The top 20 guitar riffs

Last updated 05:00 30/11/2009

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Jimi Hendrix's 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' has been voted as having the best guitar riff of all time.

The 1970 track beat Guns N' Roses classic 'Sweet Child O'Mine' - which topped the poll five years ago - to the top spot in the poll by website MusicRadar,com, with 'Whole Lotta Love' by Led Zeppelin coming third.

Just two songs from the past decade made the list; Muse's 2001 hit 'Plug In Baby' at 11 and The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army', which was released in 2003, at 15.

MusicRadar.com's editor-in-chief Mike Goldsmith said: "Nearly 40 years after his untimely death, Jimi Hendrix is still the undisputed heavyweight champion of rock guitar.

"Of the current generation of six-string stars, only Jack White of The White Stripes and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy feature in the higher echelons of our list. No surprise given both Bellamy and White share - or have inherited - Hendrix's unique blend of experimental instincts and white-knuckle showmanship.

"Above all though, our poll seems to indicate one thing - in 2009, classic rock still rules."

Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' and Derek and the Dominos' 'Layla' - which features Eric Clapton on guitar - made up the rest of the top five, with AC/DC, Metallica, The Beatles, Nirvana and The Rolling Stones also featuring in the top ten.

More than 5,000 MusicRadar.com users took part in the poll.

Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time according to MusicRadar.com top 20:

1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)'

2. Guns N' Roses - 'Sweet Child O' Mine'

3. Led Zeppelin - 'Whole Lotta Love'

4. Deep Purple - 'Smoke On The Water'

5. Derek and the Dominos - 'Layla'

6. AC/DC - 'Back In Black'

7. Metallica - 'Enter Sandman'

8. The Beatles - 'Day Tripper'

9. Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'

10. The Rolling Stones - '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'