30 Funk Rock Riffs You MUST Know

My earliest exposure to rock riffs with a major dose of groove came from a handful of classic rock players. Back then it wasn't classic yet, it was just ROCK! Joe Perry and Bad Whitford were among those guys and I excitedly spent time shedding Aerosmith riffs. I always found myself gravitating towards grooves like "Sweet Emotion" more than "Dream On". I guess my path was set early on!

This eight bar jam is in C with a Mixolydian flavor courtesy of the b7 on the downbeat of beat 4 in every measure except 7 & 8. That's where the riff flips to Em. All in all, you have a groovin' set of eight that requires pocket and attitude. Be sure to watch my fingering and see how I employ my fret hand second finger in both keys. It's the, well, key to it all!

Inspiration: Aerosmith | Walk This Way (Toys in the Attic) [1975]

I'm a big fan of Joe Walsh's pocket. From his raucous early days in The James Gang to his seminal work with the Eagles, Joe Walsh has been playing gutsy rock riffs that are super cool and super funky for decades. Always dialing in a brawny humbucker-infused tone Walsh's riff helped lay the groundwork for me when it comes fingering riffs in the best way possible. Riff 2 will require some rolling, and for me, that all started playing this riff.

Riff 2 is the first of many funk rock riffs in Em and for good reason – it just works perfectly. Generally speaking, from the thump of the low E string to the positioning advantages in fifth position as well as the overall architecture of the guitar, E and Em reign supreme. Even more so when it comes to this style.

Inspiration: Eagles | Life in the Fast Lane (Hotel Ca.) [1976]

The 70's is where it was at for riffs. The ones that stood out for me were pentatonic riffs played on wound strings with a touch (or more) of gain propelled by swagger and style. Another element that caught my attention was the syncopation. I love the rhythmically jagged and action-packed nature of offbeat 16ths. Upon hearing the riffs in "Carry On Wayward Son" for the first time, I was completely enamored.

Riff 3 is in Am played in fifth position. Much like Riff 2, it's all about the legato – both technique and phrasing. That said, you need to focus on those upbeat 1/8 notes that make up half of the riff. Those downbeat rests needs to be pin drop quiet. Make that happen and you have a one funky rock riff.

Inspiration: Kansas | Carry On Wayward Son (Leftoverture) [1976]

My classic rock upbringing was solely provided by my older brother Louis, who by the way, put a guitar in my hands. As far back as I can remember, there was music and it was all powered by those now classic albums. As a result, I too became deeply interested in music and it was inevitable I would start seeking out my own. The first record in the form of a cassette tape I purchased with my own money I saved up from paper route was – ready for this – Thriller. Michael Jackson was EVERYWHERE and I absolutely worshipped the groove in "Beat It". I needed that song in my life at will, on call, in the boombox. And so it was done.

Back in Em (get used to it), Riff 4 visits the brilliant playing of Steve Lukather on "Beat It". From the middle string perfect fourth dyads peppered with a touch of scratches to the hefty second position Em pentatonic riff (Fingering #2 in my world), this is funk rock riff gold. Take note of the upbeat 1/8's as well as the staccato phrasing on the dyads. There's something brewing here and I aim to key you in on it.

The riffs in "Beat It" were so part of my pre-teen years, I did not waste the opportunity to randomly ask Luke to play it for me when I interviewed him for Guitar One. He laughed and gladly obliged (that's Luke Daddy!) It was a major bucket list moment, for sure.

Inspiration: Michael Jackson | Beat it (Thriller) [1982]

While I was weaned on what is now classic rock and loved every note (still do), it was not to be my one and only stylistic interest. Hip hop and I found each other early on in both our respective existence and we've been friends ever since. Early hip hop artists such as Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys and Afrika Bambaataa were the soundtrack to my adventures parading around Brick, NJ as a breakdancer with a boombox and cardboard. Here's the kicker: If you look back at early hip hop, there are a bevy of big time funk rock riffs on those pioneering records.

Run-D.M.C. reigned supreme, and for me, a big reason why were those riffs. Big, chunky power chords and low string range riffing was what they were all about. Riff 5 dishes out a mash up of two Run-D.M.C. classic moments from their first two albums. The key here is the staccato phrasing throughout both parts. It's the must-have ingredient in early funk rock.

Inspiration: Run-D.M.C. | King of Rock (King of Rock) [1985] & Rock Box (Run D.M.C.) [1984]

The 80's were the decade I found my path in life: GUITAR. Still not playing yet - but definitely a big fan - I was immersed in guitar-driven music. All of it. Truth be told, Prince was not on my first call list. While he was on the pop radar already, I was just not down with him. That is, until Purple Rain. The opening octave fuzz licks in "When Doves Cry" were devastatingly cool (check out my 50 Funk Licks You MUST Know) and the solo break in "Let's Go Crazy" still stops me in my tracks to air guitar the opening wail.

Riff #6 is an uptempo funk rocker in B that will take you right back to "Let's Go Crazy" post-opening sermon. Check out the staccato thumps on the F#5 power chords – it's funk rock riff standard play. Be mindful of the tricky moment in bar 4 where you will need to hammer-on an E/B triad from a root position B triad on the 4-3-2 string set. Altogether, this is classic funk rock from one of the most of the classic purveyors of the style.

Inspiration: Prince | Let's Go Crazy (Purple Rain) [1984]