This lesson gives some tips on analysing riffs and how to create variations for your own use.
What Is A Riff?
A riff is a recurring musical motif used as a backdrop or even a main theme to a song or instrumental piece. Some riffs are easily recognisable as the main motif of a song – these can be played on bass alone or doubled up on guitar or keys. On the other hand, riffs can also be played in the background as a foundation for the melody to rest on top of.
Analysing riffs, licks and chord progressions is a great way to see how other songs work musically so you can create your own. It is important to remember that the main principles behind writing music are the same no matter what the style.
How To Analyse A Song
- Work out the general key. Don’t worry if you can’t work this out straight away as it may be easier once you have analysed the whole piece. However, knowing the key will make it easier to work out what is going on.
- Look at the chords being used. What notes are in each chord? Do they relate to the notes used in the riffs?
- Are there any scales that stand out? This will give you the pallet of notes used in the song.
- Find any chromatic notes that don’t fit in the scale. This will teach you how to use chromatic notes to create tension and release in your own songs.
Lucille – Little Richard 1957
- Features a walking bass line that sits in the background although is used as a hook at the beginning.
- The chord progression is a standard 12-bar blues.
- Is in the key of C, but the chords do not provide enough information to characterise the song as major or minor. (This is because the 12-bar blues progression traditionally contains three dominant chords to create that ‘bluesy feel’.
- The riff stays over a single chord instead of weaving between several. This makes it easy to pick up and move to a different chord.
- The notes used are strong chord tones that outline the harmony perfectly.
Chord Progression
C7 | C7 | C7 | C7
F7 | F7 | C7 | C7
G7 | F7 | C7 | C7
I | I | I | I
IV | IV | I | I
V | IV | I | I
Chord Tones
C7 – C E G Bb
F7 – F A C Eb
G7 – G B D F
Further Analysis
- The bluesy feel is created by the flat 7 in the dominant chords.
- Rhythmically, this riff is a consistent stream of eighth notes (quavers). This constant pump of notes gives the song its drive.
- There is a slight accent on the notes that fall on the kick drum to emphasise the groove and tie the rhythm section together.
I find it amazing to get this quality lesson for free. You do a great job explaining the info. thank you Bruce
Thanks Mark, a really great lesson.
Mark. You’re an amazing player and very thorough teacher. Thank you
Thank you, Mark! I can’t believe how far I’ve come by following your lesson format. I can’t get enough and I most definitely can’t put the bass down.
Another well thought out and understandable lesson, even for a novice like me. Any possibility of a .pdf sheet?
Really a great lesson for us sub genius types. Thanks for remembering that time is tough when you start. Great lesson.
can you tell me what you use to generate the drum practice tracks or are they included on your practice tracks? I am looking for something really simple simple and boxes like Beat Buddy seem too complicated, too many parts being played at one one. I like the ass drum and snare patterns you use. I am thinking that Band in a Box may take longer to get started with, but may be the only one that would do a 12 bar Blues and keep it to a simple pattern. Thanks. For me an $10 collection of Blues and Rock styles would be by far the best value in terms of cost and time learning things that I will not use often so if you ca just collect a few of the drum examples into a package, what would be great. Thanks
bass drum not ass drum in prev comment
Beginner at the age of 44, I find this lesson excellent for beginners (!), not for them to follow it or fully understand it but to encourage them forget the pain at their fingers trying to play just the C major scale at the first position. This lesson is a vision for beginners, holding them on the chair to keep trying!
Cheers, Man. Great Lesson, I’ve been learning loads from you. Started playing the bass as my first instrument last May and thanks to your lessons I’m starting to wrap my mind around chord progressions and actually playing songs. Can’t thank you enough. Keep up the fantastic work!
My friend- not only do you know your stuff around playing, you’re an excellent teacher, and believe me that l’m considered to be “cheap” in giving this specific compliment.. This lesson in particular revolves around what l initially termed “the grey area”, cos it’s not the black-or-white (strict theory) but it comes just as one understands all the black-and-white and wishes to go beyond.. Now, thanx to you, it is my favourite area :) cos all l ever wanted to do is simply play (e.g. not just pulling one or two strings, without the “soul” of it), and now l can really do it!
Keep up, you’re doing absolutely great ;-)
Cheers.