Our first-ever March Riff Madness competition kicks off with Ted Nugent's 'Stranglehold' facing off against Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' -- and your votes determine the winner.

After much debate, we’ve selected 32 of classic rock’s most iconic riffs and paired them off in 16 first-round duels. Over the next five weeks the field will be repeatedly cut in half by your votes, until we theoretically arrive at the most awesome riff in all of rock history.

We'll admit it's pretty mean of us to start the whole thing off with such a difficult choice. The opening riff of 'Stranglehold,' from Nugent's self-titled 1975 debut, has earned its place as one of the most memorable moments in rock history. Then again, so has the chiming introduction to 'Sweet Home Alabama,' from Skynyrd's 1974 'Second Helping' album.

So who will you choose in this battle of giants? You can vote once per hour until round one of our March Riff Madness voting closes on Sunday, March 9 at 11:59PM ET. The ultimate winner will be revealed on April 7.

March Riff Madness USA Bracket
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Watch Ted Nugent Perform 'Stranglehold'

Watch Lynyrd Skynyrd Perform 'Sweet Home Alabama'

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