Creating the perfect riff, under any circumstances, is an art in itself. In essence a riff is a set of musical notes, assigned a specific melody and rhythm, which is often incredibly catchy. Some of the most identifiable riffs from musical history have become earworms of the highest order. When discussing his guitar playing in a recent interview, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones said that a solo lasts for a moment, whereas a riff lasts forever. Think about all the great guitar riffs which have emanated from Nile Rodgers over the years, beginning with the likes of Good Times or Freak Out, from his early years with Chic. ’80s pop icons A-ha came up with one of the most iconic synth riffs of all time through their hit Take On Me. But it is worth considering your options, and trying to make a riff which is a little more sympathetic to a track, and may well run the duration. In constructing the perfect riff, think about the chords you have in play within your production, and take some of the key notes from those chords, adding rhythmic interest, while following your chord progression. We live for the perfect riff, and with the tutorial on the previous pages, we have the perfect sound to support one!
A-ha’s Take On Me has one of the most iconic synth riffs of all time