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The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:50 pm
by jfv
Was listening to my iPhone on shuffle this morning and Van Halen's "Jump" came on. This fucking song. I never get tired of that opening riff, though I've heard so many folks play it. Granted, I don't work at Guitar Center or other music store, so I don't hear it every day. But it's a hell of a riff.

What are some others? Also considering sequencing, one of my other favorites is:

(Kraftwerk - Europe Endless)


Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:00 pm
by penningtron

Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:04 pm
by Dovira
jfv wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:50 pm(Kraftwerk - Europe Endless)
Not a bad start!

Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:07 pm
by zircona1
Europe - The Final Countdown

Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:16 pm
by jfv
kokorodoko wrote:
jfv wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 3:50 pm(Kraftwerk - Europe Endless)
Not a bad start!
The riff seems so optimistic. It makes me happy the instant I hear it.
zircona1 wrote:Europe - The Final Countdown
Holy shit yes.

Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:24 pm
by penningtron
Could probably think about this for hours so I'll just end on this one:


Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:34 pm
by jfv
penningtron wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:24 pm Could probably think about this for hours so I'll just end on this one:
I know, I could too. Was hoping the thread could serve as a distraction. Keep posting as you wish.

Not feeling optimistic about other things right now.

Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:56 pm
by Gramsci

Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:02 pm
by jfv
Gramsci wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 4:56 pm
All due credit to FM zircona1 who mentioned it first, but my lazy ass does appreciate the YouTube link. Love this track.

Also, *for completeness*, here is a YouTube link to the track mentioned in the OP, including the 1984 intro, which I think is essential buildup:


Re: The best SYNTH riffs of all time

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:06 pm
by Dovira
As for me, it's probably more of a fill than a riff but the one in "Here Comes the Sun" fills me with beautiful.

Listening to "Atomic Dog" (George Clinton) now because I thought about it and yeah, this one definitely belongs up there.

But in fact, boy, thinking through everything the list could be going for a while.

Front 242 - Funkahdafi + Welcome to Paradise
Skinny Puppy - Worlock
Ministry - Stigmata
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult - Kooler Than Jesus
Swing Out Sister - Breakout
LFO - "Intro" on Frequencies
Autechre - Bike

(The Final Countdown is ass.)