Riff

In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a rock music or jazz composition. They can be as simple as repeated saxophone honking an entire chorus on a single exciting note by Big Jay McNeely or as complex as the head arrangements played by the Count Basie Orchestra.

David Brackett (1999) defines them as, "short melodic phrases," while Richard Middleton (1999) defines them as, "short rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic figures repeated to form a structural framework." Though Rikky Rooksby (2002, p.6-7) admits that there is no "water-tight" definition, he gives a "working description" for riffs in rock: "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."

Riffs are often used (and re-used) to create full compositions. The "Night Train" riff was first used in Duke Ellington's "Happy-Go-Lucky Local", which Ellington had recycled from Johnny Hodges earlier "That's the Blues, Old Man". 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. It is probable that these riffs precede the examples given.)

Terminology

The term riff entered musical slang in the 1920s (Rooksby, ibid), and is used primarily in discussion of forms of rock music or jazz. "Most rock musicians use riff as a synonym, almost, for 'musical idea.'" (Middleton 1990, p.125). Tony Iommi is a pioneer of "Riffage". Charlie Parker's "Thriving on a Riff", like many bebop originals, was based on the chord progression of George Gershwin's "I've Got Rhythm".

Some sources explain riff as an abbreviation for "rhythmic figure", however, the musical use of the term derives from its use in comedy where a riffing consists of short clever remarks ([1]) on a subject. Thus riffing on a melody or progression as one would riff on a subject by extending a singular thought, idea or inspiration into a bit, or routine.

Pieces and songs that depend on riffs for their effect

The popular website DigitalDreamDoor has compiled a list [2] of what they say are the "100 greatest guitar riffs".

Notation and sound examples

• "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida riff

• "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath

Iron Man riff

• Piano intro to "Take Five" by Paul Desmond

• "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple

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• "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks

You Really Got Me riff

Musicians who are especially known for their riffs

• Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
• Chuck Berry
• Eric Clapton (Cream)
• Matthew Heafy (Trivium)
• Jimi Hendrix
• Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
• Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)
• Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
• Idina Menzel
• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
• Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
• Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
• Angus Young (AC/DC)
• Jack White (The White Stripes)

Source

• Horner, Bruce and Swiss, Thomas (1999). Form and Music: Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-21263-9. 
• Middleton, Richard (1990/2002). 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. 

Similar notions (and synonyms)

• Ostinato
• Vamp
• Lick (music)
• Hook (music)

External links

• Digitaldreamdoor's 100 Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs
• Jazz Guitar Riffs

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