine
    Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows

    Keep up the great work!

  12. Woodshed September 25th, 2007 10:12 pm

    Thanks, West. I’ve got the list done – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed though.

  13. Euan McCandless October 5th, 2009 10:51 pm

    ok, from here on i know best,
    yes paranoid is a good riff but doesnt work on the uke
    Smoke on the water works as does the AC/DC patterns.
    If you can play it the mob rules is a brilliant uke riff, play A then the g string to get the g, then a series of pull offs o be nice and fancy, a block chord polished of with a nice riff is an awsome ostinato pattern.

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