What Is A Riff?

Hey rhythm guitar rockers! Today, I’ll walk you through how to create a riff—a crucial element of rhythm guitar playing. While the term "riff" can mean different things to different people, here’s my interpretation and tips on crafting your own.

What is a Riff?

In its simplest form, a riff is a rhythm guitar part built around a combination of single notes and chords. Unlike straightforward chords, riffs often feature notes played quickly, making it impractical to use full chords. These musical patterns often repeat throughout a song, giving it identity and groove. However, a riff can also appear just once and still leave a lasting impression.

A riff typically incorporates:

• Single notes for a distinct sound.
• Power chords to add punch and harmony.
• A combination of both, depending on the desired tone.

Building a Riff: The Basics

Let’s start by using the A minor pentatonic scale as an example. Many iconic riffs are derived from simple scales like this. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Focus on the thicker strings (low E, A, and D) for that deep, gritty sound.
2. Choose a few notes from the scale and experiment with different patterns.
3. Create something repeatable and rhythmically engaging.

For example, in the riff I played at the beginning of my video, I combined single notes from the A minor pentatonic scale with power chords. Here’s the structure I used:

• The first half of each section remains identical.
• In the second half, I reversed the order of the power chords.
• In the final section, I descended using single notes to wrap it up.

Remember, you don’t have to stick to this format. Feel free to experiment with patterns, locations, and techniques.

Exploring Scale Patterns

Scales aren’t confined to a single area of the guitar neck. They occur across the fretboard in patterns that connect. You can:

• Stay in one area for simplicity.
• Move to another part of the neck to add variety.

If you understand how scale patterns connect, you can easily shift positions while staying in the same key. This flexibility lets you create riffs that feel fresh and dynamic.

Breaking the Rules

While scales provide a great starting point, don’t limit yourself to just the notes within them. Adding passing notes—notes outside the scale—can add a unique flavor to your riff. If it sounds good, it works! The key is to trust your ears and experiment.

Riffs vs. Licks

Another term you’ll hear is "lick." In my opinion, the difference lies in application:

• A riff is a rhythm guitar concept.
• A lick applies to lead guitar playing.

Though the terms are often interchangeable, the context determines their usage.

Start Writing Your Own Riffs

To get started:

1. Choose a simple scale.
2. Play around with single notes and create repeatable patterns.
3. Add power chords or experiment with passing notes if it fits your style.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all definition of a riff—it’s a creative and personal expression. The most important thing is to have fun and let your imagination guide you.

Always have fun with your guitar, and I’ll see you next time…

If you are looking to learn another excellent rhythm guitar skill, you can check out my FREE lesson on how to weave lead guitar melody lines to your rhythm guitar playing here: https://rhythmguitarlessons.net/Pro

Have you ever heard extra notes played between chords and wondered, "Why do THESE notes sound good?" or, "How can I do that?".

Most guitar players struggle to find the right notes to play between chords to make their songs sound better.

The fact is, it's easy to do once you learn how. And the result is your guitar playing sounds much more complex than it is...

This is good news for you:

I've created a brand new eGuide (yes, it's free), where I show you an easy way to connect chords with single-note melodies to sound like a pro.

The best part is it's 100% FREE (no strings attached)!

Download your copy instantly so you can instantly make your rhythm guitar playing sound better. https://rhythmguitarlessons.net/Pro

About Mark Turko: Mark Turko is a professional guitar player and instructor with over 30 years of experience and teaches guitar lessons online.