We all know from the first songs we wrote that we are all capable of writing subpar riffs. We also know that the band rehearsing next to our room is capable of writing mediocre riffs too. That means we are not alone. Writing guitar riffs that are as catchy as "F*ck, play that again!" is the primary obligation of a guitar player! However, it's not as easy as it sounds, is it?
In this article, we will discuss why our riffs may not meet expectations, what makes a guitar riff truly awesome, and how we can apply these principles to enhance our riff-writing. Let’s write guitar riffs that rock!
To understand why some riffs rock and others fall short, I've identified three basic aspects that contribute to a good riff. These aspects should all be taken into account when writing riffs:
Think about your favorite riffs and try to imitate them. What happens? You may find yourself singing along, nodding your head, and playing air drums, right? That's because rhythm (or groove) is such an important quality of a good riff. As Malcom Young once said: "If it doesn't swing, it doesn't mean a thing."
Groovy riffs rule! For example:
Especially in metal music, groove is a significant aspect of killer riffs. But how can we ensure that our riffs groove? One approach is to use contrast when writing guitar riffs. Groove is a rhythmic pattern of repeating elements that stay in contrast or are different.
The verse riff in Pantera's "A New Level" is a good example of how alternating between fast and slow notes results in a groovy metal smash hit! The groove of the verse riff gets even more impact from the build-up of the iconic and brutal intro riff, which, in contrast, is pretty simple with no real rhythmic surprises. Contrast for contrasting the contrast...what?!
The easiest way is to record our ideas and listen. Just listen to our riffs. It can be harsh because now we have to ask ourselves: Is this rad? Would I start headbanging if this played at a party or concert? If the answer is yes, well, chances are good we have a groovy and headbanging riff. If the answer is no: Learn from it and write a new riff.
Listen to what gets us moving, copy it, and then create an original version of it. That's the beauty of music; if it sounds good, it is good. We just need ears and no diploma.
Alright, so we need groove, and a great way to achieve it is through contrast. Check.
Simplicity for me is all about getting something stuck in the other person's head. A riff so simple that it sticks immediately without any active effort.
With riffs there is no exception or can you instantly hum technical death metal riffs?! Not likely and that’s perfectly fine for some genres. If our goal is catchy as f*ck, it needs to be stupid simple.
Everyone knows this and nearly every guitar beginner learns this as one of the first riffs ever. Because it’s stupid simple and instantly gets stuck in your head: "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath
Other examples are:
Why do you think those songs are so popular? Because everybody recognizes them instantly! They're simple as f*ck!
Another aspect of simplicity and being catchy for me is repetition. What do we do when we try to learn and remember something new? We repeat it until we know it by heart. The same applies to our music and listeners. We repeat something until it gets stuck in their heads!
Kinda like an unconscious and passive learning process. Sounds creepy, but that’s what happens every day when people listen to radio/pop music. They don’t focus on the music; it’s just background noise, yet it sticks.
Repetition is catchy, and at the same time, we can instantly rock out to it! Cause it clicks immediately. "Monkey Business" by Skid Row comes to mind for great use of repetition.
Now comes the catch: Simple ain’t easy!
The art of simplicity and repetition is to avoid sounding boring. We need to make a riff sound interesting and unique while also keeping it simple. That’s the constant struggle with catchy riffs.
Simplicity is key to getting your riffs stuck in the heads of your listeners, and repetition is a great tool for that.
The hard thing: Don’t be boring while writing simple guitar riffs.
Well, it seems weird because the conception of a guitar riff is more grounded in the rhythmic or harmonic field. Still, there are tons of riffs that you can also hum. That fact alone, to hum something instantly, tells us there must be something catchy we need to take into account when writing guitar riffs.
One of my favorite riffs of all time is "Wayward Son" by Kansas. This perfectly illustrates what I mean with melody and humability in riff writing. "Purple Haze" by Hendrix is another great example of a melodic, catchy riff that also has a great groove to it. Other examples are "The Trooper" by Maiden and heck even "Sweet Home Alabama"!
How do we know if we have a strong melody? If we can hum/play our melody without any backing, and it sounds complete - we are onto something. A good melody can stand on its own and sound great. It’s that simple. But as we know, simple ain’t easy.
The line between riff, lick, harmony, and melody can be thin and often overlaps. What I appreciate is the deliberate use of harmony to give life to a melodic riff. Kinda make it stand out with some tension or determine the feel of the riff through a harmonic background. Done right, the melody and harmony kinda melt together and create one catchy riff.
The chorus riff of "Children Of Bodom's Done with Everything, Die for Nothing" displays a great arc of suspense through melody and harmony. Another example is the pre-chorus of "Welcome To The Jungle" by Guns ‘N’ Roses.
This concept often requires more than one guitar and some arrangement. Kinda like a piano player would write something. One hand harmony and one hand melody - simply put. Therefore, it’s not just about one guitar kicking out one killer riff. But I hope this can give us some inspiration for writing guitar riffs or to give our riff the missing power.
Melody is crucial when writing catchy riffs. Does the melody sound good on its own? Then we have a winner.
All elements in crafting catchy riffs are interconnected. Often, we find multiple aspects at play.
For instance, Pantera's 'Walk' is simple and groovy but lacks melody, whereas Polyphia's 'G.O.A.T.' is groovy with a strong melodic aspect but isn't simple. Even cited examples showcase more than one aspect, though one may be more prominent. The trio of groove, simplicity, and melody form the cornerstone of catchy riff writing. Combining all three elements—groove, simplicity, and melody—when writing guitar riffs results in a powerhouse riff.
Take 'Back in Black' by AC/DC, frequently hailed as one of the greatest riffs ever. It's groovy, simple, and incorporates subtle melodic lines— the epitome of a perfect riff.
Learning how to write guitar riffs that rock demands practice and continuous development.
Embracing imperfect riffs provides invaluable lessons on what doesn't work, allowing us to refine our skills over time. With dedication, our riffs evolve, reflecting our unique style, musical ear, and creative direction.
I hope this article has shed light on the path ahead and will assist you in crafting catchy riffs.
Thank You for Your time and as always....
Play The Rad Way!