riff

A riff is a short, repeated musical figure, usually melodic or rhythmic, that recurs throughout a song and helps establish its character or groove. In popular music, a guitar riff is often the most recognizable element, a distinctive line that recurs in verses and choruses and serves as a hook for the listener. Riffs can be based on scales or chords and may be melodic, rhythmic, or a combination, frequently featuring repeated notes, syncopation, and a driving pulse.

Riffs function as an ostinato or structural device, guiding the form and providing momentum. They appear across styles including rock, metal, funk, pop, jazz, and hip-hop, and can be played by guitars, basses, keyboards, or horns. A riff may be repeated with variations, developed in different sections, or interwoven with chord progressions.

Distinguishing terms: a motif is a short musical idea that can be freely developed, while a riff is a motif that is deliberately repeated and emphasized as a core element. A lick is a short improvisational phrase, and a hook is any memorable melodic idea; a riff may function as a hook.

Origin and usage: the term entered American slang in the 1930s to describe a short, repeating musical figure in jazz and popular music, though exact etymology is uncertain and usage has since broadened.

Examples: well-known guitar riffs include the opening line of Deep Purple’s "Smoke on the Water," Guns N’ Roses’ "Sweet Child o’ Mine," and The White Stripes’ "Seven Nation Army," each widely recognized for its introductory riff.