A Chicago-based guitar player has become a viral hit in his effort to play 100 famous guitar riffs offering a rock n' roll history dating from 1952 to present day -- all in one take.
Over about 12 minutes, Alex Chadwick, an employee of the Chicago Music Exchange, tackles classic riffs from songs by artists ranging from Chet Atkins to St. Vincent on a 1958 Fender Stratocaster.
The transitions are seamless as Chadwick moves between keys and artists while chronologically covering snippets from instantly recognizable classics like "Wipeout" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" as well as some lesser-known, more recent jams like Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy" and Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out."
The video, promoting the shop's "Ultimate Vintage Giveaway" contest, has been viewed over 1.4 million times since it went live early last month.
Chadwick admitted to MSNBC that his feat was not achieved in one take, nor is he the first guitar player to take on the "100 riffs" idea. Nevertheless, the response, he said, has been "overwhelming."
As is the case with any sort of top 100 list, there will be plenty of arguments over what should -- and should not -- have made the cut. As NME points out, "Wild Thing" and "Ziggy Stardust" are two particularly notable omissions. PrettyMuchAmazing also points out that the riffs are Radiohead-less.
Click here for a full list of the riffs Chadwick takes on.
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