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Image credits. Word of the Day kind-hearted. About this. Blog Outsets and onsets! Read More. November 08, To top. English American Examples Translations. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge. Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes. Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans. Sign up now or Log in. Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English.
Terms such as hook and riff are really useful as they allow us to think and to talk about the parts of our music. The problem is that without a clear definition, these terms tend to be a little hazy, especially amongst newcomers in music theory.
The riff is a short and catchy melodic idea and it recurs so often that it gives character and structure to a song.
Almost all of music of any style is composed of smaller parts that come together to make a bigger whole. These parts can be broken down further and further into shorter and shorter musical ideas. Typically, a riff displays these characteristics:. All in all, the riff is such a prominent element of the song that it becomes essential to its character and, very importantly, to its structure. Popular riffs tend to become what a song is known for.
The examples that are written for the guitar include guitar tab. This song from is entirely based on its riff. The riff not only begins the song but keeps going all throughout. Even the vocal line is based on it. The riff is absolutely integral to the song. A little variety comes in verse 2 as the riff goes up by a step and then in the chorus as it goes up by 5 steps.
As you listen to the song, notice that the vocal line in the chorus is practically the riff itself and that the guitar solo is accompanied by the riff too. Links in this lesson open a new tab. After a short introduction with the guitar imitating the singing, this 1-bar riff comes in and never lets go.
So the riff is not just prominent but essential to the character and the structure of the song. In this example, like the previous one, we can almost say that the riff is the song. Link to Mannish Boy on YouTube. This rap hit from features this 2-bar riff almost all throughout. It begins the song, accompanies the verses, the chorus and the bridge.
The simplicity of the recurring idea keeps the song going, makes it coherent and in my opinion, makes it memorable. There are 2 short moments where riff is not heard: just after the first chorus and at the very end. As you listen to the song notice that because we expect to hear it, its absence makes an emotional impact.
Link to song on YouTube. This song from is composed of 3 sections almost like a classical ABA form. First, we get this riff accompanying a couple of verses and choruses. Then we get a middle section consisting of sound effects and a guitar solo, and finally a return to the riff as a basis for the verse and the chorus. The return of the riff is a return to something extremely familiar because we heard it so many times.
As you listen to the song from the link below , notice how the second section provides contrast in a variety of ways:. Link to the song on YouTube. This riff from is another popular one. This time, the riff is not repeated all throughout the song like an ostinato. This is an example of a song where the chorus itself is overshadowed by the main riff.
Truly amazing! The previous hooks we looked at are all instrumental, but there are plenty of other types of hooks to consider. This is another song that successfully captured the zeitgeist of 80s rock, but it endures to the present day. Right, Tony? In the right hand, you outline each power chord with a simple bouncing pattern, and in the left, you have a straightforward bass line that meanders up and down the E major scale. Neither part is particularly memorable on its own, but when you put it together, you have an intro to one of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Then as the song goes on, the piano bass line becomes an electric guitar hook and brings a LOT of energy to the song! These are just some of the different instruments and vocal parts you could use for hooks in your own songs. In coming up with songs to feature for this post, I was able to find dozens of songs with memorable instrumental hooks!
Check some of them out and see if they give you any ideas for hooks that you can incorporate into your next song! Without getting into complex concepts like counterpoint or countermelodies , simply think about how different instruments can work together as building blocks for a full song arrangement.
In virtually every case, songs start with an intro hook. These hooks feature an interesting melody, rhythm, or both. If you have a solid chord progression , you can mess around with changing up your riff over different chords, or maybe use your riff as the accompaniment.
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