The Best Rock Guitar Riffs To Come Out Of Texas?

Best rock guitar riffs to ever come out of Texas? Boy, that's a bold statement to make knowing that Texas is loaded with talented guitarists. Let's see ...

First of all, to try and minimize the arguing a little bit, we'll stick with "intro" riffs. Plain, guitar intros that grab your ears by the throat and make you want to blast the rest of the song.

Not solo breaks in songs, not flashy, live solos that go on for days. The first few seconds of a song that stick in your head immediately and stay there for the rest of your life. What Texas axe slinger did it best?

I had a hell of a time narrowing this list down to a top 5 and I had to keep redrawing the parameters to get that far. Age doesn't matter, as long as it's 1), rock, 2), instantly recognizable and 3), performed by a Texan. Something you could expect to hear on pretty much any rock radio station, anywhere.

Top 5 Best Texas Guitar Intros.

Writing this kinda took some guts because, while many may agree on some, nobody will back me riff for riff and spot for ... there will be dissenters and, please, feel free to disagree. C'mon, it's rock 'n roll - rebellion and non-conformity rule. There's no real order here, I just sort of stacked them by intensity:

Steve Miller - Fly Like An Eagle

There is an intro on the album version but it's just fluff, killing time for his guitar to warm up I guess. Then, this ...

Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover

There's actually an intro piece attached to this one too that (most) radio stations chop off. It alone will amaze you but when the main riff starts, about 2:15 in, it's really gotcha'.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Pride And Joy

It's only about 5 notes, hit together and repeatedly but wow ... you immediately know who it is, what's coming and you stop what you're doing to grab your air guitar.

ZZ Top (Billy Gibbons) - La Grange

Light and bluesy at first, then dirty, gritty and classic ZZ. Their tale of the infamous Texas brothel that also inspired "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas", Billy's guitar politely asks for your attention and then, (right after he says "have mercy" in this video), grabs it and holds it down for about 4 raucous minutes.

Pantera (Dimebag Darrell Abbott) - Walk

Dimebag uses a simple "bend" to get your complete attention with this intro in only 2 notes. He builds from there but the first couple of strokes, played anonymously from behind a dark stage will light a crowd up whether it's a handful in a bar or 50,000 in a stadium. It works EVERY time.

Dime gets a double on this list because I was SUPER hard pressed to decide between "Walk" and "Cowboys From Hell" No explanation needed for Cowboys, just crank it - the main riff launches about :15 in.