Make Some Riffs!

I suppose making riffs is something that applies more to a whole band setting than an individual person, but without a "hook" as they say, alot of today's songs would go nowhere. Especially with the ADD clad minds that make up 99% of the modern day world. Let's say you're in a band. You have a guitar player, a bassist, a drummer, and a singer. Where do you start? MAKE SOME RIFFS!!!

Alot of the time, it's the guitarist who starts off, then the drummer puts a groove behind it, then the bassist joins in, etc. But this can really be done in any form that feels natural. Anyone who plays an instrument can come up with a riff. According to the Harvard dictionary of music, a riff is: "In jazz, a brief, relaxed, tuneful phrase repeated over changing harmonies. It may serve as both accompaniment or as melody." But over time, and to many musicians such as my self, the definition is more like "a repeated phrase within a song on any instrument, that's memorable, and played over changing harmonies. Also known as the hook."

90% or so of music, or at least the music I write, is about feeling. So, to me, even if the drummer comes up with something that's memorable, I'd consider that a pretty cool riff. A drum riff, if you will.

Songs written with excellent riffs, or from the riff out, would include: "Satisfaction" by the Rolling stones. Here's one of the many bands that lives off cool riffs, and Satisfaction to me is definitely one of the most memorable. It sums up everything that a riff should be. Catchy, easy to play, and would be recognized anywhere by anyone. Come to think of it, that's almost all the Rolling Stone's songs! Definitely a tune worth checking out.

Ozzy Osborne!