Riff

Ostinato fromRadiohead's "Creep"featuresmodal mixture,common tonesbetween adjacent triads (B between G & B, C and G between C+& C−), and an emphasis onsubdominantharmony (IV = C in G major).^[1]

Ariffis a short, repeatedmotiforfigurein themelodyoraccompanimentof a musical composition.^[2]Riffs are most often found inrock music,heavy metal music,Latin,funk,andjazz,althoughclassical musicis also sometimes based on a riff, such asRavel'sBoléro.Riffs can be as simple as a tenorsaxophonehonking a simple, catchy rhythmic figure, or as complex as the riff-based variations in thehead arrangementsplayed by theCount Basie Orchestra.

David Brackett (1999) defines riffs as "short melodicphrases",whileRichard Middleton(1999)^[3]defines them as "short rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic figures repeated to form a structural framework". Rikky Rooksby states: "A riff is a short, repeated, memorable musical phrase, often pitched low on the guitar, which focuses much of the energy and excitement of a rock song."^[4]

BBC Radio 2,in compiling its list of 100 Greatest Guitar Riffs, defined a riff as the "main hook of a song", often beginning the song, and is "repeated throughout it, giving the song its distinctive voice".^[5]

Use of the term has extended tocomedy,whereriffingmeans the verbal exploration of a particular subject, thus moving the meaning away from the original jazz sense of a repeated figure that a soloist improvises over, to instead indicate the improvisation itself—improvising on a melody or progression as one would improvise on a subject by extending a singular thought, idea or inspiration into abit,orroutine.^[6]

Etymology

The termriffentered musicalslangin the 1920s (Rooksby, ibid^[where?],p. 6) and is used primarily in discussion of forms ofrock music,heavy metalorjazz."Most rock musicians useriffas a near-synonym formusical idea"(Middleton 1990, p. 125).

Theetymologyof the term is not clearly known. Ian Anderson, in the documentary "A World Without Beethoven",^[7]states (repeatedly) that "riff" is the abbreviation of "repeated motif." Other sources proposeriffas anabbreviationfor "rhythmic figure" or "refrain".^[8]

Usage in jazz, blues and R&B

Injazz,blues andR&B,riffs are often used as the starting point for longer compositions.Charlie Parkerused riff on "Now's the Time". Blues guitaristJohn Lee Hookerused riff on "Boogie Chillen"in 1948.^[9]

The riff fromCharlie Parker'sbebopnumber "Now's the Time" (1945) re-emerged four years later as theR&Bdance hit "The Hucklebuck".The verse of" The Hucklebuck ", which was another riff, was" borrowed "from the Artie Matthews composition"Weary Blues".Glenn Miller's"In the Mood"had an earlier life asWingy Manone's "Tar Paper Stomp". All these songs usetwelve-bar bluesriffs, and most of these riffs probably precede the examples given (Covach 2005, p. 71).

In classical music, individual musical phrases used as the basis ofclassical musicpieces are calledostinatosor simply phrases. Contemporary jazz writers also use riff- or lick-like ostinatos inmodalmusic andLatin jazz.

Riff-driven

The term "riff-driven" is used to describe a piece of music that relies on a repeated instrumental riff as the basis of its most prominent melody,cadence,or (in some cases)leitmotif.Riff-driven songs are largely a product ofjazz,blues,and post-blues era music (rock and pop).^[10]The musical goal of riff-driven songs is akin to the classicalcontinuoeffect, but raised to much higher importance (in fact, the repeated riff is used to anchor the song in the ears of the listener). The riff/continuo is brought to the forefront of the musical piece and often is the primary melody that remains in the listener's ears. Acall and responseoften holds the song together, creating a "circular" rather than linear feel.^[11]

A few examples of riff-driven songs are "Whole Lotta Love"and"Black Dog"byLed Zeppelin,^[12]^[13]"Day Tripper"byThe Beatles,^[14]"Brown Sugar"and"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"byThe Rolling Stones,^[15]"Smoke on the Water"byDeep Purple,^[14]^[16]"Back in Black"byAC/DC,^[14]^[16]"Smells Like Teen Spirit"byNirvana,^[14]^[16]"Johnny B Goode"byChuck Berry,^[14]^[16]"Back in the Saddle"byAerosmith,^[17]and "You Really Got Me"byThe Kinks.^[14]^[16]

References

^Capuzzo, Guy.Neo-Riemannian Theory and the Analysis of Pop-Rock Music,pp. 186–187,Music Theory Spectrum,Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 177–199. Autumn 2004. Capuzzo uses "+" to indicate major and "−" to indicate minor (C+, C−).
^New Harvard Dictionary of Music(1986) p. 708. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
^Middleton, Richard (2002) [1990].Studying Popular Music.Philadelphia: Open University Press.ISBN 0-335-15275-9.
^Rikky Rooksby (2002).Riffs: How to create and play great guitar riffs.San Francisco: Backbeat Books. pp. 6–7.ISBN 0-87930-710-2.
^BBC Radio 2 website.
^"Definition of RIFF".www.merriam-webster.com.Retrieved2019-09-30.
^"A World Without Beethoven? | Music Documentary with Sarah Willis (Full length)".YouTube.
^"Definition of riff".Dictionary.com.Retrieved2020-11-09.
^Best Guitar Riffs.Retrieved 28 July 2021.
^Rolling Stone (1992).The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll(3 Sub ed.). Random House. p. 61.ISBN 978-0679737285.
^Horner, Bruce (Editor), Swiss, Thomas (Editor) (1999).Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture(Paperback ed.). Blackwell Publishing Limited. pp.143.ISBN 978-0-631-21264-5.{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Fast, Susan; et al. (2001).In the house of the Holy: Led Zeppelin and the power of Rock Music(1 ed.).Oxford University Press.p. 33.ISBN 0-19-511756-5.The song (Black Dog) represents a defining moment in the genre of hard rock, combining the elements of speed, power, an artful and metrically clever riff
^"The Greatest Songs Ever! Black Dog".Blender Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon May 30, 2009.RetrievedMarch 2,2010.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f"50 Greatest Guitar Riffs Of All Time".NME.October 25, 2012.Retrieved29 January2019.
^Bogdanov, Vladimir; et al. (2003).All Music Guide to the Blues.Backbeat Books. p. 477.ISBN 0-87930-736-6.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^eChilton, Martin (October 22, 2018)."15 Of The Best Guitar Riffs".Udiscovermusic.Retrieved29 January2019.
^Gallucci, Michael (10 September 2014)."Top 10 Joe Perry Aerosmith Riffs".Ultimate Classic Rock.Retrieved2022-10-21.

Sources

Covach, John. "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah (2005).Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-517010-5.
Homo, Bruce; Swiss, Thomas (1999).Form and Music: Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture.Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell.ISBN 0-631-21263-9.
Middleton, Richard (2002).Studying Popular Music.Philadelphia: Open University Press.ISBN 0-335-15275-9.
Rooksby, Rikky (2002).Riffs: How to create and play great guitar riffs.San Francisco: Backbeat Books.ISBN 0-87930-710-2.

External links

Jazz Guitar Riffs

[Capuzzo-1] Capuzzo, Guy.Neo-Riemannian Theory and the Analysis of Pop-Rock Music,pp. 186–187,Music Theory Spectrum,Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 177–199. Autumn 2004. Capuzzo uses "+" to indicate major and "−" to indicate minor (C+, C−).

[2] New Harvard Dictionary of Music(1986) p. 708. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

[3] Middleton, Richard (2002) [1990].Studying Popular Music.Philadelphia: Open University Press.ISBN 0-335-15275-9.

[Rooksby-4] Rikky Rooksby (2002).Riffs: How to create and play great guitar riffs.San Francisco: Backbeat Books. pp. 6–7.ISBN 0-87930-710-2.

[5] BBC Radio 2 website.

[6] "Definition of RIFF".www.merriam-webster.com.Retrieved2019-09-30.

[7] "A World Without Beethoven? | Music Documentary with Sarah Willis (Full length)".YouTube.

[8] "Definition of riff".Dictionary.com.Retrieved2020-11-09.

[9] Best Guitar Riffs.Retrieved 28 July 2021.

[RollingStoneIllustratedHistory-10] Rolling Stone (1992).The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll(3 Sub ed.). Random House. p. 61.ISBN 978-0679737285.

[Blackwell-11] Horner, Bruce (Editor), Swiss, Thomas (Editor) (1999).Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture(Paperback ed.). Blackwell Publishing Limited. pp.143.ISBN 978-0-631-21264-5.{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[Susanfast-12] Fast, Susan; et al. (2001).In the house of the Holy: Led Zeppelin and the power of Rock Music(1 ed.).Oxford University Press.p. 33.ISBN 0-19-511756-5.The song (Black Dog) represents a defining moment in the genre of hard rock, combining the elements of speed, power, an artful and metrically clever riff

[Greatestsongs-13] "The Greatest Songs Ever! Black Dog".Blender Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon May 30, 2009.RetrievedMarch 2,2010.

[NME-14] "50 Greatest Guitar Riffs Of All Time".NME.October 25, 2012.Retrieved29 January2019.

[AllMusicGuide-15] Bogdanov, Vladimir; et al. (2003).All Music Guide to the Blues.Backbeat Books. p. 477.ISBN 0-87930-736-6.

[Chilton-16] Chilton, Martin (October 22, 2018)."15 Of The Best Guitar Riffs".Udiscovermusic.Retrieved29 January2019.

[17] Gallucci, Michael (10 September 2014)."Top 10 Joe Perry Aerosmith Riffs".Ultimate Classic Rock.Retrieved2022-10-21.

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v t e Accompaniment
Musical instruments	Acoustic guitar Double bass Drum kit Electric bass Electric guitar Electric piano Hammond organ Piano Pipe organ
Techniques and styles	Alberti bass Arpeggio Banjo roll Bassline Basso continuo Chord Triadic chord Power chord Comping Counter-melody Drone Figuration Fill Groove Harmonization Obbligato Ostinato Riff Vamp
Music ensembles	Backup band Musical ensemble Orchestra Pit orchestra Rhythm section