Meaning & use
riff in music
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Meanings
phrasecountablemusic
A short, repeated pattern of notes or chords that forms the main musical idea of a song, especially in rock, blues, or jazz.
Grammar: Countable: you can talk about one riff or several riffs; the phrase is used as a noun.
Patterns
- play a riff
- a guitar riff
- a famous riff
The guitarist opened the show with a heavy riff that the crowd recognized at once.
That song is built around a simple three-note riff that repeats for most of the track.
She practiced the same riff for an hour until her fingers moved without thinking.
phraseuncountablemusic
The act or style of playing such repeated patterns, as a feature of a performance or a player's technique.
Grammar: Uncountable when it refers to the general technique or activity rather than one specific pattern.
Patterns
- known for riffing
- a master of riff
- heavy on riff
The band's early records are heavy on riff and light on melody.
His playing is all about riff, with long sections where the rhythm guitar carries the tune.
Common combinations
- a guitar riff
- The whole audience sang along to the guitar riff.
- a catchy riff
- It has a catchy riff that stays in your head for days.
- play a riff
- He can play that riff in any key you ask for.
- a bass riff
- The bass riff gives the song its dark, driving feel.
- riff-driven
- Their new album is more riff-driven than the last one.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lick
- A lick is a short, often improvised phrase played once or twice, while a riff is a repeated pattern that usually forms part of the song's structure.
- melody
- A melody is the main tune you sing; a riff is usually played on an instrument and repeated rather than sung.
- ostinato
- Ostinato is a formal music term for any constantly repeated figure; a riff is the informal, popular-music word for the same idea.
Word family
Commonly confused: riff in music or riffle? riff in music or rift?
riff in music vs riffle
Riffle means to quickly turn the pages of a book or to move lightly over a surface; it sounds similar but has nothing to do with music.
riff in music vs rift
A rift is a crack or a serious disagreement between people; it is spelled with a t and is not a musical term.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'riff' correctly in its musical sense?
Choose one answer.
A riff is a repeated musical pattern, so 'a powerful guitar riff' fits. Option 0 uses riff as if it meant a speech, option 2 confuses it with 'riffle' (turning pages), and option 3 confuses it with 'rift' (a disagreement).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “riff in music”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.