20 BEST BLUES RIFFS

O1 JEFF BECK

HAMMERHEAD

Master of reinvention and arguably the most dependably brilliant guitarist to walk the earth, Jeff Beck won his last Grammy in 2011 thanks to this absolute gem of a riff. It’s built off the D Mixolydian scale, sticking to the minor pentatonic notes from the same key save for the addition of a major 3rd.

02 JOE BONAMASSA

DIRT IN MY POCKET

The fourth track from 2007 fan-favourite Sloe Gin could very well be JoBo at his heaviest, making full use of an open-E tuning, a slide and a fair amount of overdrive. The usage of a major 6th in addition to the 2nds, 3rds and minor 7ths found in the riff is what gives it a Dorian flavour.

O3 RICHIE KOTZEN

PEACE SIGN

Section: Intro/Verse

Appears at: 0:00-0:16

Original tempo: 123bpm

Key: B minor