Guitar Riffs

A riff is a short, repeated chord progression, usually pitched low on the guitar. It is a pattern of notes derived from a scale or a chord.

Every Rock guitarist looks for the perfect musical phrase that provides both rhythm and personality to the song. There are some riffs that, on hearing, never leave one’s memory.

Riffs range from simple two note riffs to complex and deliberated riffs. While some guitarists are remembered for a single riff, others are known for their countless riffs.

Overview on Guitar Riffs

While learning to play the guitar, it is usually riffs that you will be practicing on first. Most introductory chapters on guitar training contain short and easy riffs. Each song has its own riff which makes it unique.

Also, riffs offer a shortcut around learning how to play an entire song. Some of the common techniques used in guitar riffs are power chords and double stops, changing scale, changing chords, palm muting, diminished power chords etc.

The idea of power chords and double stops is very simple- play two strings at a go. They are also the best way for beginners to make a riff.

Changing chords is another way of creating a riff. Chords are changed within a scale because it usually sounds good. The most popular chord changes are between A7, D7and E7. The best way to make a riff is to start strumming, play chords and see where your fingers take you.

Adding dramatic pauses in between the song can make it unique and unpredictable. Palm muting is a very popular technique in most styles of guitar music. Palm muting involves placing the side of the strumming hand on the strings before they meet the bridge. It is important to place the palm of the hand correctly.

Usually, palm muting is shown with a broken line following the letters PM in notation.  The line encases those notes that are palm muted.

The most significant thing about coming up with your won riff is that most of it has already been done before. You cannot expect your chords to sound incredibly unique when compared to someone else’s. It is, however, important to understand how a certain chord suits your song.

Most musicians and songwriters first write their music by either coming up with a chord progression or a riff, or harmonizing a melody. Since riffs are simply a pattern of notes following a given scale in a given key, you don’t have to go too far to come up with one.

Riff songs usually contain a single riff repeatedly played over changing chords. An example of this style is Eminence Front by the Who. 

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