A riff is a short, repeated motif or figure in the melody or accompaniment of a musical composition. Riffs are most often found in rock music, punk, heavy metal music, Latin, funk, and jazz, although classical music is also sometimes based on a riff, such as Ravel's Boléro. Riffs can be as simple as a tenor saxophone honking a simple, catchy rhythmic figure, or as complex as the riff-based variations in the head arrangements played by the Count Basie Orchestra.
David Brackett (1999) defines riffs as "short melodic phrases", while Richard Middleton (1999) defines them as "short rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic figures repeated to form a structural framework". Author 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."
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".
Use of the term has extended to comedy, where riffing means 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 a bit, or routine.
Etymology
The term riff entered musical slang in the 1920s and is used primarily in discussion of forms of rock music, heavy metal or jazz. One explanation holds that "most rock musicians use riff as a near-synonym for musical idea" (Middleton 1990, p. 125), but the etymology of the term is not clearly known.
Ian Anderson, in the documentary A World Without Beethoven, states (repeatedly) that "riff" is the abbreviation of "repeated motif." Other sources propose riff as an abbreviation for "rhythmic figure," "rhythm fragment," or "refrain".
Usage in jazz, blues, and R&B
In jazz, blues and R&B, riffs are often used as the starting point for longer compositions. Count Basie's band used many riffs in the 1930's, like in "Jumping at the Woodside" and "One O Clock Jump". Charlie Parker used riffs on "Now's the Time" and "Buzzy". Oscar Pettiford's tune "Blues in the Closet" is a rifftune and so is Duke Ellington's tune "C Jam Blues". Blues guitarist John Lee Hooker used riff on "Boogie Chillen" in 1948.
The riff from Charlie Parker's bebop number "Now's the Time" (1945) re-emerged four years later as the R&B dance 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 as Wingy Manone's "Tar Paper Stomp". All these songs use twelve-bar blues riffs, and most of these riffs probably precede the examples given (Covach 2005, p. 71).
In classical music, individual musical phrases used as the basis of classical music pieces are called ostinatos or simply phrases. Contemporary jazz writers also use riff- or lick-like ostinatos in modal music and Latin 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 of jazz, blues, and post-blues era music (rock and pop). The musical goal of riff-driven songs is akin to the classical continuo effect, 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. A call and response often holds the song together, creating a "circular" rather than linear feel.
Who recorded the first riff-driven rock and roll song is contested, but very early examples include the playing by René Hall on Ritchie Valens’ 1958 version of "La Bamba" (on a Danelectro six-string bass guitar), as well as Link Wray's 1958 instrumental record "Rumble."
A few examples of classic rock riff-driven songs are "Whole Lotta Love" and "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin, "Day Tripper" by The Beatles, "Brown Sugar" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "Back in Black" by AC/DC, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, "Johnny B Goode" by Chuck Berry, "Back in the Saddle" by Aerosmith, and "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks.
See also
- Fill
- Riffusion
- Vamp
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. p. 6. ISBN 0-87930-710-2.
- BBC Radio 2 website.
- "Definition of RIFF". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
- "A World Without Beethoven? | Music Documentary with Sarah Willis (Full length)". YouTube.
- "Definition of riff". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- 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.
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- 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 from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- "50 Greatest Guitar Riffs Of All Time". NME. October 25, 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- Bogdanov, Vladimir; et al. (2003). All Music Guide to the Blues. Backbeat Books. p. 477. ISBN 0-87930-736-6.
- Chilton, Martin (October 22, 2018). "15 Of The Best Guitar Riffs". Udiscovermusic. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- Gallucci, Michael (10 September 2014). "Top 10 Joe Perry Aerosmith Riffs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
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
A riff is a short repeated motif or figure in the melody or accompaniment of a musical composition Riffs are most often found in rock music punk heavy metal music Latin funk and jazz although classical music is also sometimes based on a riff such as Ravel s Bolero Riffs can be as simple as a tenor saxophone honking a simple catchy rhythmic figure or as complex as the riff based variations in the head arrangements played by the Count Basie Orchestra Ostinato from Radiohead s Creep features modal mixture common tones between adjacent triads B between G amp B C and G between C amp C and an emphasis on subdominant harmony IV C in G major David Brackett 1999 defines riffs as short melodic phrases while Richard Middleton 1999 defines them as short rhythmic melodic or harmonic figures repeated to form a structural framework Author 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 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 Use of the term has extended to comedy where riffing means 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 a bit or routine EtymologyThe term riff entered musical slang in the 1920s and is used primarily in discussion of forms of rock music heavy metal or jazz One explanation holds that most rock musicians use riff as a near synonym for musical idea Middleton 1990 p 125 but the etymology of the term is not clearly known Ian Anderson in the documentary A World Without Beethoven states repeatedly that riff is the abbreviation of repeated motif Other sources propose riff as an abbreviation for rhythmic figure rhythm fragment or refrain Usage in jazz blues and R amp BIn jazz blues and R amp B riffs are often used as the starting point for longer compositions Count Basie s band used many riffs in the 1930 s like in Jumping at the Woodside and One O Clock Jump Charlie Parker used riffs on Now s the Time and Buzzy Oscar Pettiford s tune Blues in the Closet is a rifftune and so is Duke Ellington s tune C Jam Blues Blues guitarist John Lee Hooker used riff on Boogie Chillen in 1948 The riff from Charlie Parker s bebop number Now s the Time 1945 re emerged four years later as the R amp B dance 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 as Wingy Manone s Tar Paper Stomp All these songs use twelve bar blues riffs and most of these riffs probably precede the examples given Covach 2005 p 71 In classical music individual musical phrases used as the basis of classical music pieces are called ostinatos or simply phrases Contemporary jazz writers also use riff or lick like ostinatos in modal music and Latin jazz Riff drivenThe 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 of jazz blues and post blues era music rock and pop The musical goal of riff driven songs is akin to the classical continuo effect 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 A call and response often holds the song together creating a circular rather than linear feel Who recorded the first riff driven rock and roll song is contested but very early examples include the playing by Rene Hall on Ritchie Valens 1958 version of La Bamba on a Danelectro six string bass guitar as well as Link Wray s 1958 instrumental record Rumble A few examples of classic rock riff driven songs are Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog by Led Zeppelin Day Tripper by The Beatles Brown Sugar and I Can t Get No Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple Back in Black by AC DC Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry Back in the Saddle by Aerosmith and You Really Got Me by The Kinks See alsoFill Riffusion VampReferencesCapuzzo 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 p 6 ISBN 0 87930 710 2 BBC Radio 2 website Definition of RIFF www merriam webster com Retrieved 2019 09 30 A World Without Beethoven Music Documentary with Sarah Willis Full length YouTube Definition of riff Dictionary com Retrieved 2020 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 a href wiki Template Cite book title Template Cite book cite book a last has generic name help CS1 maint multiple names authors list link https tims blackcat nl messages rene hall htm 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 from the original on May 30 2009 Retrieved March 2 2010 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs Of All Time NME October 25 2012 Retrieved 29 January 2019 Bogdanov Vladimir et al 2003 All Music Guide to the Blues Backbeat Books p 477 ISBN 0 87930 736 6 Chilton Martin October 22 2018 15 Of The Best Guitar Riffs Udiscovermusic Retrieved 29 January 2019 Gallucci Michael 10 September 2014 Top 10 Joe Perry Aerosmith Riffs Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved 2022 10 21 SourcesCovach 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 linksJazz Guitar Riffs
