The Most EMOTIONAL RIFF In History?

Johnny Marr is the King of creating music through his feelings. Learn about the full story behind Johnny Marr's most emotional, favourite Smiths riff and how to play it on the guitar!
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The Riff Is by The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me. It's a beautiful + melancholic guitar riff that will defiantly keep you challenged for a while. Lots of open strings with stunning rub and clashing notes. Amazing chord progression too!
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[@RiffsRhythm]

Get the TABS - www.patreon.com/posts/66553242 Here is PART 2 - 3 more Johnny Marr Riffs to pick from! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnqXpKmDrZyDa5Y

[@benhaltro1758]

johnnymarr is shit no riffs you said nothing who is

[@keiranbradley3238]

I've always thought "some girls are bigger than others" is probably my favourite Marr tune, there's just something so magical about it, he has blessed us with many amazing tunes.

[@dorkbrandon4422]

Have you seen the some girls bigger than others (dance compilation) vid on KZbin it's one of my fave vids such a great edit with the song

[@StratsRUs]

One of the finest trances in music👍

[@bobtronic73]

It's probably my favorite Smith song. It got a strong melancholy vibe.

[@sodvar5047]

It's a fantastic riff. I could listen to it on loop forever.

[@keiranbradley3238]

The melody has an amazing natural feel of tension and release that's laden with pathos. This is what great art is, IMHO?.

[@nobodyanderson4353]

Suffer little children has a haunting pattern, beautiful and sad. Johnny Marr was just a young man, gifted guitarist.

[@RiffsRhythm]

thanks for sharing!

[@tonycowin]

Good shout.

[@ednicholson7839]

Beat me to it. Very unique, beautiful riff.

[@JimDuggan-tq2lv]

Suffer Little Children is beautiful to play and I believe is more melancholic than Last Night I... Last Night... feels like it needs the full band or at least the chords also to make the riff stand out more. Whereas Suffer can stand on it's own more as just the riff.

[@Renav21]

Believe it or not, this is the only video in KZbin that analyzes a The Smiths chord progression this way. And it was great! Hope you do more videos like this

[@RiffsRhythm]

I was not aware and definitely lots to learn and get in the mind of Johnny Marr. Is there any Smiths track you want me to do next? I have recently just uploaded another Smiths Video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnqXpKmDrZyDa5Y

[@Renav21]

@@RiffsRhythm Thanks! Yeah of course. I would recommend you Nowhere Fast, Girl Afraid, Still ill or Some girls are bigger than others!

[@RiffsRhythm]

@@Renav21 I have taken note, thank you for the suggestions and i hope you get some more value from other vids on the channel

[@dahliafiend]

Anyone Can Play Guitar, Sparky Guitar and Headless Guitar Player all have excellent lessons on The Smiths as well. I've been plundering youtube for a year and a half now. Also Marr himself has short clips on here and his Instagram where he will play through certain songs, no tab of course. Growing up in the nineties I had no idea what he was doing! There are numerous other channels that have Smiths covers and tab some hits and misses but the three above are consistently excellent. I do a clip of Nowhere Fast that I learned from watching Marr on my channel it's not a lesson though.Also Sped Spedding and Romain CNC have some good stuff as well. So once these guys all die and this channel of course I will be ready to start my Marr channel in earnest! hah.

[@RiffsRhythm]

@@dahliafiend hey Dahlia, thanks for the comment and thanks for sharing. We all need to do what we can to showcase this mans talent. Keep it up 👍

[@boffam00]

This record came out when I was in my first year in university. There was a woman in my dorm I had a huge crush on…I made a move on her and she shut it down right away, which was fine, and we stayed friends. Anyway, she had a breakdown of some sort and had to go home (for good it turned out), and this song was the soundtrack to that for me…

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks for sharing this personal story! Hope she was ok! But amazing how music can get you through situations and become part of the memory.

[@shaft9000]

I've always loved "Back To The Old House" on acoustic from Hatful of Hollow sessions, the Jensen Session version of "Pretty Girls Make Graves", "Well I Wonder " , "Meat Is Murder " and the maudlin mandolin of "I Wont Share You".

[@stateworker]

Back to the Old House for me. And Mozz meets Marr's genius with his own.

[@skate6196]

Very iconic and underrated riff that no one really talks about. Thanks for loving music and sharing.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Couldn't agree more! Got lots more to come!

[@RiffsRhythm]

Do you have other songs worth having a look at?

[@rangerwhite5165]

That joke isn't funny anymore is his saddest riff.

[@powereire]

Alice in Chains - Nutshell must be one of the most emotional riffs out there

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks for sharing! I will need to go and listen to that track... does this mean I need to do a part 2?

[@stewartross13]

@@RiffsRhythmyou tell us

[@dahliafiend]

No disrespect it’s a great song especially the version with Mark Lanegan but it’s just basic strummed acoustic not much different than every rose has its thorn.

[@RiffsRhythm]

@@dahliafiend I thought the same when I listen to this. Great tune though

[@RobSmith-rn3ie]

​​​@@dahliafiendIts the expressiveness if the playing that gives it its character though not just the tabbable content, chords and such, but the feel, touch, and dynamics.

[@mariabernadettebredfeldtle4934]

The way Marr sings with his guitar is otherworldly

[@DroomSpook]

One of my favorite things to play along with “Some Girls are Bigger Than Others”.

[@robertwiles8106]

This Night Has Opened My Eyes.

[@mheberling5939]

A girlfriend bought this cassette for me back in 1988 and remains one of my most favorite records. Especially this song.

[@blackstonepros]

It’s gorgeous and original. But also has a tinge of influence from 10cc” I’m not in love”

[@LuckyFruitRacing]

I've never looked at Smiths guitar parts as being either riffs or chord progressions. With only 3 instrumentalists in the band for most of it's existence, Johnny created incredibly rich guitar parts that in a live setting served multiple sonic purposes without requiring any backing tracks.

[@RiffsRhythm]

I love this observation about his playing and yes I agree that he creates a sound stage to the music. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@theraditz]

It's very good, but definitely not the most emotional. There are many others that I find more emotional, but this is subjective

[@KAOS-rz1lb]

What i love about the smiths is that even their energetic songs have that strong touch of depressive melancholy in it like for example "I want the one i cant have" and "What she said" off of the meat is murder album

[@BronzDano]

For me personally, it the acoustic fade in on “to live is to die” by Metallica

[@WinterRapids]

Yeah it's emotional, but nowhere near Nigel Tufnel's Mach-piece "Lick My Love Pump" in D minor (the saddest of all keys).

[@RiffsRhythm]

I cried when I heard that haha. Masterpiece :)

[@pabloaramayo741]

I’m pretty sure has some Chopin’s influence

[@jb8280]

Of course it’s an excellent song and riff is pretty on the nose(as sad songs/riffs go). To me, the jangly yet maudlin riff he plays on “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” induces way more feels in me. The mix of something fleeting and hopeful knowing it’s never going to happen is always the saddest thing to me.

[@RiffsRhythm]

“Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” Its a great song too. Marr has got too many great riffs and it's great to hear others opinion so thanks for the comment :)

[@RiffsRhythm]

Just uploaded a follow up to this with your suggestion kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnqXpKmDrZyDa5Y

[@davnbull]

I heard he's doing another album with modest mouse!

[@spritefroggy]

Interestingly, that riff sounds a lot like Burzum's song, 'Epilogue' from his Uruk-Hai demo. Really fascinating to see a convergence between my two favourite bands.

[@hermanhawtrey8578]

Two of JM’s tunes are far more melancholy to my mind: The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, and Well I Wonder.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@Danyel76]

Not really a Smiths' fan but this arpeggio is pure genius🔝

[@RiffsRhythm]

You can't fault the arpeggio master

[@antalantal2366]

Great video! Thanks! JM ranks among the best rhythm guitar player and songsmiths that ever strummed a chord on this planet.

[@esanjuan212]

I love the history you weaved within this--I have desperately wanted to learn how to play this! I have subscribed and thank you for this internet gold.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks so much for the comment, I really enjoyed putting this together. I hope you can now learn the parts! Anything else you would like to see?

[@pefren777]

for me the most emotional riff in history is "Brett Anderson - Back To You"

[@michaelolz]

The solo right at the end of the song is soooo cathartic also. One of my favorite songs from The Smiths.

[@MalMotorDedo]

From what he said were his influences, I just don't get how he got such an ethereal sound in some Smiths songs. Dude was really into making ppl have an existential crisis.

[@BeatPoet67]

Great job! Learning the triads unlocked Johnny Marr (and Bernard Butler) for me. All those sparkling notes and beautiful arpeggios are suddenly right under your fingertips. It's like magic!

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks so much for sharing! It's all about the arpeggios and open string chord voicings. lots of fun

[@caster3283]

Another excellent video. I urge anyone casually watching this to subscribe. Absolute quality.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thank you 🙏 really appreciate your kinds and I hope everyone who does watch it gets some value… and subscribes :)

[@rukarula]

you NEED TO listen to the sunlotus cover.

[@MrMarco33333]

I was intrigued and had a guess. I thought the video was going to be about 'Back To The Old House'.

[@dsaltmer]

The version on Hatful of Hollow is brilliant - don't care for the singing much, but the guitar is wonderful

[@johnnyconnelly7278]

to me Back to the old house is sadder.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thats a beautiful song. However I feel its very diatonic compared to the riff in Last Night I Dreamt... It has this twist going the minor iv then into major iv to resolve back which makes Last Night stand out in my opinion.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Just uploaded a follow up to this with your suggestion kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnqXpKmDrZyDa5Y

[@lilliwieland7957]

i was thinking about this song the whole day because it kind of fits my situation. i’ve been dreaming about being in a relationship for the last three weeks. just reminded me of the song

[@omegawario7479]

Life just isn’t fair

[@SiameseDream97]

I've been dreaming about that for 25 years

[@joshyboozelaya3363]

That’s satan playing with your mind. Everything’s already perfect.

[@oscarenbeta4793]

It is easy to dream and it is relatively easy to know what you want, but sometimes holding on to a desire is harmful because it pushes you to go down paths that are not going to help you achieve something good. In any case, you may not even get what you want, you will just destroy yourself pursuing an impossible desire. Sometimes we just have to appreciate what we have and good things will come later on their own.

[@oscarenbeta4793]

This is just free advice take it or leave it.

[@BOARMoto-bm2mh]

You should probably check out fellow Mancunian Vini Reilly’s stylings then, if this impresses you. But you already knew that, mate.

[@GreenHoleSun]

Actually I think "that joke isn't funny anymore" is superior: there is some unmatched magical sadness in that song but, whatever...with Johnny Marr you really can't go wrong anyway...

[@duncanjowett5575]

Saddest guitar riff ever? Really though? In reall life? I suggest you broaden your musical horizons. (But then, these things are subjective)

[@rabidrooster8003]

Space Oddity- Saigon Kick version, is one. My Iron Lung- Radio Head is another.

[@tonyh8965]

‘Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me’ - The Smiths.

[@jameswbell7084]

Some argued it was Marr's GoTHiC masterpiece but Morrissey's heart wasn't in it as much. It is by far more memorable for it's instrumental aspects. "There is a light..." by contrast is far more Morrissey than Marr

[@divaiswara293]

i think "i know it's over" it's the saddest in terms of lyrics but then i'm wrong

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@trevorganoe748]

We Share the Same Skies by The Cribs has an awesome riff which is also very dramatic and melancholy-sounding. Super underrated song!

[@RiffsRhythm]

Great song! Love this

[@MikeGervasi]

Simple..because it's Johnny F'n Marr, mate. He's the Guv.

[@basssnobnj]

Most emotional riff of all time? It's not even in D minor, which everyone knows is the saddest key.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Marr missed the trick there. I'm guessing they couldn't actually play it in Dm as the band couldn't handle it

[@22bk113]

Half a Person.. great Johnny Marr riff

[@jasontsh]

Johnny tuned his guitar up a whole tone in The Smiths, which explains why you had to use a capo on the 2nd fret, and why he plays it without a capo, making it now sound too low, as he doesn't tune the guitar up two steps anymore. :)

[@chadb1176]

This is awesome, but Marr doesn’t use a capo 😺

[@RiffsRhythm]

Recorded v live, non capo and capo versions

[@ericcrawford9827]

Please, please, please, stop making videos on the back of a genius. See the life I've had.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Johnny wrote some very complicated stuff in the smiths, now he kinds of phones it in tbh and anyone could play it

[@hu5films862]

Wrong, Whale & Wasp! Alice in Chains. Sadder than nutshell, don’t follow and down in a hole.

[@AdaptivePhenix]

I was in to the Smiths before anyone that I knew, moved to USA and got countless friends hooked. What I don't get is this constant Marr-milking a band that split-up in the 80's. Seems to spend most of his time trying to sing like Morrissey. All this raving about what a great guitarist he is. No, he created a great and unique sound for the Smiths but let me see him play the guitar for real. Noel Gallagher keeps harping on about him but in reality, neither can play for sh1t.

[@benday1218]

I think David Bowie's favourite Smiths song? Nice vid.

[@RiffsRhythm]

really! I must look that up. That's a pretty cool fact, thanks for sharing

[@---df5sr]

The saddest chord is Dm

[@mak8836]

This riff does nothing for me. Sad. Oh wait, it did something.

[@Finewhether]

soad, loneliest day of my life, sounds reminiscent of this imho

[@tonyvieyra3250]

@riffs &rythm looks like the video I posted of Johnny Marr playing the riff.

[@franklingreen4719]

LOW's cover of this song is outstqnding.

[@DrMark1981]

Really interesting video. I’ve discovered I’ve been playing it slightly wrong. Cheers. 👍

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thank you, the main thing is getting the vibe of the riff down. Hope this has helped though with exactly how he plays it!

[@jaykarimi7123]

My absolutely favorite Smiths song & one my fav all time songs. A true heart wrenching classic. Playing our feelings into existence is/should be the goal of all of us musicians. Thank u for this video. U got a sub.

[@RiffsRhythm]

thanks for the sub! Strong message and strong tune! Glad you liked it

[@ElSantoLuchador]

Yes, but it's in Em, not Dm, which is the saddest chord. I never met a Johnny Marr riff I didn't like. He jumped above Keith Richards in my pantheon of the greatest rhythm guitar players ever.

[@RiffsRhythm]

If only it was in Dm! Both amazing players and very different. Legends

[@isaackmojica8302]

Check out dissolved orders by ulcerate....the riff progression at 4:40 is the single most emotional riff i've heard...

[@RiffsRhythm]

Yep thats some heavy dark stuff there :) Thanks for sharing

[@RollrightKnights]

That joke isn't funny anymore is the one for me 👌

[@combatshox]

for all johnny fans.i cant believe THE THE .never gets a mention.i think its johnny really letting it go.checck out .infected,soul mining.mind bomb albums.please dont forget to thank me later.i,ll be waiting.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Never really listened to them so I’ll go and check those albums. Thanks for sharing

[@TheAtticradio]

Wow that music piece is so lovely … almost baroque style sound

[@RiffsRhythm]

It certainly takes you on a journey. Amazing sound isolated.

[@adrianos198]

That joke isn't funny anymore for me..

[@crikey123]

Also my favourite Smiths song

[@DoctorMeatDic]

The lyrics are everything Last night I dreamt That somebody loved me No hope, no harm Just another false alarm Poetry. Marr is nothing without Morrissey. Marr proved that when he left the Smiths, he has done nothing of value since.

[@RiffsRhythm]

I disagree, Marr has done so much good stuff since leaving the smiths. He is a hard worker and a great artist/musician:guitar player. The Smiths wouldn’t be the same without each other. Each musician has something to bring to the table. This is what makes music subjective and everyone feels different. Thanks for sharing

[@happypapi1903]

This and While My Guitar Gently Weeps

[@rgx420s]

The acoustic version of "Back To The old House" is my favorite of his.

[@debomb721]

Did Johnny marr have any musical training back in the time of the smiths (I know later he did), cuz if he didn’t that’s incredible

[@RiffsRhythm]

Learnt from records and people and at the same time always wanted to find is voice on the instrument. So always creating!

[@pippipster6767]

For me is Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want … and JM does live version with a minute dreamlike guitar intro.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Yep I have transcribed that already... great version

[@tallnick1973]

Radiohead before radiohead ever radioheaded anywhere.

[@tonycowin]

Sounds like a more basic Steve Hackett piece.

[@MarcioSilva-ssiillvvaa]

I think this has influenced Creep by Radiohead, and I dare you to disagree. :D

[@RiffsRhythm]

yep i can agree. It also transitions from major to minor. Creep goes from a C major to a C minor chord, well spotted

[@oxymoronic-ephiphanies]

May i suggest “Low”s cover of this song. It’s even more depressing, slower and it has strings.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks for the recommendation I’ll go and check it out

[@ercos]

I think it sounds more emotional on J Marr videos because he does not use a capo to play at a lower key (while using a capo with The Smiths, as also seen in any tutorial)

[@RiffsRhythm]

Yes he tunes his guitar up a whole tone.

[@JimJWalker]

Back to the Old House, and Sing Me to Sleep are also very sad riffs.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Asleep is a great song! thanks for sharing

[@geostillo78]

Funny how we're all wired different. That doesnt make me feel anything at all.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Absolutely! Thats the great thing about music.

[@lorikislack1504]

Everyone knows Dm is the saddest key. He was off one semitone

[@benthomas8765]

You know what song has a very emotional chord progression? “ lady willpower”. Why is this? I don’t know anything about music theory and I’ve always wondered

[@marlenepaz5294]

God has really blessed Johnny with an amazing gift for sure!

[@RiffsRhythm]

I need his talent and his signature Jag :)

[@mutlucansihman]

Coldplay-sparks Radiohead-creep Radiohead-fake plastic trees Muse-unintended Jeff Buckley-Lilac Wine Adoy-Swim A couple of songs that came to my mind as one of the most melancholic/depressive chord progressions.

[@RiffsRhythm]

solid choices! I love Unintended - Muse. Thats a great chord progressions. Remember teaching that years ago and a song that you don't hear often that deserves more credit I think. Never heard Adoy - Swim, so i'll give that a listen. Thanks for sharing

[@BlakeBlackstone]

It's the C minor for me.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Nigel Tufnel will disagree :)

[@SeltaebEht]

That's an arpeggiated chord progression, not a riff. A riff is composed by single notes, usually mid-range to bass notes, while licks are similar but mid0range to high notes. BYW, this chord progression has nothing special. I think you like the chorus he is using,

[@_Mike.85]

"D minor which is the saddest of all keys, I find. People weep instantly when they hear it, and I don't know why."

[@saucyjk6453]

Death of a disco dancer my fave

[@kaymann8007]

I love how "research" is now watching KZbin videos and reading Wikipedia - neither of which are very accurate.

[@RiffsRhythm]

... and listening to interviews of the artist talk about experiences and there opinions

[@rocklee6306]

There’s a light that never goes out. Back to the old house. Those two songs hold a special place in my heart🖤🖤

[@FLOURISHFAMILYENT]

Strangeways here we come is my favorite smiths album even tho its considered their old ball album

[@RiffsRhythm]

thanks for sharing!

[@tonyvieyra3250]

@riffs and rythm you found my video!!!! Cool that someone was able to pull the riff from my video

[@RiffsRhythm]

Hey Tony! Did you record this? amazing to see and hear in it's stripped back form!

[@DigitalDaffodil]

3:13 see how Johnny doesn’t use a capo 3:21 this doesn’t then work

[@RiffsRhythm]

His guitar is tuned up a tone in that video. He did this a lot with the Smiths, his guitars where tuned up a tone. Even he doesn't really know why. He states in interviews that it must of been because he didn't have a capo and I suppose the tension is quite different and overall feel

[@ArgentPure]

The most emotional riff of all time is Maggot Brain. Nothing comes close!

[@MarnoRodrigo]

The answer is NO. NAH!

[@darknesscharlie1624]

Да, песня очень душевная

[@NeilJacksonGuitar]

Funnily enough when I saw the screenshot and the title of this vid, I thought you'd be talking about This Joke Isn't funny Anymore, where he plays the chorus chord progression earlier in the same clip. That's one from that clip that grabbed me in exactly the same way as you were grabbed by "Last Night...", with me thinking it was the most emotional progression I'd ever heard and running off to learn the chords. Also spectacular.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Yes that is was on my radar put this personally spoke to me more. Hope you enjoyed the video

[@joeb8383]

Amazing tune and guitar part. Lets not forget the amazing amazing solo in the live version from Marr.

[@RiffsRhythm]

yeah! it's so good isn't it! Might have to transcribe that one :)

[@Edgar_Randolph]

I've watched TONS of guitar teachers on yt - you are extremely good, always short, which is good for attention span, & to the point. Thx. Spencer Kissack, author.

[@RiffsRhythm]

Thanks so much that!

[@marypetrie930]

Is it in D minor😉

[@RiffsRhythm]

the saddest key of them all?