Makes you want to play it! Japanese rock with the coolest guitar riffs
For guitarists, the spotlight—the very face of a song—is the guitar riff.
Songs with riffs that symbolize the track really stick in your memory, and many classic hits in the rock scene come hand in hand with amazing riffs!
In this article, we’ve rounded up a bunch of songs with killer guitar riffs.
Just listening to cool riffs is enough to get your blood pumping, but if you’re a guitarist, why not pick up your guitar and try playing along?
There aren’t just single-note phrases—there are riffs built around power chords and octaves too, so try tackling all kinds of riffs from different songs!
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Makes You Want to Play It! Japanese Rock with the Coolest Guitar Riffs (21–30)
distress (at sea/in the mountains); being lost; stranded; a disaster situationToukyou Jihen
“Sounan” (Distress) is Tokyo Jihen’s second single, released in 2004.
Its smoothly flowing melodic line and dynamically vibrant performance are irresistibly captivating.
The heavily resonant guitar sound is particularly overpowering to the listener.
Among Tokyo Jihen’s works, this track is especially highly regarded.
TemptationGLAY
Temptation, with its razor-sharp sound that resonates in the soul, is an unforgettable masterpiece by GLAY.
From the intro, the distinctive riff sears itself into your ears, and any guitarist will feel the irresistible urge to try it at least once.
Amid the heavy playing and driving beat, a delicate yet powerful guitar solo appears, lifting the listener’s spirits.
The exquisite harmony of GLAY’s energetic, intense sound—that’s the true charm of Temptation.
It’s a track you absolutely must check out, and a piece you’ll want to play yourself at least once.
Makes You Want to Play It! Japanese Rock with the Coolest Guitar Riffs (31–40)
Flowers of EvilBUCK-TICK
Released in 1990, BUCK-TICK’s “Aku no Hana” is a signature song representing Japanese rock bands of that era.
Its look and lyrics are evocative of the time, while the sound has a sharpness that still holds up today.
The guitar distortion is supremely solid, and the riffs played with that tone surely sent many listeners into a frenzy back then.
It’s a track where you should pay close attention to the phrases coming from guitarist Hisashi Imai’s trademark, uniquely shaped guitar.
Stratocaster SeasideSuspended 4th
A guitar riff that captivates the audience with ultra-fast cutting and brushing explodes onto the scene! Hailing from Nagoya, rock band Suspended 4th packs their songs with edge-of-your-seat thrills and sheer coolness.
Kicking off with an ominous encounter at 3 a.m., the suspense-filled storyline is sure to trigger a rush of adrenaline.
With lyrics that brilliantly explore the theme of living in the present—where taking a single step sets the gears of fate in motion—this 2018 digital release is one you’ll want to etch into your heart.
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
How about lifting your spirits with some energetic guitar rock? This track is by the five-member co-ed rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Through the metaphor of light and shadow, it powerfully portrays the complexities of life and the hope found within them.
The dynamic sound woven by inventive guitar work shakes listeners to the core.
Released digitally in July 2019, it was chosen as the opening theme for Season 1 of the anime Fire Force.
It’s also included on the albums Attitude and 5.
A song that gives you the courage to face life’s hardships.
DAHLIAX JAPAN
The title track from the 1996 album “DAHLIA,” which became X JAPAN’s final album before their breakup.
This song feels like an explosive collision between YOSHIKI’s grand, signature style—carried over from the X era—and guitarist hide’s unique personality.
Listening on headphones especially reveals the craftsmanship of the twin-guitar riffs, cleverly split across the left and right channels.
The two guitars alternate riffs to form a single phrase, or layer lines that sound similar yet subtly different—offering new discoveries with every listen.
How gasoline sloshesBLANKEY JET CITY
Blankey Jet City’s 1997 classic “Gasoline no Yureka-ta” (“How the Gasoline Sways”) is, above all, a track with incredibly cool guitar work—so cool that countless guitar kids must have tried to copy it out of admiration.
Amid the relentless call-and-response between vocals and guitar, a recurring refrain emerges.
Riding a tight beat from the bass and drums, Benji—Kenichi Asai—strums his guitar with such force that the song’s frenzy surges all at once.
It’s a track that once again makes you realize just how monumental an electric guitar phrase can be in a rock band.