The Top 10 Tele Riffs of All Time!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 тра 2024
- Where would music be without the humble Telecaster? Some would argue that the bare-bones, minimal moving-parts design is the most revolutionary and important musical instrument in popular culture of the last 70 years.
As this list goes to show, there’s an awful lot that’s been done with it!
We decided to turn our attention to the hardest list of all: having tackled the Les Paul and the Stratocaster, we wanted to try and hone in on what makes the Telecaster so iconic, in 10 top riffs! Spanning everywhere from the twang of 50s country, to the modern day, dual-guitar onslaught of the indie movement, with plenty of classic rock and blues in between.
We also thought it’d be fun to pick out an individual guitar for each and every riff, so you can hear the fullest extent of what this incredible guitar platform is capable of - for such a simple design, the myriad of options available for a T-style really make it what it is.
As is always the case, no Top 10 list would be complete without the intense debate of what should and shouldn’t have made the cut, so get commenting below with your personal picks, or whether you think we nailed it!
Be sure to leave a like if you’ve enjoyed the video, hit subscribe if you’re new here & ring the bell so you’re notified of whenever we post a new video!
Intro - 0:00
Riff #10 - 2:16
Riff #9 - 3:13
Riff #8 - 4:23
Riff #7 - 5:26
Riff #6 - 7:05
Riff #5 - 7:55
Riff #4 - 9:53
Riff #3 - 10:36
Riff #2 - 11:58
Honourable Mentions - 13:37
Riff #1 - 18:15
Check out our website linked below for further info on any of the guitars and other gear you’ve seen featured here.
Thanks as always for watching, take care, and we’ll see you in the next one!
Check out the Teles used here:
Fender Custom Shop '52 Tele Relic Nocaster Blonde - bit.ly/2SYg9Lw
Fender Custom Shop '62 Tele Custom Journeyman Relic Fiesta Red - bit.ly/2SYVOFO
Fender Custom Shop LTD '55 Tele Journeyman Faded Nocaster Blonde - bit.ly/3fQGV1B
Fender Custom Shop '52 Tele Relic White Blonde - bit.ly/34ONUli
Fender Custom Shop LTD CuNiFe Tele Custom Heavy Relic Aged Fiesta Red over 3TSB - bit.ly/3g8hKqa
Fender Custom Shop '62 Tele Custom Journeyman Relic Inca Silver - bit.ly/3vXpF04
Fender Custom Shop '52 Tele Relic Roasted Maple Neck Nocaster Blonde - bit.ly/3wXR3Lv
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Black Maple - bit.ly/3ci5Cli
Fender Player Series Limited Edition Tele Maple Neck Surf Pearl - bit.ly/3vW3mrB
Fender Custom Shop '52 Tele Relic 2 Tone Sunburst - bit.ly/3uQQeTs
Fender Custom Shop '52 Tele Relic Surf Green - bit.ly/3fO2iAm
Fender Custom Shop '62 Tele Custom Journeyman Relic Fiesta Red - bit.ly/34MQwzZ
Fender 70th Anniversary Esquire Lake Placid Blue - bit.ly/3fNpwXs
Xotic California Classic XTC-1 3-Tone Sunburst Light Aged - bit.ly/3vTLYDY
Reverend Greg Koch Gristlemaster "Buttersquatch Blonde" - bit.ly/3ckflYd
Check out Fender Custom Shop here: bit.ly/34LkyEr
Check out Fender here: bit.ly/3ckBlSL
Website: www.peachguitars.com
FOLLOW US!
Facebook: / peachguitars
Twitter: / peachguitars
Instagram: @peachguitars
Newsletter signup: bit.ly/2ZnPl5K
Jack’s UA-cam channel: / jackgriffithsmusic
Jack’s Instagram: @jackgriffithsmusic
Thanks for checking out our list! In case you missed them, check out the other videos in this series:
Top 10 ‘ES’ Riffs: bit.ly/3cKYYEu
Top 10 Les Paul Riffs: bit.ly/3pZmAu9
Top 10 Strat Riffs: bit.ly/3gsvrkY
Pool 1
Motorcycle Emptiness should have made this list.
Wow, Gilmore donned a Tele! That was epic!
Let's don't forget Elvis' legendary James Burton, then there's "Dangerous" Don Rich with Buck Owens & the Buckaroos, strangely enough a song called "Buckaroo"... brilliant Tele work indeed, but Keith Richard still grabs me like crazy
The Bond 'riff' was not played on a 'tellycaustah", but an obscure British guitar, that you will have to do some honest research on. WUSS.
@@ericrose3877 exactly right, read my comments about the guitar used & the guy who did the 007 theme, I already knew as you did it wasn't played on a "Tellycastah"..
You can talk about how versatile a guitar the tele is but let’s also talk about how versatile a player this guy is. I love it.
So good
@@CliffMcCauley Yes, versatile and knowledgeable!
Geez...you just killed it on Over Under Sideways Down. I've tried to play that for decades and yours sounded just like BBC Sessions.
And on Funk #49...talk about getting the nuance, especially on the intro.
You beat me to it.
He’s really good. If was a rosewood, maple, cheap tele, custom shop or non fender he made them all sound superb.
What an absolutely STUNNING rendition of “Run Like Hell”, my goodness.👏🏽👏🏽
This guy is an amazing player, he plays the range of styles so effortlessly, there’s no denying talent.
I've played strats for the last 35yrs but had a crazy desire for a Tele. I bought a squier classic vibe 60's Tele yesterday and I love it.. I didn't realize how versatile it could be..I'm excited to learn and feel the tones in the weeks to come but I now understand the appeal for these guitars 🎸 rock on
I got my first tele a while back. It's a player series in surf pearl and maple neck / fret board. I can easily play anything I want on it. It's such a comfortable and versatile guitar. It definitely won't be my last.
It doesn’t only show what a great instrument the Tele is, It also shows what a great guitar player you are
First riff that came to my mind : "Green Onions" by Steve Cropper with Booker T. and the MGs (fortunately "Soul Man" was included).
Then Joe Strummer's Tele on The Clash's "London Calling" and Syd Barrett Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine". And then The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite. And of course Roy Buchanan and Albert Collins.
Middle Of The Road is a 'Tele masterclass.
Oh yeah Chrisse did as well, I had almost forgot that.
Oh yeah, Syd’s playing on Interstellar Overdrive is so cool as well. Absolutely love that riff
I know that every blues fan has a favourite guitarist, but when some says "blues guitar", the sound that I hear in my head is Albert Collins, even if nobody else sounds like him.
PJ Harvey's "Dry" was all done on a Tele. Roy Buchanon, Muddy Water, Ian Blurton and Change of Heart (Canada) first two albums - all done on a Tele.
James Burton Master of the Telecaster. He played on the early Ricky Nelson stuff was in Elvis’ band and played with a ton of country players. He played on both of Gram parsons solo albums as well😎
Susie Q the original lick .
I’ve always loved the Tele tone on the intro to Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by The Hollies.
Absolutely!
And Randy Bachman (CBC Vinyl Tap radio show) mistakenly thought it was a Gibson ES model LOL...
I love the Rick bass on that song
Let us not forget Roy Buchanan and Danny Gatton who were amazing tele players. Thank you for the great videos that you do for the masses.
Jose Salas - Was wondering how long before someone mentioned Gatton & Buchanan
@@cirenosnor5768 I wonder if Albert Collins got a mention yet?
Absolutely! A really solid list. Since it leans to British players I might have put a Blow By Blow track in there, but he did acknowledge Beck with OUSD
and Albert Lee!!!
@@gaudeam1 Good call!!!
Jack......you're a f×××ING jukebox!!!!!!!
What a great player! Nice to hear every Peach Guitars video.
Fun fact. Vic Flick actually played the original James Bond theme on an old archtop with a Gretsch DeArmond pickup on it. The Telecaster sounds great that riff too.
@@StopTheRotthat’s what I was finna say
That Coldplay riff is SICK. So underrated, I have never seen anyone play this before. You are easily becoming one of my favorite guitar players.
It was impressive especially on that Deluxe
My personal list of go-to Tele riffs
1. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones (Keith Richards)
2. Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd (David Gilmour)
3. Killing In The Name - Rage Against the Machine (Tom Morello)
4. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (Bruce Springsteen)
5. Vertigo - U2 (The Edge)
6. Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page)
7. Before I Forget - Slipknot (Jim Root)
8. My Iron Lung - Radiohead (Jonny Greenwood)
9. Message In A Bottle - The Police (Andy Summers)
10. Purple Rain - Prince & the Revolution (Prince)
Awesome list - thanks for sharing
I can't believe "before I forget" was played on a tele, that's so cool to think about. It's such a heavy song but played on a guitar kinda notorious for a more Southern sound. Awesome
All great choices!
Brown sugar studio version was played on a 68 SG.
Born to Run was played on at jazz master if I am not mistaken. Typically he plays a tele, but not on that recording.
A great Tele player is Bill Kirchen from Commander Cody. His version of Hot Rod Lincoln is a classic!!!!
They didn't have it? I'm not watching.
Yeah, agree. Hot Rod Lincoln is a must! I wish I could play it. He does too much picking.
@@stevehoran5595 I figured it out -- he'd have to try to play it!
@@k.s.vids1 LOL! I think Jack could pull it off. He plays an Alex Lifeson riff on one of these clips that requires some furious picking.
@@stevehoran5595 I meant I figured out why he didn't include it. Hope nobody thought I meant I figured out how to play like Kirchen. I will NEVER figure out how to play it!
I'm a bassplayer and I just love the way you play. You have so much command over the guitar it doesn't matter what type of guitar or what style you play. It is always so masterful. My jaw is on the floor almost the whole time I'm watching your clips.
Wilko deserves a mention. 'She Does It right' may be what everyone thinks of, but there's so much more. Wilko worships Mick Green, and quite right too. Mick had the basics of 'Going Back Home', and with Wilko, fattened it out. Both Dr Feelgood and The Pirates recorded it.
Well said.
Spot on mick green was a tele legend.
Glad you added some Steve Cropper playing. He was and is a tele master.
I agree. I was waiting to hear Green Onions but from a riff perspective Soul Man was a much better selection.
Seeing him play Soul Man on SNL was one of the reasons I picked up guitar.
Jack play's all this stuff so well it makes me want to go and put the records on and re-listen to it all. Fantastic!
A great video showcasing the Telecaster's sound possibilities. Inspiring, thank you.
Fabulous playing! It's always great to see a theme being demonstrated by someone who can play the instrument this well!
Just outstanding playing from Jack and really fantastic tones again
I played a standard 70's single coil loaded Tele in a metal band for a long time. Everyone always commented on how heavy it sounded. They are beasts, as you can tell from my photo.
Just amazing playing! Especially “Run Like Hell”. I thoroughly enjoyed this video.
Lovely tones, top playing. Some very tight and polished right hand rhythm work work here! Well done - it was a joy to hear.
Watched this a few times - such a great selection of killer songs played incredibly well. I marvel at your skills to reproduce some of the greatest tunes ever made on a selection of fine instruments. Killer tone, great playing mate. I especially like how by playing just the guitar part you highlight the “special sauce”, the magic of each piece, that we all can try and emulate. Some bits gave me chills. Thanks so much.
Glad to see Status Quo mentioned. Very rarely seen anywhere which I find quite strange given that they are one of the most iconic British bands of the 60’s/70’s, always over-shone by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
I agree ricks tele was so unique and his sound was just amazing!
Yeah ...the QUO ....I think that album 12 gold bars may have been my first tape at about 9years old ...and it's savage beginner material to learn ..
Classic British rock, great songs, great playing,great band
This was friggin' awesome! Amazing playing, guitars and sounds
Another brilliant video. I love these series. Great tone and superb playing Jack. Bravooo👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Fantstic - especially the Grace "Hon Mench" ... a beautiful pice of guitar work, beautifully played. Also your Beck technique was brill to boot! Funnily enough, although I love the sounds that the Telecaster makes, I've never been able to get on with them. Shame really .. but I'm more than happy to listen to other people playing them!
Great job once again guys. Can't beat a good tele riff. Top ten SG riffs next?
Tremendous video! Wasn’t expecting such an accurate and eclectic list!
Wonderful selection. Amazing playing! You said you really enjoyed playing these riffs, and it looked like it!
Jack you play these riffs with such authenticity... wether it's Les Paul, Strat or Tele. Great stuff mate😉
I think my favorite is Keef Richards’ Can’t You Hear Me Knockin?
same!
Great video and what a gorgeous collection of telecasters! There were many of them I'd really love to get my hands on...Especially those Deluxes were exciting to me, as I've never seen them before.
Absolutely amazing chops
Great work on every riff
I must say.. masterful demonstrations on all of the examples.. couldn’t be done without exceptional rhythm skills! Well played, sir! On another note, Walsh aptly, rightly named “Funk 49”.. I’ll never forget the first time I heard it (and it was as soon as it was released), and it’s an all-time favorite. Great to here it included, here! Great Work - Keep It Up !
There was also a Funk 48. Nobody seems to mention it. It's a great song.
Wilko Johnson had an amazing tele technique, I love his energy, an amazing guitarist and man.
Love playing teles, always have, this video was just pure vindication for me! Thanks dudes!
These are outstanding Tele riffs. Really good choices, every one, and you played them all beautifully.. Plus you made an excellent choice for riff #1.
You just can't beat that Telecaster twang. Always my go to guitar.
I would agree with you on that, but the Rickenbacker jangle is up there too. I own both, a ‘52 reissue Tele’ and a 360 FG Ric.
I'm a simple man. Someone recognizes the brilliance that is Andy Summers and his playing, I up vote it.
You and me both. 🙂
"Andy is the King of chords" Sting
That was great! I shall now look at the Les Paul and Strat lists!
Those double bound Tele's are beautiful! Another great riff video. Thanks for recognizing Steve Cropper and The Yardbirds there.
Thanks for picking and playing these songs- well done! I really dig Jonny Greenwood's iconic "Airbag" riff. Aggressively played while floating from minor to major, I think Beethoven would have loved Jonny's motif. He played it on his '95 Telecaster Plus
Johnny really shouldve been here, weather it's airbag or not
He got coldplay but missed Jonny
Thanks for including James Burtons Susie Q. as an old timer I really appreciated it. Thanks. Very inclusive list.
Loved the riffs, sound, presentation and performances!!!
Awesome video man! Great eye opening experience. Two thumbs up Chap.
Andy Summers arrangements seem rather technical, almost composed, glad to see him included
Sting wrote the Message in a Bottle riff though. Love Andy’s playing though.
Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress - The Hollies; Last Train To Clarksville - The Monkees come to mind, but there are numerous other tunes out there. Well done with your selection!
I was waiting for "Hot Rod Lincoln"
I was waiting for Roy Buchanan. He probably hasn’t even heard of him let alone try to mimic his style.
I’m pretty sure Last Train To Clarksville is a Gretsch
@@franktaconelli9095 Definitely a Tele - there's a great video here on UA-cam of session player Louie Shelton showing how he played the instrumental break in the middle. It's a fascinating watch!
Awesome collection of awesome Tele sounds!
Love it. Great selections.
The opening Riff you performed from the James Bond Theme was recorded by Vic Flick on a Clifford Essex Paragon De Luxe... a hollow body guitar but the one single coil pickup was mounted more towards the bridge which gave it that renowned "twang".. But sounds killer & right at home on the Tele, great job!
Vic Played a Stratocaster " Also
@@chriscapps1604 Yes he did
Yeah, I got confused on that one. I knew the Bond theme had been played on a hollow body...nailed that tremolo sound at the end, though, so I liked it!
great to see someone include the mighty Quo in one of these lists. and quite rightly.
Wow! Excellent review, great playing
Great list! Thank you 🙏!
Jacky Boy, Uncle Gazza here. Nice playing, as ever.
I love that you chose James Gang for the number one! Yeah
Fully agree. Great playing. Thanks for the video, I really enjoyed it!
Brilliant choices, all well played and covered all of my favourite tele players (if not always my favourite riffs but hey, that’s so subjective). Excellent!
Love Joe Walsh, he can really make a tele sing. Great choice of players and riffs but this list can go on and on. Enjoyed your video, brought back some great old memory's.
Awesome list! Glad to see Jeff Buckley on there. He's a truly underrated guitarist. My addition to the list would be "Can't Stop" RHCP
Jeff Buckley was a really cool guitarist. He is my favorite singer
hate the RHCP
@@Alfa75V6 well you sir have no taste
@@Alfa75V6 each to their own but John Frusciante is simply one of the guitar greats, with that knack of writing and playing fiendishly complex parts that sound simple. Bona fide genius.
@@sfedroid , seen him here in the Netherlands a long time ago and he was nothing but a pretentious copy cat , certainly able to channel some emotion i will give him that but nothing NEW that makes me want to skip listening to
“Little wing” “Gypsy eyes” or “Voodoo child” etc. & etc. for that matter.
And young people go on and on about him but you never hear them say
“oh that Howlin’ Wolf Buddy Guy or Peter Green Rory Gallagher Jeff Beck Toni Iommi / Ritchie Blackmore is bad ass”
and those are players far more original and prolific than him.
& sorry but the RHCP’s
singer is a pretentious 🤡
Fantastic playing, across all the guitar top tens. Well done sir.
Very inspiring series off Riffs! Great!
Absolutely brilliant. For years I never tried a Tele, nor did I want one. Then something in me wanted to try one last year and I love it. I actually have 2 now. They are my favourite guitars. Thanks again for the video and your riffing is superb.
Same here I’ve always been a strat guy but just got an xotic tele and it sounds amazing!
Well, what kind of guitars did you play before?
@@ianthomas4568 I never understood why I should play a tele, when I have a Strat which got it all and more. What is it?
@@HarryGuit strats, PRS, gretsch, LP style etc
@@dreamscuba from humbuckers to single coils. Yeah, that’s the right thing to do. If they‘d buck the hums only!
Great playing! Great demo of a monster instrument!
I really love your work! Seeing you picking hand in these videos is, for some reasons, really mesmerizing and gives me the urge to pick my guitar! 🙏
Totally agree with number 1. Wish you had a Vince Gill riff in your list though. I know he’s country but the man can flat out play.
Right on
There are at least as many, if not more, classic Tele licks in country music as in rock.
Great list and very well played. I'd have added John Frusciante's 'Can't stop' to the mix as a great example of the range of the tele between bass and upper notes. It's quite hard to get right with its selective muting and voicing of strings with the left hand.
Great video and great playing!
Spot on! Nailed it. 100 thumbs up
Albert Lee’s intro to Country Boy.
Great vid; this has been my favorite of Jack’s Top Ten videos
Albert Lee anything!
He plays an Ernie Ball Musicman though. Whether or not he did on that song or not I don’t know. What I DO know is that I saw him in Head , Hands , Feet in about 1972 They played’warming up the band’ which features Albert Lee on guitar. Great player.
Jack you’re not kidding when it comes to the versatility of a Telecaster. It literally can do everything. Mind you there are certain factors involved but you can get there. I just got my first Telecaster 6 months ago and I’m loving it. It’s a 2007 Fender Highway One Telecaster in honey blonde.
Use that tone knob! You'll get even more! lightly roll off highs on the bridge and then hit your overdrive. Mindblowing.
@@jensenbell I’ve got that quite a bit and it almost sounds like a humbucker in the bridge position. Mind you I’ve got fender custom shop Texas Specials installed.
@@seanyiscubsfan1 What an amazing instrument. Leo Fender got it right the very first time out.
@@jensenbell I will say though I enjoy a 9.5 inch radius more than 7.25 though. That’s just me but I can’t be the only one.
Great list, great planks, and killer playing! dang you can hammer that axe!
Excellent. Great showcase for amazing ability. Thank you.
Gosh. My main guitar has been a Tele since I first bought it in '88. This video reminds me that it's way more versatile than I am!
I REALLY wish you guys would also list what gear/amps/pedals you are using for each one of these riffs. Really nailing the tone like bad ass on some of these riffs. Would love to know what amp is used or whatnot. Whoever you have helping set up the gear for each riff really knows their stuff. Love these videos guys, keep em coming!!!!!! (add find a way to list the gear youre using too!!!!) Thanks Guys!!!!!!!
indeed ... i tried several nice fenders and ended up buying the classic vibe squier one as it was equal to the the fender at 800 quid for my purposes ... ie ,, the sound and cost 300
later i went to try to match an amp to it as i was failing with my helix
wrong cab .. got a 2x 12 ... sorted
@@EvilSean62th CV squire is a gem
Man, ‘Grace’ is such a beautiful song. Great work!
Just brought my first tele and i'm loving it!! Thanks for this brother.
You really got me - The Kinks
This Charming Man - The Smiths
Had a cry today - Blind Faith
Great Tele riffs worth checking out
I always thought "This Charming Man" was recorded with a Rickenbaker, but now I do think you're right.
I was going to say 'What Difference Does It Make' or 'How Soon Is Now'... thing with Mr Marr is he says he used a guitar on a song and then next time he says something different.
"Susie Q" should have been #1. And "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" by The Hollies should have also been included.
Hard to disagree with that, as maybe one of the most iconic (and earliest) examples of just how snarly and wiry a Tele can sound.
Sweet vid and your playing is top notch my friend. Awesome.
Great playing. Very accomplished. Love the mix of telecasters too.
I never saw him live, but Billy Squire was always seen with a Tele. From the first album and shots from old Creem & Circus mags.
Although the first left out riff that came to mind was Chrissie Hind’s Tele playing in the Pretenders, particularly “Middle of the Road.” Wow, she had that Tele sounding like car horns! But also can’t forget Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, and the amazing Joe Bonamassa, who occasionally plays a Tele.
Danny and Roy are tremendous virtuosos but not really known for their riffs. I think they transcend riffs, tbh.
Awesome #1 choice! Great playing throughout.
That intro was really cool. Great video and great playing!
Bernie Leadon's parts in the Eagles Take It easy were played on a Telecaster and Joe Walsh used a Telecaster in the solo for Hotel California.
But Vic Flick said he played the Bond theme on a 60s strat!!
This is what I thought…
Yes he did.
Yep, exactly what I was going to comment
It was indeed!
@@clovenwizard but it sounds so much better on a tele 😀
Absolutely brilliant. Thanks
Splendid, thanks for all that work
Joe Walsh is great and I love a lot of his work, but I think the number one has to be 'Start Me Up'. That riff dominated sports stadiums for three decades.
All 10 riffs could have been Keith and the Micawber Tele but to be fair he included others
for me that's a "Stones by numbers" riff - less great than most of their riffs from 68- 72
Jack, you give all those riffs such a great feel. And, what tone you’re getting with all the Tele’s. That ringing tone of the bridge pickup is unmistakable. Great playing. I don’t even play the guitar, and after hearing you play, I wanted a Telee!
Fender should link to this video from their site.
Totally agreed! While it is possible to pay a Tele quietly (and it has the most wonderful dynamics and touch sensitivity when you do), it's great to see somebody enjoying giving it such an evidently enjoyable thrashing too 😀
Love it. In particular I love having that edge dig into my arm when I’m trying to concentrate on playing.
Thanks for the very enjoyable video! The camera work is great too. It gives us a good look at how the riffs are played. And I like the player's unpretentious personality. I intend to watch your other "Top 10" videos too.
love this series - would be great to know a bit more about the effects used. Chorus on Quo and the Stones? Slapback on Johnny Cash? Distortion / fuzz on Song 2? Vibe / Phaser on Jeff Buckley? Cheers!
Hi Peter! The good news is, all those effects you mention were from one pedal! The Line 6 HX Effects. 👍
@@PeachGuitars I hoped you might say that...sounds great...my next purchase! 😎
Muddy Waters and Ritchie Kotzen are also great Tele players. Jeff Beck played "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" in Japan 1986 during a gig with Jam Hammer, Carlos Santana, Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips and Buddy Miles. This nails his tone on the studio recording almost exactly so I think this track was recorded on a Tele. The video is available on UA-cam.
Thanks so much for doing these, very interesting. Great players can cover all genres well and you my friend are a great player !
I love Tele's and how you put this all together thanks and your playing is just awesome