Focusing On Writing The Rhythm In Your Guitar Riffs
So far I have mostly been discussing how to use power chords to create direction in your guitar riffs; however, you do not necessarily need to use a bunch of chords to make a great riff. In fact, a great guitar riff could be made of as little as one or two notes (pitches). For example, you’ve probably heard many cool guitar riffs that are played by only using the low E string. In spite of the fact that only one note is being used, the riff still manages to sound good. How is this done exactly? The answer is: focusing on creating an interesting rhythm. The truth is, you do not need to write a complex series of chords in order to make something that is enjoyable to listen to. Rhythm plays a major role in whether your guitar riff sounds interesting or boring. For example, listen to the following riff (made of only two single notes):
Click here to listen.
Although this riff only uses two notes (“D” and “E”), it utilizes rhythm in an interesting manner in order to maintain the attention of the listener. In this case, the rhythm of the guitar riff uses “syncopation” (playing between the beats) to create tension by emphasizing the space between the strong beats of the measure. This is a useful tool in music, because our brains automatically place the beat into an easily identifiable pattern and when notes do not follow it, it surprises us. In this case, the beat is in common 4/4 time (4 beats per measure) and the guitar riff does not always play directly on any of the 4 beats.
Using a single note to write out the rhythm of your guitar riff first is a solid approach for creating interesting musical ideas. To do this, simply choose a note to begin with, turn on a metronome (Google: “online metronome”) and map out a rhythm. As you are writing a rhythm for your guitar riff, pay close attention to the feeling of tension and release. To create “tension” in your guitar riff, focus on playing in between the beat, faster rhythms or more complex combinations of rhythm. To create a sense of “release” in your guitar riff, focus on playing more straight forward/basic rhythms and playing “on beat”. Additionally, notice how the riff feels when you end it on one of the main beats by holding out a long note versus ending it abruptly in between one of the main beats.
Using A “Motif” To Write Guitar Riffs
One of the most useful ideas to understand in order to create great guitar riffs is the concept of a “motif”. A motif is a short musical idea (usually only consisting of a few notes) that characterizes a melody. A motif is built upon to create an entire melody (or write guitar riffs in this case) and often is repeated several times. Popular examples of a motif could include the following:
- The first 4 power chords in the intro to “Master Of Puppets” by Metallica.
- During Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”, the first 7 notes or so after the wah wah intro.
- The first 8 notes in the intro to “The Evil That Men Do” by Iron Maiden.
- The opening line in Steve Vai’s “Tender Surrender”. Also notice how this short motif is used with variation at various times throughout the song.
Using a motif is a great way to structure a guitar riff together by using repeated notes/rhythm to unify the musical idea. You can also use a motif throughout a song (either in the same riff or different riffs) in different variations as a way to give more ‘unity’ to the sound of a song as a whole.
In order to make your own motif for a new guitar riff, try the following approach:
Start by choosing a scale/key, chord(s) or power chord(s) that you want your guitar riff to be in. Next choose a few notes that you want to really emphasize. For example, let’s say you want to make your riff with the notes of the A minor scale (A B C D E F G). Then you decide that you want to emphasize the notes A B G. Also note that you do not ‘have to’ use only the notes of a specific scale, feel free to experiment with any note you like if it sounds good to you. Also, if you are more comfortable simply playing a familiar pattern on guitar (but don’t know the notes), you can also use that in your approach.
Now focus more on a rhythmic pattern. You might try using just one note to come up with an interesting rhythm (as described earlier) or see how all the notes you chose feel together. Additionally, experiment by holding different notes longer (focusing more on them) and filling in the space between the notes you want to emphasize by repeating the other notes you have chosen (or using alternate ones). At some point, you may even use variation on the motif by playing it with slightly different note rhythms, different pitches (ex: moving them up or down a whole step) or with harmony from a separate guitar part.
It is common for motifs to be used as the first half of a guitar riff, with a different idea in the second half; however, you are not limited to this approach. For example, consider using a motif to write a guitar riff, then write something totally different and finish off the riff with the opening motif.
Structuring A Guitar Riff
As you write your guitar riff it is important to be thinking about how the riff is structured and how it feels in terms of tension and release (as discussed previously).
Many guitar riffs have a structure that contains a first half and a second half. This is a more straightforward approach that is easy to get into on first listen.
Example: The opening intro to “Kissing The Shadows” by Children of Bodom.
Guitar riffs can also be built as a continuous repeating idea that keeps the same rhythm but moves up or down in pitch after several measures. This approach is great for making a transition to build to another section in a song or connect two guitar riffs together.
Example: “Enigmatic Mission” by Pagan’s Mind (guitar riff at 1:29 – 1:34)
Guitar riffs can also become more complex; consisting of a main motif with a variety of different fills. Additionally, guitar riffs are sometimes created one after the other with or without similar musical ideas/motifs. The more complex the riff is in terms of how it is structured, the more potential it has to be very interesting to the listener and/or take the listener more time to “get into it”.
Example: “Morphing Into Nothing” by Andromeda (0:00 – 0:37)
Consider each of the types of riffs discussed above (and any combination of them) as you put your riff together and how they would work in the context of the song you want to write.
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