Agree. It may not be a riff per se, but Touch Too Much has my favorite intro of all time by anyone. Such a cool swagger to it. The entire song is perfect.
"Hells Bells" my #1 favorite because no concert I've been to has beaten the 1980 AC/DC show I was at in Oakland CA when they opened the show with that riff, Brian swinging on the rope ringing the bell, unbelievable energy!
Back in Black is such an outstanding record that you could almost do a "Top AC/DC Riffs" video of that album only!!! One of (and maybe THE) most incredible rock albums of all-time!
Whole Lotta Rosie was definitely the one I expected to hear when I started the list. Highway to Hell would have been my #1 but with so many great riffs the order does not really matter.
I remember listening to that song so much that I was worried about wearing out my rewind, so I did what any dinosaur would do: I recorded it 10 times over on an old maxell cassette :)
@@shiscarp Through the Mists of Time is literally a straight up ballad on the new album. I personally just think of Ride On as a slow blues more so than a "ballad" per se. I still get why people would think it is one though.
Tim I thought you would have noticed the timing boo boo Rick made on Malcoms second phrase. Stuck out like a sore thumb to me 😉 (Love your channel by the way)
@@Justice_Hammer yeah, but I figure he's trying to get just the basic idea recorded as fast as possible. We all know the riffs, right? The way he played Jailbreak wasn't spot on either but we all know Rick knows what he's doing.
K-I-L-L-E-R!!!! Really wish u didn't say the year of each song tho. MADE ME REALIZE HOW OLD I REALLY AM. Wow! I could only ever dream of getting blocked because my tone and playing were BANG ON....You should be honored RB. 😂
What an amazing commentary on Rick's skills - musically, recording and mixing - that Epic Records can't tell the difference between his recording and the original.
I love “girls got rhythm“, Bon Scott is just singing his balls off in that tune, it’s the most insane level of energy I’ve ever heard on a song. Great show Rick. I love how you run the rain from classical through Jaz and Eve and the metalhead stuff. A professor from Peabody once told me “it all sounds good if your ears are big enough”
To me that riff IS pure rock and roll. I love RnR that salutes the pioneers of RnR and this one does just that. Never gets old.....love the live videos of it. It definitely gets you going.
01- hells bells 02- spellbound 03- highway to hell 04- rock n roll train 05- have a drink on me 06- stiff upper lip 07- hell ain't a bad place to be 08- shot down in flames 09- flick of the switch 10- high voltage 11- shoot to thrill 12- girls got rhythm 13- thunderstruck 14- soul stripper 15- you shook me all night long 16- shake your foundations 17- are you ready 18- the furor 19- stand up 20- nervous shakedown 21- walk all over you 22- back in black 23- rock the house 24- evil walks 25- rock n roll ain't noise pollution 26- let me put my love into you 27- the razors edge 28- playing with girls 29- stormy may day 30- back in business 31- hell or high water 32- hard as a rock 33- who made who 34- what do you do for money honey 35- tnt 36- sin city 37- put the finger on you 38- dirty deeds done dirt cheap 39- dog eat dog 40- jailbreak 41- big gun 42- shake a leg 43- safe in new yok city 44- whole lotta rosie 45- heatseeker 46- riff raff 47- let there be rock 48- beating around the bush 49- landslide 50- for those about to rock
I’m impressed how you DIDN’T put Thunderstruk in there; and even mentioned why. Great video. There are soooo many AC/DC riffs it’s difficult to narrow it down. Nice job Rick. Keep it up
The record companies need to realize that these videos make me want to look the band up again and revisit the music. Not listen to this INSTEAD of the originals. Their shortsightedness is daunting. Keep fighting it Rick. We'll keep clicking!
Surely this is exactly what they want.... this is a good way for younger generations to connect with this amazing music xxx You are 100 percent right, I've searched "Spotify" for all of the originals. xxxx
Pretty sure it would have been an automatic copyright check done by RUclips's AI. The problem is that Rick has played the song *too* well and it's tricked the AI and matched the actual ACDC version.
Know this is an old vid but I’m only just discovering AC/DC in my late 40s!! Love them, what a discography. Anyways, I know this is a list of iconic riffs and this album doesn’t get the love it deserves, but the riff on Flick Of The Switch is incredibly infectious. Love that song!! Great list as always Rick 👍
Don't feel bad, I just discovered this video today - apparently RUclips figured out that I've been listening to all sorts of AC/DC music in my car over the past three weeks! And so Rick's list of riffs appeared in my feed....wel done, AI Overlords. I'm twenty years older than you, I liked some of their hits back in the day. But now that I've started learning bass guitar, I appreciate the band's work even more.
I would say that "Ride On" is the closest to a ballad they did. "Beating Around the Bush" has always been one of my favorites. I always loved songs with what I call a hesitant start-up, and then once the riff gets going, it just rolls on and on nonstop.
So happy for your #1 pick. To me, that is their most iconic song...closing every show since it was recorded. AC/DC created so many iconic riffs that you could pick ten random songs off most of their albums and you'd have a great list. Some of the deeper tracks have some of the greatest playing on them.
Whole Lotta Rosie is my favorite ACDC song and it's one of the first songs I ever learned on guitar. Well, somewhat learned. I learned the main riffs, but not the solo.
Two honorable mentions I love, they're probably my favorite AC/DC songs to play: the chorus parts to "Touch too Much" and "Let Me Put My Love Into You".
I’ve always loved “Walk All Over You” I also think it’s a great example of how much both Malcom and Angus’ tones together were so important to AC/DC sounding the way they did, because you can hear it as soon as the second guitar comes in during the intro riff, it’s suddenly that AC/DC sound!
2:44 Shoot to Thrill is a/the perfect rock song. Not the best ever written, but it just has everything. Great riff, great chorus, great bridge, great solo, none overshadow the other, great arrangement.
I doubt even AC/DC would claim they write "the best" songs... but you've nailed it saying it's a perfect rock song. You just pop in one of their albums and it's rock distilled to its purest form.
Just don't try doing double nun-chucks to "Shoot to Thrill" , you will hurt yourself . believe me I know , after I woke up on the ground, back about 1981. Granted the sets of nun-chucks were dis-similar/imbalanced, but I learned a couple good lessons then. 1. Don't use 2 sets of different nun-chunks 2 . don't use 2 sets while listening to Shoot to Thrill. Still a good nunchucka song for practice though. The speed, just goes, with the song/music :)
Way back in the '80s when I played high school football, we had two songs that were blasted in the locker room right before games by our co-captains: Two Minutes to Midnight by Iron Maiden and Shoot to Thrill. STT is just a great, straight-forward, fire-you-up rock and roll song.
My sentimental favorite is "it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll." The Riff isn't great but I give a lot of points for a Rock and Roll band using Bag Pipes in a song. Especially when Bon knew about as much about playing bag pipes as I do when he suggested it.
NICE WORK ON ALL OF YOUR INSTRUMENTS !!!! YOU ARE FOR SURE ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSICIANS !!!! YOUR SPEACH IS PERFECT !!!! YOU HAVE EXCELLENT MUSICIANS PLAYING WITH YOU !!!!
Whole Lotta Rosie is one of my favorite riffs. Pure energy and passion! If You Want Blood and Have a Drink on Me are also up there. Great job on being so good that RUclips thought it was the record. Quite the compliment!!!
I used to have "For Those About To Rock" as my alarm for a while, because it has such a nice crescendo in it, meaning I could set the alarm really loud, but the start still wasn't so loud to wake the neighbours. It worked for about two weeks, then I slept through that and woke up the neighbours in the process. I probably had a nice dream about attending an AC/DC concert though.
Aside from all of the fantastic riffs, just wanted to compliment your guitar playing! Big kudos to you for capturing the atmosphere and tone of the Young brothers riffs so damn well. Boom 👊
The song I like the most is “It’s a long way to the top”. The bagpipe solo is so distinctive and every time I listen, it takes me flying. Great song! Bon Scott learned to play the pipes for that song and just that is a piece of history already. As for an awesome and underrated riff I think “Stiff Upper Lip” goes a long way.
I think two are missing; Have a Drink on Me is one of those riffs that when you hear it, you crank it up as loud as you can take it. Beating Around the Bush is a hidden gem. Should have gotten more attention. Just a killer riff and a great songPure AC/DC.
AGREED ! I really look forward to Have a Drink on Me. Let’s face it drinking is, was and will ever be part of the Bands History. While not the most popular song anyone who enjoys a shot and a beer at a bar anywhere in the world gets this song. But the Song after the guitar solo @ 2:48 in builds and explodes like a boilermaker for 25 seconds to the finish, Those 25 - 30 seconds are AC/DC throwing down. Love this Song .
I think "Ride On" is closer than Hell's Bells to a ballad from the ACDC's regular album releases. It also features a really unique solo from Angus. Anyways, ACDC is always epic. So many great riffs.
@@frankusyoung4198 You know because it was on the Australia version it is one of the few songs I've never heard. Growing up there was no Google to help me navigate obscure tracks. ;)
I will never forget when my daughters were playing the game "Rock Band" and one of them was singing "You Shook Me'. About half way through she stopped singing and said, "Ohhh, that is a dirty song" LOL.
0:22 T.N.T 0:49 Riff Raff 1:13 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 1:54 Moneytalks 2:32 Shoot to Thrill 3:17 You Shook Me All Night Long 4:48 Hells Bells 5:50 Highway to Hell 6:36 Back in Black 7:20 For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
Some of the easiest riffs to play, but the hardest things to get right are the feel, groove, intensity and tightness of the riffs. Angus does all this while running around the stage non stop. You don't hear any unwanted notes or overtones...he cuts off the chords precisely! Amazing...they are rock!
Australia. Among dozens of other strong bands. Aus rock, keeping it real for decades. Early Midnight Oil, Divinyls, Angels, Richard Clapton, Cold Chisel, Farnham, Mondo Rock, Matt Finish, Rose Tattoo, INXS, Australian Crawl, Hoodoo Gurus, Boom Crash Opera, Icehouse, Tina Arena!, Noiseworks, Dragon, The Models, Split Enz, Paul Kelly, Southern Sons, COG, Eurogliders, Pseudo Echo, The Swingers, Machinations, The Sports, Little River Band, Petter Cupples. Etc etc Been here for 46 years,, and I'm English!
Rick Beato you are an amazing Musician, Songwriter, Educator, Recording Engineer and Producer and I love your channel! Your recorded versions of AC/DC songs sound amazing and very very accurate, no wonder that the record company thought that it was the original version. Keep up the fantastic work and thank you!
Great video Rick. Walk All Over You off Highway to Hell, and Sin City off Powerage would be two of my other favourites. Powerage is such an underappreciated album.
I'm glad to see more than one person mention It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) - it is unmatched, a single power chord riff with more feeling than most guitarists can muster.
@@cameroncooper4175 I have that problem on other songs like Good Times Roll and Walking on the Moon, but somehow I hear this one right. To my ears, I think he plays it with an upstroke.
Probably my fav. Good memories belting it out badly on the way the AC/DC concert years ago on the subway. In our heads we sounded amazing but the truth was far more depressing
I reckon this is a great video to show people who frustratingly think AC/DC songs sound the same. The variety in these riffs is insane. Would love to see the lads one last time here in Sydney. Greatest band of all time 🤘Love your work Rick 🙌
For some reason, "If You Want Blood" plays in my head a lot. The opening riff is awesome...and it's Bon Scott on vocals. "Riff Raff" is my favorite though.
I always loved the slow build of Squealer and Ride On but in there was always a few songs on each album that made me turn the volume up to the maximum.
“Let There Be Rock” has always been a monstrously heavy and amazing track to me. One of their best riffs; even though it lacks dexterity, it is RELENTLESS - and has an amazing intensity.
The live version from IYWBYGI is just one of the heaviest things ever recorded. The last verse “One night in the club called the Shakin Hand”, that one…is just so damn frenetic.
THANK YOU for including "Let there be Rock"! One of my favorite AC/DC songs. It DRIVES! However, the #1 for me will always be "For those About to Rock". Maybe he should do a Brian Johnson era list and a Bon Scott era list?
I've always been a huge fan of Let There Be Rock, it's such a filthy, evil sounding riff. So fast, so much attitude. love how it hits the 3 chord half a beat before the 1 and makes you wait a second before it resolves down
Hells Bells is by far my favorite AC/DC song to play as a bassist. The Bell tolling to the build up to rock perfection gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.
Your list can't really be argued against, Rick--I love it. But one that always gets me jazzed is "Touch Too Much." I just love the build-up to the chorus.
@@GradeEcho well up there for me too, I've seen the guys live 3 times all in the Johnson era and I have never seen it played live. Its a belter of a track and i believe criminally overlooked
Great list and well played, I really liked seeing Malcom's parts included since he came up with most of them. I would have included Ride On for the blues rifts and Let there be Rock to my favorites.
I think Powerage is the very best ACDC album ever (but I love every one) and "Gone Shootin' " is one of the best songs ever: lyrically heavy but the album version immediately takes me to a smokey after hours bar about 3 a.m. where everyone is taking a breather but reflecting on the heaviness of life and existence. Down Payment Blues is also an awesome song and I heard it was EVH's favorite. You have one of the very best channels of all time!
Well yea, those two songs on Powerage , are so killer and real life it simply ain't funny. There is nothing like Bon and Angus and the rest of AC/DC playing the blues and making it blues rock, past even the earlier greats of the same genre. They took the fusion of blues and rock way past what other people in the 50's did, or even past the great acid/hippie rock bands of the 60's -early 70's did . They made the hard rock genre. If anyone says "hardrock" what is the first band that comes to mind? They were/are, simply a god dam good blues/rock band. LOL , ain't it great ? :).
Shoot to Thrill is my favorite AC/DC song. Love it’s dynamic changes and the way it builds in the last third of the song. I think I’ve hurt my neck more times listening to AC/DC than any other band.
One song I don't hear mentioned nearly enough, and one of my personal favorites, is Overdose. The slow build stands out against all their other songs, say for Hells Bells. The guitar riff is so gripping, I can't not sink into this song every time I hear it.
Damnit man! Another great one again, but some more honorable mentions should be "Shake a leg", " Beating around the bush" and my most favorite one to open with in cover bands "girl's got rhythm"... the best description of Angus I ever heard is "he has a bottomless pocket of addictive riffs"
@@alexcaulfield2214 It's a straight-up blues and there is more than one video out there showing Angus could have been one of the best blues guitarists, but that's a niche position to pigeon-hole yourself in.
Glad to hear a track off Powerage, which is my favorite AC/DC album! I was surprised that you didnt rank the riff from the song "Jailbreak" in there, which is iconic Bon Scott.
So glad to find another Powerage fan here! That's also my favorite AC/DC album, but there are not many of us out there. Nothing can beat the raw rock n roll from that album!
@@pabhb I've always thought it was their most mature album. The song writing is solid, there are no dud or filler songs, and no songs about sex. I can feel comfortable playing it around my 15-year-old daughter or wife.
One of the first two CD's/albums I ever bought was Back in Black. "Hell's Bells" intro etched itself into my mind forever. As soon as I heard that bell sound I got full body chills. Two others I really like are Who Made Who (simple but cool to listen to) and Nervous Shakedown (because it has that heavy, "hit with a bat" sound that I love from AC/DC).
@@rosswilliam2472 same here... it's a smoky, sexy, attitude-heavy riff that just makes you want to pummel your 4x12! One of the first AC/DC riffs I learned and sometimes a go-to riff when I pick up a new guitar
Well done Rick, you are one of the few that comes really close to the feel of the originals ! It's a lot harder than most people think. Good job. My favorite is "Down Payment Blues" from Powerage. FYI
Great list, agree with it all because it’s such an easy list to make because you can’t go wrong, so many incredible riffs to choose from. My go to is “shot down in flames”
The closest thing they' ever done to a ballad is probably Ride On. Great list Rick. For me the only one that i would add is "It's a Long Way", because the intro riff by Malcolm gives the best representation of how a Marshall Plexi cranked up to 11 with heavy strings and really heavy hitting sounds.
And dont forget the bagpipes on "Its a long way", I mean AC/DC and bagpipes, who knew they would go that route, its awesome, genius. cheers. Come on Rick we need some top 10 bagpipe rock riff/blows..ehm..
Not an iconic Riff, but: It's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock'n'Roll - I absolutely adore the merge of guitar and bagpipes. Not mentioned enough imo.
Night Prowler, their best ‘ballad’/ Blues track. It highlights Angus for the master blues guitarist that he is and it highlighted the powerful, get down and dirty, soulful voice of Bon. Night Prowler was the last song on the album and the last time we experienced Bon. RIP Brother❤
"Let there be rock" really grew on me in my late 20's, It felt like a tribute to all the great rock n roll music and players of a by gone era. something you just don't get until you have taken a lot of music in.
“Night Prowler” and “Gimme a Bullet to bite on” are both awesome, underrated songs that are so easy play yet hit so hard 😎🤘, “gone shootin as well” ….pretty much every Powerage song really
You gotta DIME it for this one!
Honorable mentions: Beating Around the Bush, Walk All Over You, and Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
yOur HeARt Is PumPiiiN
Great honorable mentions man! Keep up the great videos also!
Yes. "Beating Around the Bush" is insanely good!
I was gonna say, Beating Around the Bush is easily top 3
🤣🤣🤣
I think Touch Too Much is an extremely underrated song, one of the best sounding of the Bon Scott era by far.
I was singing that today!! Great Minds
Acdc never played that song live. When Axel Rose joined rhe band some years ago he specifically asked them to play it
Isn’t it great how he can show everybody how good of a guitar player he is While I advertising his Rick Beato guitar by Gibson
Agree. It may not be a riff per se, but Touch Too Much has my favorite intro of all time by anyone. Such a cool swagger to it. The entire song is perfect.
@@DavidMihail Perfect!
Two of my favorite AC/DC songs to play are "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Whole Lotta Rosie". They both have great riffs!
Check out Walk all over you..Bon Scott
givin the dog a bone has also good riff
I agree
@@hajduksplit8657 and Hail Caesar
Totally agree. I would add “There’s gonna be some rocking” to the list
"Hells Bells" my #1 favorite because no concert I've been to has beaten the 1980 AC/DC show I was at in Oakland CA when they opened the show with that riff, Brian swinging on the rope ringing the bell, unbelievable energy!
Its a killer sound so haunting
I was at the Cow Palace show the night before. The weekend before I started my Senior year of HS. Great concert!
Gone Shootin’ is still my favorite riff from the Bon Scott days. Always appreciate your views and positive outlook on music! Much love to you Rick!
👍👍
Ditto. I was going to mention that one!
Yep
I was going to say this as well. Good call
"Gone Shootin'" should've been #1.
Back in Black is such an outstanding record that you could almost do a "Top AC/DC Riffs" video of that album only!!! One of (and maybe THE) most incredible rock albums of all-time!
Great list…but it needed one more AC/DC masterpiece: Whole Lotta Rosie. 🤘
Yeah I hear ya. Great song. Not really their most original riff though. That’s probably where Rick’s coming from.
@@mattjns definitely the most fun to play, though!
I agree Bon 4ever
Whole Lotta Rosie was definitely the one I expected to hear when I started the list. Highway to Hell would have been my #1 but with so many great riffs the order does not really matter.
Just what I was looking for!!!
Down Payment Blues is a killer track from Powerage which is so often overlooked.
I think Powerage is the best AC/DC record, the hidden gem of them all imo.
To me powerage is ACDCs best album ....and one of my favourites Gimme Bullet
Absolutely!
“Ride On” deserves a big mention. Quite a few comments suggesting it here. It’s my #1
I remember listening to that song so much that I was worried about wearing out my rewind, so I did what any dinosaur would do: I recorded it 10 times over on an old maxell cassette :)
When he said Hells Bells is as close as they get to a ballad I was thinking what about Ride On???
It's mine too! Love the slow blues and Angus with the blistering solos
@@shiscarp Through the Mists of Time is literally a straight up ballad on the new album. I personally just think of Ride On as a slow blues more so than a "ballad" per se. I still get why people would think it is one though.
@@bernardbalizet5173 ride on!!!!!
Man this is just incredible… can’t believe how good your tones are and how legit you’re playing is ….Song #1 gave me chills!🔥🔥🔥
Tim I thought you would have noticed the timing boo boo Rick made on Malcoms second phrase. Stuck out like a sore thumb to me 😉 (Love your channel by the way)
Agree Tim. The tone, pacing and colour are so close, only pros like yourself, Mutt & Angus can truly appreciate. A classic RB gem. 👍🎼🎶🎵🎸
@@Justice_Hammer yeah, but I figure he's trying to get just the basic idea recorded as fast as possible. We all know the riffs, right? The way he played Jailbreak wasn't spot on either but we all know Rick knows what he's doing.
K-I-L-L-E-R!!!!
Really wish u didn't say the year of each song tho. MADE ME REALIZE HOW OLD I REALLY AM.
Wow! I could only ever dream of getting blocked because my tone and playing were BANG ON....You should be honored RB. 😂
Yeah no. 1 sounds KILLER!!! So good 🤟🏻
"If You Want Blood (you've Got It)" and "Nervous Shakedown" are my favorites. Love this video!
I love “If You Want Blood (you’ve got it)” one of my favorites as well. I personally prefer Bon Scott era AC/DC
i can’t believe i had to scroll so far to find this answer!
@@b0rnwithabeardyoutube bug
Shot down in flames. This riff brings me back when I was a teenager. You can’t stop to shake your head listening this song!
The goat! (Literally. Exploding.)
What an amazing commentary on Rick's skills - musically, recording and mixing - that Epic Records can't tell the difference between his recording and the original.
I love “girls got rhythm“, Bon Scott is just singing his balls off in that tune, it’s the most insane level of energy I’ve ever heard on a song.
Great show Rick. I love how you run the rain from classical through Jaz and Eve and the metalhead stuff. A professor from Peabody once told me “it all sounds good if your ears are big enough”
Agreed. I'm surprised that wasn't on here. Great riff.
Yep me three
I wholeheartedly agree
it's a great jam!
I will always love the main riff of "Let There Be Rock" a song that never gets enough love & the one song where Angus goes absolutely nuts.
One of the best and the solos are freaking amazing!
Yay! I’d include LTBR and Rosie! Back In Black is overrated. Weak song….
@@wolfmei5ter No it isn't.
Agree totally. Although this list was great!
To me that riff IS pure rock and roll. I love RnR that salutes the pioneers of RnR and this one does just that. Never gets old.....love the live videos of it. It definitely gets you going.
01- hells bells
02- spellbound
03- highway to hell
04- rock n roll train
05- have a drink on me
06- stiff upper lip
07- hell ain't a bad place to be
08- shot down in flames
09- flick of the switch
10- high voltage
11- shoot to thrill
12- girls got rhythm
13- thunderstruck
14- soul stripper
15- you shook me all night long
16- shake your foundations
17- are you ready
18- the furor
19- stand up
20- nervous shakedown
21- walk all over you
22- back in black
23- rock the house
24- evil walks
25- rock n roll ain't noise pollution
26- let me put my love into you
27- the razors edge
28- playing with girls
29- stormy may day
30- back in business
31- hell or high water
32- hard as a rock
33- who made who
34- what do you do for money honey
35- tnt
36- sin city
37- put the finger on you
38- dirty deeds done dirt cheap
39- dog eat dog
40- jailbreak
41- big gun
42- shake a leg
43- safe in new yok city
44- whole lotta rosie
45- heatseeker
46- riff raff
47- let there be rock
48- beating around the bush
49- landslide
50- for those about to rock
Gone Shooting from Powerage is another really great rock riff
My personal fav
Agreed and has such a sweet angus sound
Yes! Always been my favorite
Great choice and the live version they did on VH1 is phenomenal.
My favorite ac/dc album by far.
I’m impressed how you DIDN’T put Thunderstruk in there; and even mentioned why. Great video. There are soooo many AC/DC riffs it’s difficult to narrow it down. Nice job Rick. Keep it up
Left out Thunderstruck because it's very tricky to play fast?
There's a Finnish bluegrass band that does a hella cover of Thunderstruck.
If you're missing it, and you like something a little different, try searching for Thunderstruck by Ally the piper with Buckets the drummer.. enjoy!
Is there any riff in Thunderstruck?
@@DefundTheFringes lmao
The record companies need to realize that these videos make me want to look the band up again and revisit the music. Not listen to this INSTEAD of the originals. Their shortsightedness is daunting. Keep fighting it Rick. We'll keep clicking!
Exactly found a gem in it that i've never heard before and just added into the playlist.
The bottom feeders don't think that way, they just want $$$$.
Surely this is exactly what they want.... this is a good way for younger generations to connect with this amazing music xxx You are 100 percent right, I've searched "Spotify" for all of the originals. xxxx
I was thinking this the other day.... If I hear a bit of an AC/DC song somewhere I'm like oh yea, I'll listen to powerage in the car on the way home.
Pretty sure it would have been an automatic copyright check done by RUclips's AI. The problem is that Rick has played the song *too* well and it's tricked the AI and matched the actual ACDC version.
Know this is an old vid but I’m only just discovering AC/DC in my late 40s!! Love them, what a discography. Anyways, I know this is a list of iconic riffs and this album doesn’t get the love it deserves, but the riff on Flick Of The Switch is incredibly infectious. Love that song!! Great list as always Rick 👍
Don't feel bad, I just discovered this video today - apparently RUclips figured out that I've been listening to all sorts of AC/DC music in my car over the past three weeks!
And so Rick's list of riffs appeared in my feed....wel done, AI Overlords.
I'm twenty years older than you, I liked some of their hits back in the day. But now that I've started learning bass guitar, I appreciate the band's work even more.
Maybe not the best, but "It's A Long Way to the Top" is simple and iconic and pretty fun to play.
Totally agree
that and thunderstruck. very iconic
It's a long way to the shop.. If you want a sausage roll.
@@johnlowry4927 If you're not Australian this will go over 1s head! haha
Super fun to play.
So is Beating around the Bush...
Your "Hell's Bells" was perfect! That songs sends shivers right through me every time. Great list by the way!
All of them were perfect.
I would say that "Ride On" is the closest to a ballad they did.
"Beating Around the Bush" has always been one of my favorites. I always loved songs with what I call a hesitant start-up, and then once the riff gets going, it just rolls on and on nonstop.
ride on for sure
Ride On and Love Song!
Two's Up is as mellow as they got with Brian...
Listen to Jesus Just Left Chicago by ZZ Top and you'll see why Ride On not best acdc riff.
@@davemccallion3252 damn, soundin pretty similar!
So happy for your #1 pick. To me, that is their most iconic song...closing every show since it was recorded. AC/DC created so many iconic riffs that you could pick ten random songs off most of their albums and you'd have a great list. Some of the deeper tracks have some of the greatest playing on them.
Whole Lotta Rosie is my favorite ACDC song and it's one of the first songs I ever learned on guitar. Well, somewhat learned. I learned the main riffs, but not the solo.
I still frequently play the live version from the ‘If you want blood..”. Riff, lyrics, drive: 100% RnR!
Two honorable mentions I love, they're probably my favorite AC/DC songs to play: the chorus parts to "Touch too Much" and "Let Me Put My Love Into You".
I absolutely love Malcolm's riff from Thunderstruck. So subtle yet so masterful
Straight on Power Cords. Simple, but it keeps the build going.
Agreed!
I think it is the best one
@@gibblespascack1418simple until you try replicating the strumming pattern WELL
Well, he makes it look simple. @@meamzcs
There were so many! Beatin’ Around the Bush was my absolute fave!
Mine too..
BATB and Riff Raff🤘🏻
I’ve always loved “Walk All Over You” I also think it’s a great example of how much both Malcom and Angus’ tones together were so important to AC/DC sounding the way they did, because you can hear it as soon as the second guitar comes in during the intro riff, it’s suddenly that AC/DC sound!
One of my fav's too!
2:44 Shoot to Thrill is a/the perfect rock song. Not the best ever written, but it just has everything. Great riff, great chorus, great bridge, great solo, none overshadow the other, great arrangement.
I doubt even AC/DC would claim they write "the best" songs... but you've nailed it saying it's a perfect rock song. You just pop in one of their albums and it's rock distilled to its purest form.
Just don't try doing double nun-chucks to "Shoot to Thrill" , you will hurt yourself . believe me I know , after I woke up on the ground, back about 1981.
Granted the sets of nun-chucks were dis-similar/imbalanced, but I learned a couple good lessons then.
1. Don't use 2 sets of different nun-chunks
2 . don't use 2 sets while listening to Shoot to Thrill.
Still a good nunchucka song for practice though.
The speed, just goes, with the song/music :)
Way back in the '80s when I played high school football, we had two songs that were blasted in the locker room right before games by our co-captains: Two Minutes to Midnight by Iron Maiden and Shoot to Thrill. STT is just a great, straight-forward, fire-you-up rock and roll song.
My sentimental favorite is "it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll." The Riff isn't great but I give a lot of points for a Rock and Roll band using Bag Pipes in a song. Especially when Bon knew about as much about playing bag pipes as I do when he suggested it.
If I remember correctly they had to tune the guitars and bass to the bag pipes.
Ha! I just posted the same thing. I love that riff. It's simple but thick and complex. Sticks in your ear like glue.
Yes, definitely my favourite and the video of them on a flat bed truck going around the streets of Melbourne.
NICE WORK ON ALL OF YOUR INSTRUMENTS !!!! YOU ARE FOR SURE ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSICIANS !!!! YOUR SPEACH IS PERFECT !!!! YOU HAVE EXCELLENT MUSICIANS PLAYING WITH YOU !!!!
"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" always gets me...
Without a doubt, "Have A Drink On Me" is one of their most creative riffs.
Was looking for this one!
One of my favourites out of many.
Whole Lotta Rosie #11
Amen! Great riff, great tune!
Same with shake a leg
I won't lie... I play that riff to warm up. It's just such a great riff.
Whole Lotta Rosie is one of my favorite riffs. Pure energy and passion! If You Want Blood and Have a Drink on Me are also up there. Great job on being so good that RUclips thought it was the record. Quite the compliment!!!
My band is learning Have a Drink On Me. Such a cool blues riff and a cool song. Great job with this video! Love the channel.
I still think thunderstruck should have been here. I think it’s their most iconic riff. Not their best song overall, but the riff is iconic.
Yes, Thunderstruck is their most recognized and most played song. Absolutely should have been in the top five
I thought it was going to be #1. Shows what I know. LOL
Definitely most fun to play.
Agreed I was surprised no thunderstruck
Agree
I used to have "For Those About To Rock" as my alarm for a while, because it has such a nice crescendo in it, meaning I could set the alarm really loud, but the start still wasn't so loud to wake the neighbours. It worked for about two weeks, then I slept through that and woke up the neighbours in the process. I probably had a nice dream about attending an AC/DC concert though.
I have Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution edited to start when the band comes in as my alarm.
The one things that AC/DC shows again and again, is that it doesn’t have to be overly complicated to be amazing.
Genius is the art of simplicity!
Aside from all of the fantastic riffs, just wanted to compliment your guitar playing! Big kudos to you for capturing the atmosphere and tone of the Young brothers riffs so damn well. Boom 👊
The song I like the most is “It’s a long way to the top”. The bagpipe solo is so distinctive and every time I listen, it takes me flying. Great song! Bon Scott learned to play the pipes for that song and just that is a piece of history already.
As for an awesome and underrated riff I think “Stiff Upper Lip” goes a long way.
Yep. Inspirational. Impossible to not move to that riff. The film clip cost $300 to make! Love it! So Melbourne. Classic Acca Dacca.
I think two are missing;
Have a Drink on Me is one of those riffs that when you hear it, you crank it up as loud as you can take it.
Beating Around the Bush is a hidden gem. Should have gotten more attention. Just a killer riff and a great songPure AC/DC.
Probably my favorite acdc song tbh
Beating Around the Bush is an awesome riff. Good call!
Girls Got Rhythm but there are no even average songs on Highway To Hell. The entire thing is a masterpiece.
AGREED ! I really look forward to Have a Drink on Me. Let’s face it drinking is, was and will ever be part of the Bands History. While not the most popular song anyone who enjoys a shot and a beer at a bar anywhere in the world gets this song. But the Song after the guitar solo @ 2:48 in builds and explodes like a boilermaker for 25 seconds to the finish, Those 25 - 30 seconds are AC/DC throwing down. Love this Song .
Absolutely 🤘
I think "Ride On" is closer than Hell's Bells to a ballad from the ACDC's regular album releases. It also features a really unique solo from Angus. Anyways, ACDC is always epic. So many great riffs.
Thats Love Song from the Australian high voltage ⚡
I was thinking the same thing. Or, Through the Mists of Time, from Power Up.
Ride On is a blues
@@frankusyoung4198 You know because it was on the Australia version it is one of the few songs I've never heard. Growing up there was no Google to help me navigate obscure tracks. ;)
I will never forget when my daughters were playing the game "Rock Band" and one of them was singing "You Shook Me'. About half way through she stopped singing and said, "Ohhh, that is a dirty song" LOL.
I always got chills from the “for those about to rock” intro. Always my #1. Glad it’s yours too
Yeah, always an incredible concert ending song!
Yeah they shot off the cannons on that tour (82?) and were playing in the dilapidated Sam Houston Collusium in Houston .
Plaster fell off the roof.
Riff Raff is a monstrously good track, live or studio.
Powerage has the best Bon Scott era riffs - Riff Raff, Gone Shootin, Sin City
🤯
Ha ha ha!! 🤘🏻 🎸
Monstrous is definitely the right word. A pile of amazing riffs and one of their best arrangements
My favorite album…EVER
I don’t think any other AC/DC album even comes close to Powerage, I’m shocked that none of those songs are big hits, especially Riff Raff
"If You Want Blood (You Got It)" is a hard rocking AC/DC song that is massively underappreciated and underrated riff!!!
STOP SAYING UNDERRATED!!!!!!!! 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
@@SonnyGTA but the word underrated is so underrated
Yeah that's actually my favorite AC/DC song
I completely agree
It’s such a ripping riff!!
Bro forgot thunderstruck
lol
I can see how that would happen with this band. But I agree that has to be top 5
0:22 T.N.T
0:49 Riff Raff
1:13 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
1:54 Moneytalks
2:32 Shoot to Thrill
3:17 You Shook Me All Night Long
4:48 Hells Bells
5:50 Highway to Hell
6:36 Back in Black
7:20 For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
Great video. Always surprises me that “Ride On” does not have a lot more fans. One of my favs from AC/DC
I'm with you on that, and when he says Hells Bells is the closest they come to a ballad No, Ride on is the bluezist ballad I've ever heard
Amen brother
Ride on ACDCs best ballad the solos are epic
Yeah, my favorite AC/DC song. And the message... cuts through your flesh and bones...
Ride on is like the only ballad they ever did as far i know. Loved it
Rick wins this round vs copyright lords... ACDC is brilliant composition muhaha
‘Epic’ fail for the copyright cops !👮♂️ 😆👏🤘
@Brandon Harvey just the fact that he said “copyright lords” gave it away
Loved hearing you roll through those classics, and I agree with your top 10. Well done, Rick.
Some of the easiest riffs to play, but the hardest things to get right are the feel, groove, intensity and tightness of the riffs. Angus does all this while running around the stage non stop. You don't hear any unwanted notes or overtones...he cuts off the chords precisely! Amazing...they are rock!
Malcolm was amazing too
Australia. Among dozens of other strong bands. Aus rock, keeping it real for decades. Early Midnight Oil, Divinyls, Angels, Richard Clapton, Cold Chisel, Farnham, Mondo Rock, Matt Finish, Rose Tattoo, INXS, Australian Crawl, Hoodoo Gurus, Boom Crash Opera, Icehouse, Tina Arena!, Noiseworks, Dragon, The Models, Split Enz, Paul Kelly, Southern Sons, COG, Eurogliders, Pseudo Echo, The Swingers, Machinations, The Sports, Little River Band, Petter Cupples. Etc etc
Been here for 46 years,, and I'm English!
I wanted to hear the bagpipe riff from, "It's a Long Way to the Top, if you wanna Rock and Roll. "Walk All Over You" was another iconic riff.
Rick Beato you are an amazing Musician, Songwriter, Educator, Recording Engineer and Producer and I love your channel! Your recorded versions of AC/DC songs sound amazing and very very accurate, no wonder that the record company thought that it was the original version. Keep up the fantastic work and thank you!
Great video Rick. Walk All Over You off Highway to Hell, and Sin City off Powerage would be two of my other favourites. Powerage is such an underappreciated album.
I'm glad to see more than one person mention It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) - it is unmatched, a single power chord riff with more feeling than most guitarists can muster.
It also can fool the listener into thinking the beat is reversed when the riff starts, until the drums join in.
@@cameroncooper4175 I have that problem on other songs like Good Times Roll and Walking on the Moon, but somehow I hear this one right. To my ears, I think he plays it with an upstroke.
Probably my fav. Good memories belting it out badly on the way the AC/DC concert years ago on the subway. In our heads we sounded amazing but the truth was far more depressing
Girls Got Rhythm is a hidden gem
I have never heard a more correct statement in my life. Top 3 favorite for me. Only thunderstruck and it’s a long way to the top are higher for me
I like all them as a whole song. The number 1 song was never my favorite. I only listen to it a couple times.
I also thought about Touch Too Much when I heard about separated parts
Major facts
I think “Girl’s Got Rhythm” is my favorite 🤘🏼🤘🏼
I don’t think Have a Drink on me gets enough love. The crescendo coming out of the guitar solo is pure fire.
absolutely!
Exactly... My fucking fave song from them probably
Yes!
Happy to see I only had to go four comments down to find this. Yes, Have a drink on me is a killer blues ring. My favorite.
I reckon this is a great video to show people who frustratingly think AC/DC songs sound the same. The variety in these riffs is insane. Would love to see the lads one last time here in Sydney. Greatest band of all time 🤘Love your work Rick 🙌
Angus and Malcolm had some incredible writing. How they complimented each other was just so perfect🤘 great video!
For some reason, "If You Want Blood" plays in my head a lot. The opening riff is awesome...and it's Bon Scott on vocals. "Riff Raff" is my favorite though.
Oh yeah! You want blood.......... great motivator.
“Squealer” is one I’ve always loved. It doesn’t really have an iconic riff, but it easily has one of the best solos I’ve ever heard!
I do love this song too 😉
@@shadydu30 easily my favorite song on the dirty deeds album
We need more Ac lighting bolt Dc!
Best Angus solo hands down!
I always loved the slow build of Squealer and Ride On but in there was always a few songs on each album that made me turn the volume up to the maximum.
“Let There Be Rock” has always been a monstrously heavy and amazing track to me. One of their best riffs; even though it lacks dexterity, it is RELENTLESS - and has an amazing intensity.
This one is definitely in my top five… mostly because I love rocking out to it so much. Also the video is amazing and cracks me up.
The live version from IYWBYGI is just one of the heaviest things ever recorded. The last verse “One night in the club called the Shakin Hand”, that one…is just so damn frenetic.
THANK YOU for including "Let there be Rock"! One of my favorite AC/DC songs. It DRIVES! However, the #1 for me will always be "For those About to Rock". Maybe he should do a Brian Johnson era list and a Bon Scott era list?
For me: Have a Drink On Me is pure rock n roll perfection.
That slide / power chord / slide again thing gets me every time.
THIS
I've always been a huge fan of Let There Be Rock, it's such a filthy, evil sounding riff. So fast, so much attitude. love how it hits the 3 chord half a beat before the 1 and makes you wait a second before it resolves down
Another enjoyable vid rick. Great work
After 44 years I still get cold chills when I hear "Hells Bells" cranked up to _ear splitting!_ That's Rock and Roll!
Hells Bells is by far my favorite AC/DC song to play as a bassist. The Bell tolling to the build up to rock perfection gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.
@@vinnymakone302 Exactly! 👍
I liked the way he used the word MYSTERY to describe hells bells. What a magical riff!! Hail AC/DC😈🤘😈
Classic track
Also c.o.d.brilliant tune
Agreed!
Your list can't really be argued against, Rick--I love it. But one that always gets me jazzed is "Touch Too Much." I just love the build-up to the chorus.
My favourite AC/DC song right there
@@GradeEcho well up there for me too, I've seen the guys live 3 times all in the Johnson era and I have never seen it played live. Its a belter of a track and i believe criminally overlooked
Yup. Touch too much is a mean f'n riff. Personal favorite for sure
I've always loved "It's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock N Roll" that, and "Jailbreak" I think that's two of their catchiest riffs.
Right On! It's a Long Way to the Top should have been in the top ten!
Jail break a great riff
I was hoping "For Those About To Rock" would be on the list, but Rick put it at the TOP, as I would have done! That's funny and great! Thank you Rick!
I love „Nervous Shakedown“ from the Flick of the Switch album. Especially with that drums supporting the riff its just great.
'Gone Shootin' has two distinct parts played simultaneously! Can sit my living room and play that riff for hours
My favorite AC/DC song by a mile. Only one that comes close is "Ride On."
For Those About to Rock is the best intro....you nailed it. The energy build it is fantastic and to watch Angus Young play it live was magical.
Great list and well played, I really liked seeing Malcom's parts included since he came up with most of them. I would have included Ride On for the blues rifts and Let there be Rock to my favorites.
Problem Child's riff is so great I made it my ringtone so I could hear it more often.
I missed "Whole Lotta Rosie". I love the simplicity with AC/DC:s music. This is rock`n roll and you did a great job Rick.
I think Powerage is the very best ACDC album ever (but I love every one) and "Gone Shootin' " is one of the best songs ever: lyrically heavy but the album version immediately takes me to a smokey after hours bar about 3 a.m. where everyone is taking a breather but reflecting on the heaviness of life and existence. Down Payment Blues is also an awesome song and I heard it was EVH's favorite. You have one of the very best channels of all time!
Well yea, those two songs on Powerage , are so killer and real life it simply ain't funny. There is nothing like Bon and Angus and the rest of AC/DC playing the blues and making it blues rock, past even the earlier greats of the same genre. They took the fusion of blues and rock way past what other people in the 50's did, or even past the great acid/hippie rock bands of the 60's -early 70's did . They made the hard rock genre. If anyone says "hardrock" what is the first band that comes to mind?
They were/are, simply a god dam good blues/rock band. LOL , ain't it great ? :).
Aaahh, someone else with taste! Saw them at Hammersmith back then for their tour for the Powerage album. Great memories.
Great list! “Ride On” is one of my favs to jam along with!!!
Shoot to Thrill is my favorite AC/DC song. Love it’s dynamic changes and the way it builds in the last third of the song. I think I’ve hurt my neck more times listening to AC/DC than any other band.
Crank it!
Love the drum solo in Shoot to Thrill.
“Gone Shootin’” from Powerage is an under appreciated tune. So is Walk All Over You
Gone Shooin' is also one of my faves, has kind of a pop feel that you don't get in very many of their songs.
💯
As is “Sin City.” Hell, that whole album. Is under appreciated IMO!
One song I don't hear mentioned nearly enough, and one of my personal favorites, is Overdose. The slow build stands out against all their other songs, say for Hells Bells. The guitar riff is so gripping, I can't not sink into this song every time I hear it.
Yes to Overdose, amazing song!
The entire album is raw and unabashed. Killer riffs, so welcome when it arrived
My favourite tune 🤩
Exactly!!!!! 🤘😈🤘
Yes!
Damnit man! Another great one again, but some more honorable mentions should be "Shake a leg", " Beating around the bush" and my most favorite one to open with in cover bands "girl's got rhythm"... the best description of Angus I ever heard is "he has a bottomless pocket of addictive riffs"
Always considered Ride On as a very cool AC/DC ballad …
Let There Be Rock still sends shivers down my spine so many decades later. ⚡️
Ride On is one of their best songs, so different and great
@@alexcaulfield2214 It's a straight-up blues and there is more than one video out there showing Angus could have been one of the best blues guitarists, but that's a niche position to pigeon-hole yourself in.
Ride On is a hidden gem. Always loved it.
@@aaronleverton4221 I’ve gotta look for one of those videos. His guitar playing is great and very blues inspired, I’ve always liked his leads
@@aaronleverton4221 pretty much all of AC/DC has deep roots in blues.
Glad to hear a track off Powerage, which is my favorite AC/DC album! I was surprised that you didnt rank the riff from the song "Jailbreak" in there, which is iconic Bon Scott.
Yeah jailbreak kicks ass. Love it
So glad to find another Powerage fan here! That's also my favorite AC/DC album, but there are not many of us out there. Nothing can beat the raw rock n roll from that album!
@@pabhb I've always thought it was their most mature album. The song writing is solid, there are no dud or filler songs, and no songs about sex. I can feel comfortable playing it around my 15-year-old daughter or wife.
"Hell Ain't A Bad Place Place To Be" is quintessential AC/DC rhythm.
Bad boy! Boogie!!
This is great riff as well as Let there be rock!
@@joekirkpatrick2833 My fave!!!!
👍
That’s a one chord genius riff, one of their best for sure!
One of the first two CD's/albums I ever bought was Back in Black. "Hell's Bells" intro etched itself into my mind forever. As soon as I heard that bell sound I got full body chills. Two others I really like are Who Made Who (simple but cool to listen to) and Nervous Shakedown (because it has that heavy, "hit with a bat" sound that I love from AC/DC).
"Have a drink on me" has to be one of their best. Definitely top 10 worthy!
I thought the same thing. I love that riff and I love playing that song.
@@rosswilliam2472 same here... it's a smoky, sexy, attitude-heavy riff that just makes you want to pummel your 4x12! One of the first AC/DC riffs I learned and sometimes a go-to riff when I pick up a new guitar
@@gotta56forme I kind of view it as a go-to riff also. Awesome!
I play that on slide.
Bottleneck, of course.
I thought this was his surprise #1 ...my fave Angus riff!
Well done Rick, you are one of the few that comes really close to the feel of the originals !
It's a lot harder than most people think. Good job.
My favorite is "Down Payment Blues" from Powerage. FYI
I've been listening to If You Want Blood (You've Got It) on repeat lately. A super simple song but so satisfying to rock out with.
I was looking for this comment
Great list, agree with it all because it’s such an easy list to make because you can’t go wrong, so many incredible riffs to choose from. My go to is “shot down in flames”
The closest thing they' ever done to a ballad is probably Ride On. Great list Rick. For me the only one that i would add is "It's a Long Way", because the intro riff by Malcolm gives the best representation of how a Marshall Plexi cranked up to 11 with heavy strings and really heavy hitting sounds.
And dont forget the bagpipes on "Its a long way", I mean AC/DC and bagpipes, who knew they would go that route, its awesome, genius. cheers. Come on Rick we need some top 10 bagpipe rock riff/blows..ehm..
Love Song is pretty ballady
As soon as he said ballad I thought of ride on also.
@@johnnyrocker7495 Snap. That's the only song that came to mind when he mentioned ballad
Not an iconic Riff, but: It's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock'n'Roll - I absolutely adore the merge of guitar and bagpipes. Not mentioned enough imo.
I AGREE! @eva buschh... This song gets overlooked!! Loved the bagpipe/guitar duo and Bon's vocals..
Bagpipes need to be the new cow bell.
Imo the greatest use of bagpipes in any song ever.
I agree🤘🤘
no it goes: its a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll!
I always liked the subtle intro to “Night Prowler”….one of my favorites.
Shazbot... Nano nano
Favourite DC song. Super guitar and Bon’s voice is on🔥
@@steveb3742 The younger generation has no idea what that means, lol!
Night Prowler, their best ‘ballad’/ Blues track. It highlights Angus for the master blues guitarist that he is and it highlighted the powerful, get down and dirty, soulful voice of Bon. Night Prowler was the last song on the album and the last time we experienced Bon.
RIP Brother❤
Always loved “ ‘74 Jailbreak”, “Long Way to the Top”, “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Have a Drink on Me”… 🤘
"Let there be rock" really grew on me in my late 20's, It felt like a tribute to all the great rock n roll music and players of a by gone era. something you just don't get until you have taken a lot of music in.
I've always loved the riffs in have a drink on me. the verse riff is a simpler one but perfectly fits the song
Let there be rock, will always be one of my favorites! Great list, I haven't heard of a few of those in years!
“Night Prowler” and “Gimme a Bullet to bite on” are both awesome, underrated songs that are so easy play yet hit so hard 😎🤘, “gone shootin as well” ….pretty much every Powerage song really
Gone Shootin' is one of my favourite songs.
Pretty much any AC/DC song... this was an impossible task.
Powerage is AC/DC's finest hour. 🤘🏻
Powerage is epic!
You got it man, those songs are awesome!