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<\/p>\nFour in five music fans (81%) said the key to a good rock song \u2013 is a memorable guitar riff, research has found. A great guitar riff should be unique (41%), and make the song recognisable within just a few seconds (37%), according to a study of 2,000 adults.<\/p>\n
And 83% prefer music with guitars in it \u2013 with two-thirds (65%) saying the guitar is one of the coolest instruments you can play.<\/p>\n
The research also asked music lovers to name the top 20 greatest guitar riffs \u2013 and guitarists \u2013 of all time, with \u201cSweet Child o' Mine\u201d, by Guns n' Roses, topping the list of tracks.<\/p>\n
And the band's guitarist, Slash, also ranked highly, taking the fifth spot on the list of greatest guitarists \u2013 behind the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and the number one legend, Brian May, from Queen, voted for by 12%.<\/p>\n
Other favourite rock songs riffs included \u201cPurple Rain\u201d by Prince, \u201cSultans of Swing\u201d by Dire Straits, and \u201cSmoke On The Water\u201d, by Deep Purple.<\/p>\n
And more modern tunes that ranked among the top 40 were \u201cHappy\u201d by Pharrell Williams, \u201cDo I Wanna Know\u201d by Arctic Monkeys, and Sam Fender's \u201cSeventeen Going Under\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The research was commissioned by Sky Arts ahead of its new show, Greatest Guitar Riffs, featuring axe legends Andy Summers, Tony Iommi, and Nancy Wilson.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the show said: \u201cDo not fret \u2013 for here is the definitive run down of the great guitar riffs of all time, showcasing top masters of the electric six string. It\u2019s the ultimate air-guitar playlist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s the late, great Jimi Hendrix, the stalwarts such as Iron Maiden and Led Zeppelin, or the new artists coming through, rock n\u2019 roll will never die. There\u2019s new talent coming through constantly. The appetite for new tunes and sweet riffs is as great as it ever has been.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research, carried out by OnePoll, also found that 30% of music fans reckon the \u201cgolden age\u201d of the riff was the 1970s \u2013 while 21% felt the 80s had the most to offer.<\/p>\n
Worryingly, more than half (53%) said the guitar riff is dying out \u2013 with 74% of those believing this is a bad thing.<\/p>\n
However, the electric guitar is still considered the most important instrument to make a song truly great (58%), ahead of the drums (58%) and bass (41%).<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Sky Arts said: \u201cAmong music fans, the guitar is absolutely essential to making sure you\u2019re hitting the right notes. Across all genres, its impact is undoubted, and its coolness unquestionable \u2013 as seen by our survey results.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new wave of guitarists have a lot to live up to, but we know there\u2019s more great music than ever being made \u2013 it\u2019s about making sure you\u2019re looking and listening in the right places.\u201d<\/p>\n
TOP 20 GREATEST GUITAR RIFFS OF ALL TIME:<\/p>\n
TOP 20 GREATEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME:<\/p>\n