The early decades established the "vocabulary" of the riff, moving from simple blues progressions to heavy, distorted hooks.
In the 1970s, riffs became heavier and more complex, serving as the central "hook" for stadium-sized anthems. 100_greatest_guitar_riffs_of_all_time_part_1
: Built on a simple G-minor blues scale played in parallel fourths, Ritchie Blackmore’s creation is perhaps the most recognizable riff in history—and famously one of the forbidden riffs often banned in guitar stores due to overuse by beginners. The early decades established the "vocabulary" of the