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Supreme guitar riffs from both Japanese and Western music: songs with badass intros

Among rock fans, I’m sure many of you listen especially for the guitar.

After all, the guitar is the star of the band, and your ears naturally gravitate toward it, right? In particular, songs with striking, cool guitar riffs right from the intro are the very essence of rock.

In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of songs with awesome guitar intros, mixing Western and Japanese tracks.

You’ll find not only catchy, singable riffs, but also simple, powerful songs driven by strummed chords.

It’s a must-see song list for not just guitarists, but rock fans in general.

Playlist

Supreme guitar riffs from both Japanese and Western music: songs with badass intros
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvanaplay_arrow
He's roughly thrashing out four power chords...
2Back In BlackAC/DC
Back In BlackAC/DCplay_arrow
…recording an astonishing 50 million copies sold…
3PearlTHE YELLOW MONKEY
PearlTHE YELLOW MONKEYplay_arrow
What you can't leave out when talking about the Japanese rock scene is...
4Pink Spiderhide with Spread Beaver
Pink Spiderhide with Spread Beaverplay_arrow
Covered by many up-and-coming bands and artists…
5Guerrilla RadioRage Against The Machine
Guerrilla RadioRage Against The Machineplay_arrow
Guitarist Tom Morello is known for his inventive...
6BAD FEELINGBOØWY
BAD FEELINGBOØWYplay_arrow
The exquisite brushing makes for a pleasantly soothing intro g—
7Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz
Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitzplay_arrow
American singer-songwriter, Lenny…
8LaylaDerek and the Dominos
LaylaDerek and the Dominosplay_arrow
The world-renowned guitarist, Eric Clapton...
9Purple HazeThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
Purple HazeThe Jimi Hendrix Experienceplay_arrow
Known in Japan by the nickname “Jimi Hen,” and around the world…
10SnowRed Hot Chili Peppers
SnowRed Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
In December 2019, for the first time in a while, the guitarist Jo...
11This Means WarNickelback
This Means WarNickelbackplay_arrow
The monster band born in Canada, Nicke…
12SmokyChar
SmokyCharplay_arrow
Char, one of Japan’s most iconic guitarists, 19...
13The End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT
The End of the WorldTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANTplay_arrow
A four-member rock band that disbanded in 2003, …
14JUNGLES10-FEET
JUNGLES10-FEETplay_arrow
A three-piece band formed in Kyoto in 1997…
15Master of PuppetsMetallica
Master of PuppetsMetallicaplay_arrow
The total sales of the albums released exceed 100 million copies...
16Rock ‘N’ Roll StarOasis
Rock 'N' Roll StarOasisplay_arrow
The British rock band Oasis 200...
17How gasoline sloshesBLANKEY JET CITY
How gasoline sloshesBLANKEY JET CITYplay_arrow
Racing through the ’90s, Japan’s rock scene…
18ZERORIZE
ZERORIZEplay_arrow
A three-member Miku… which was also featured as a commercial jingle
19Stay GoldHi-STANDARD
Stay GoldHi-STANDARDplay_arrow
In 2016, the comeback single “Anoth…”
20Butterfly soarsPay money To my Pain
Butterfly soarsPay money To my Painplay_arrow
Due to the sudden death of vocalist K, we are forced to suspend our activities…
21Eight Beat BerserkerKishida Kyoudan & THE Myoujou Rockets
Eight Beat BerserkerKishida Kyoudan & THE Myoujou Rocketsplay_arrow
The latest work from Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets is super...
22PLAYER 1Ryokushokushakai
PLAYER 1Ryokushokushakaiplay_arrow
A powerful song that gives courage with its guitar riffs
23TemptationGLAY
TemptationGLAYplay_arrow
A track with a striking guitar ringing out from the intro...