The guitar riff is the soul of rock music. It gives the song a rhythmic theme, and it gives listeners something catchy and memorable with which to draw them in. Writing a solid riff requires creativity, originality, and a touch of technical understanding, but with the right references it is something any musician can master.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Come up with a riff
Step 1. Determine what type of riff you want to write
Keep your musical goals in mind and think about the type of riff you want to create. Are you in a melodic rock band, or would you rather create a heavy, punchy metal riff? Music styles are diverse and often overlap, so don't be afraid to be totally original.
A riff can be almost anything. Some of the most memorable rock and metal riffs of all time are simply repeats of one measure, such as the riff to Guns 'n' Roses "Sweet Child of Mine, or they can be passages lasting four or more measures., such as the riff of "Highway to Hell" by AC / DC or "She-Wolf" by Megadeth. You shouldn't feel restrained when composing a rock guitar riff
Step 2. Listen to your favorite riffs for inspiration
Sit back and listen to some of your favorite music and play through your favorite riffs and lines. Notice what you think is remarkable about the rhythm, composition and sound. These will become the stylistic techniques that you will use to start inventing your own riffs.
Listen to many different guitarists and study their approach when writing riffs. Bands such as Black Sabbath, which are known for the structural strength and catchiness of their riffs, have often employed simple methodologies, and even then their writing styles evoked a unique and instantly recognizable sound
Step 3. Define your sound
It helps to get an idea of the type of sound you're looking for so that you can use the proper tuning and playback methods once you really start writing. Reduce your desired sound choices to heavy or playful, upbeat or slow and sharp, melodious or loud. It may also be worth thinking about how your idea for a riff might sound in a style that you would not normally choose.
- Rock and metal guitar riffs are generally written using the natural minor scale or harmonic minor, although other scales can be used. Try to make a kind of "story" with the notes of the scale, just a small, simple piece of music that you think sounds good (try playing along the scale a couple of times and see if the inspiration hits. you).
- Classical metal tuning was often played in the standard "re" or "e", while heavier forms of music such as death and sludge metal make use of a "drop" (lower) tuning.
Step 4. Begin to compose the riff mentally
Begin to lay the foundation for the riff musically in your mind. Hum the riff out loud or play the guitar until you lock yourself into something concrete. You will work on the details later. This is your first chance to hear how the notes intertwine and it can give you a hint as to which guitar tone might work best for playing the riff. Let your creativity flow and take the riff wherever you want. Make small adjustments as you go and see how the riff takes shape.
- Play through different scales and get an idea of what the notes sound like. There are often very simple, but structurally sound riffs waiting to be taken from the basic scales. Think of scales as a kind of "database" of raw sounds.
- Humming along with the riff is a form of "audition", or mental listening, and can be an invaluable skill in helping you keep track of the music you compose.
Part 2 of 3: Write the riff
Step 1. Experiment with the riff
Now that you have a direction for the riff, take your guitar and give it a baseline test. Experiment with your basic melody to lay the foundation for the notes in the riff. Try to faithfully capture the sound that you have conceived in your head. Listening to it at high volume will give you a better idea of what works and what doesn't.
- If you find yourself stuck or the riff sounds inert, try adding stylistic embellishments, such as making up slides, palming the sound off, and punching harmonics. These are invaluable and frequently used tools of metal composition and can be useful for adding depth to an otherwise bland riff.
- You can also improvise a bit, which is the way jazz musicians freely play around a theme. Take the riff and play it four or five times, deviating slightly from your chosen sequence of notes each time. You may get something more original that you like more.
Step 2. Choose the correct structure
Adapt the riff so that it can be counted in a particular number of measures (note:
a measure is a segment of time that corresponds to a particular number of beats). Play through the bars at different speeds or make slight alterations to the final measure of the riff to try and make new rhythmic structures and give the riff a rounded sound.
Most traditional rock-inspired riffs are played in a "3 + 1" time signature, with one measure repeated three times and a minor variation on the last measure, for a total of four measures. Due to its universal applicability, the “3 + 1” time signature could be a great starting place if you're having trouble composing something
Step 3. Learn the technique
If you are familiar with writing tablature, put the riff on paper. In this way you can see it clearly organized and visually arranged to start memorizing it. Write any necessary notes on the pitch or progression that will allow the riff to evolve.
If you don't know how to write tabs, this can be an invaluable skill to learn. The basic principles of tablature are easy to learn and will become indispensable when you begin to write more complex pieces of music
Step 4. Perfect your sound
Hear how closely your riff matches your original idea. What sounds good and what could work better? Music, like any art, is never a finished process. You shouldn't hesitate to keep making changes to the riff, even after you've written the tabs for the riff and fixed it a couple of times.
See how the notes and chords of the riff come together musically. The riff you write should have its own natural rhythm and sound, so if something sounds bland, this is the right time to hone the details of the chord progression, picking style, etc
Part 3 of 3: Finalize the riff
Step 1. Practice the riff
Time to play the riff. Play it over and over again and become familiar with the way it feels to play it, trying to make every note and chord sound perfect. It can be very rewarding to listen to music that you have written at high volumes.
Make the riff yours. Anyone can pick up a guitar and play, however, go out of your way to create something with your special stamp and practice it until no one can play it like you
Step 2. Record yourself
If you have the means, make an audio recording of the riff to preserve it and show your work. The easiest way to make an audio recording is using the recording application on your smartphone (using your smartphone also gives you the option to record a video so that you can detect any errors in the way you touch it). For a more sophisticated touch, most computers and some amplifiers come equipped with basic audio recording software, and you can use them to archive the riff or even expand and layer on top of it to create a complete song.
- Generally, a home recording only requires a basic microphone and a program such as Garageband or Fruity Loops, both of which are free to download.
- Alternatively, if you have an old recorder lying around, you could record yourself in the old-fashioned way your favorite guitarists used to use.
Step 3. Make the riff part of a bigger sound
Imagine the riff as part of a finished song, and think about how it will work when you play it with a band. If you are part of a band, demo the riff for your bandmates and find out how to incorporate it into the music. Follow the prompts for the style you've created to formulate new riffs, and start developing your own unique style.
Remember that the riff serves as a kind of "theme" for the song. It is not a song in itself. To take your songwriting skills to the next level, start composing riffs with the larger goal of matching them to individual songs
Advice
- Have fun! Creating music is a passionate endeavor. Have fun and make sure it comes from your heart.
- It is always a good idea to know something about music theory. You don't have to be an expert, just understand a few basics i.e. how chords are structured, how scales are structured, how scales and chords interact, etc. Visit sites such as musictheory.net and experiment with some of the lessons. They will give you a practical manual on music and music theory.
- Listen to all the seminal bands that have appeared before you, and hear how they structure their songs and riffs. Studying is essential in any discipline.
- A riff doesn't always have to be a very elegant and fast series of notes. Sometimes a good riff can be a single note repeated using a fresh beat.