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 (31–40)
SPARKTHE YELLOW MONKEY
A heavy, fast-paced riff that uses the low strings.
Not just brimming with swagger but also tinged with a certain sensuality, this is an unshakable signature song by THE YELLOW MONKEY.
When it’s performed live, it’s the moment the venue’s energy reaches its absolute peak.
RideauPorukadotto Sutingurei
A quirky guitar riff and a bassline that leaps between highs and lows, with drum beats synced to the claps.
The structure of the lyrics and melody has an addictive quality that makes listeners want to hit replay.
The sound design is cutting-edge, balancing a contemporary vibe with a sense of the band’s history.
The album “Odoru Yō ni” is their fourth full-length, released in September 2022, with “Rido” as its lead track.
It was also chosen as the ending theme for TBS’s “Yoru no Branch” in September and October.
Perfect for those who love danceable rock.
Stay GoldHi-STANDARD
In the ’90s, the punk band Hi-STANDARD sparked a movement in the melodic hardcore genre.
Their signature song is “Stay Gold.” It’s a track that blends intensity with strong melody, sweeping countless listeners into a frenzy at live houses, and as expected, Ken Yokoyama’s guitar playing shines brilliantly and looks insanely cool.
From the power-chord rhythm parts to the lead phrases, this is a number packed with highlights for guitarists.
BE MY BABYCOMPLEX
“BE MY BABY” is a song whose repeatedly sung opening lyrics and the following guitar riff are incredibly striking.
Even those not well-versed in rock probably know it.
Complex was a duo consisting of Tomoyasu Hotei and Koji Kikkawa.
It was released in 1989.
ShuraDOES
Shura, which lets you fully savor the appeal of the guitar, is distinguished by riffs that seize the listener’s heart.
It opens with powerful drums, and as the ensemble joins in, the tension rapidly intensifies.
Yet the playing itself is simple, making it a great recommendation for beginners.
The sense of speed and energy that runs through the track offers a thrilling experience even when you’re playing it.
DOES’s Shura never ceases to captivate listeners from all angles.
Makes you want to play! Japanese rock with insanely cool guitar riffs (41–50)
cobalt blueThe Back Horn
Songs with captivating guitar riffs stir the heart every time you listen.
Among them, “Cobalt Blue” stands out as a memorable track, its powerful yet wistful melody lingering in your ears.
THE BACK HORN’s uncompromising sound is sure to electrify you.
This song, which exquisitely transforms a unique worldview into sound, doesn’t just invite passive listening—it makes you want to deepen the experience by playing the guitar riff yourself.
Try recreating that forward-surging distortion sound with your own hands.
Song of the Depressingly/Beautiful PeopleMakishimamu Za Horumon
An all-out, high-energy track that cranks the tension to the max and makes you want to jump around.
One of Maximum the Hormone’s signature songs, it’s included on their 2013 album Yoshu Fukushu.
The lyrics tackle a deep, heavy theme that seems to give voice to the cries of those struggling with depression, riding on a hyper-charged sound.
The fiercely dynamic guitar riffs are sure to drive listeners’ excitement to the limit.
It’s a song for anyone confronting the darkness within yet still determined to keep looking forward.