Riffs

Lesson 4/81 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Rhythm Guitar

Riffs

A riff is a short pattern of notes (usually one or two bars long) which repeats throughout a verse or section of a song. A riff can also be varied to fit a chord progression. The use of riffs is common in many styles of music including Rock, Metal, Blues, Jazz and Funk. Many of the examples you have already learnt are riffs. Here is another example. There are also several more on the following pages.

Here are some more riffs. Learn them and then make up some of your own based on the ideas presented here. Don't worry about the notes too much, just experiment until you find something that sounds good and then memorize it.

Here is a rhythm part which makes use of power chords, major chords and double note runs. Although this example is in the key of A, it is not strictly in a major or minor key, but makes use of elements of both. This is common in many musical styles. Whatever sounds good is ultimately the best thing to play, regardless of what scale or chord it comes from. Experiment with all the sounds you have learnt and have fun with them.

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1- Suspended Chords 2- Seventh Chords 3- Minor Key Scale Tone Triads 4- Scale Tone Chords 5- Syncopation 6- Electronic Tuner 7- Learning All the Notes 8- Arpeggios 9- Minor Chords 10- Identifying Eighth Note Rhythms 11- Rests 12- Chords 13- Bar Chords 14- The Triplet 15- Sixteenth Notes 16- More About 12 Bar Blues 17- Power Chords 18- Tuning Your Guitar 19- Strumming Triplets 20- Slash Chords 21- Major Key Triad Pattern 22- The Leaden-in 23- Gaining Control of Sixteenth Notes 24- Tones and Semitones 25- Playing Two Strings With The First Finger 26- Chords I IV and Vin all Keys 27- Visualizing 28- Percussive Strumming 29- Add Nine Chords 30- Notes on The Sixth String 31- Rhythm Notation 32- Strumming 33- Rests With Chord Playing 34- Sharps 35- Swing Rhythms 36- Acoustic Guitars 37- Transposing 38- Percussive Strumming With Bar Chords 39- Riffs 40- Riffs Using Sixteenth Notes 41- Bass Runs 42- Note Values 43- Adding Scale Tones To Chords 44- Strumming Directions 45- Ties 46- Developing Rhythmic Control 47- Common 16th Note Figures 48- The Chromatic Scale 49- Root 5 Bar Chords 50- Chords in Other Minor Keys 51- The Shuffle 52- Primary Chords 53- Playing Two Strings Together 54- Major Chord Formations 55- Electric Guitars 56- Strings 57- Notes on The Fifth String 58- Moveable Power Chords 59- Pivot and Guide Fingers 60- Transposing in Minor Keys 61- Power Chord Sixteenth Note Rhythm Parts 62- Flats 63- Harmonizing Melodies 64- Common Progressions 65- Right Arm Position 66- Right Hand Damping 67- Changing Between Shapes 68- Moveable Chord Shapes 69- Harmonic Minor Scale Tone Chords 70- Learning the Guitar Fretboard 71- Rock 'n' Roll Chords 72- Chord Diagrams 73- Melodic Minor Scale Tone Chords 74- Chord Shapes 75- A Rock Chord Shapes 76- Rhythm Notation 77- D Rock Chord Shapes 78- Tablature 79- E Rock Chord Shapes 80- Music Notation 81- Twelve Bar Blues

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Riffs

Riffs

Peter Gelling

Class Sessions

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