Editing Riff (section)

== Riff-driven ==

The term "riff-driven" is used to describe a piece of music that relies on a repeated instrumental riff as the basis of its most prominent melody, [[cadence (music)|cadence]], or (in some cases) [[leitmotif]]. Riff-driven songs are largely a product of [[jazz]], [[blues]], and post-blues era music (rock and pop).<ref name="RollingStoneIllustratedHistory">{{cite book |title = The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll |edition = 3 Sub |last = Rolling Stone |year = 1992 |publisher = Random House |page = 61 |isbn = 978-0679737285}}</ref> The musical goal of riff-driven songs is akin to the classical ''[[Basso continuo|continuo]]'' effect, but raised to much higher importance (in fact, the repeated riff is used to anchor the song in the ears of the listener). The riff/continuo is brought to the forefront of the musical piece and often is the primary melody that remains in the listener's ears. A ''[[call and response (music)|call and response]]'' often holds the song together, creating a "circular" rather than linear feel.<ref name="Blackwell">{{cite book |title = Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture |edition = Paperback |last = Horner, Bruce (Editor), Swiss, Thomas (Editor) |year = 1999 |publisher = Blackwell Publishing Limited |isbn = 978-0-631-21264-5 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/keytermsinpopula0000unse/page/143 143] |url = https://archive.org/details/keytermsinpopula0000unse/page/143}}</ref>

Who recorded the first riff-driven rock and roll song is contested, but very early examples include the playing by [[René Hall]] on [[Ritchie Valens]]’ 1958 version of [[La Bamba (song)|"La Bamba"]] (on a Danelectro six-string bass guitar),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tims.blackcat.nl/messages/rene_hall.htm | title=René Hall }}</ref> as well as [[Link Wray]]'s 1958 instrumental record "[[Rumble (instrumental)|Rumble]]."

A few examples of classic rock riff-driven songs are "[[Whole Lotta Love]]" and "[[Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)|Black Dog]]" by [[Led Zeppelin]],<ref name="Susanfast">{{cite book |title = In the house of the Holy: Led Zeppelin and the power of Rock Music |edition = 1 |last = Fast |first = Susan |display-authors=etal |year = 2001 |publisher = [[Oxford University Press]] |isbn = 0-19-511756-5 |pages = 33 |quote = The song (Black Dog) represents a defining moment in the genre of hard rock, combining the elements of speed, power, an artful and metrically clever riff}}</ref><ref name="Greatestsongs">{{cite web |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/67808/greatest-songs-ever-black-dog.html |title=The Greatest Songs Ever! Black Dog |access-date=March 2, 2010 |work=[[Blender Magazine]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530073915/http://www.blender.com/guide/67808/greatest-songs-ever-black-dog.html |archive-date=May 30, 2009 }}</ref> "[[Day Tripper]]" by [[The Beatles]],<ref name=NME>{{cite news |title=50 Greatest Guitar Riffs Of All Time |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/50-greatest-guitar-riffs-of-all-time-1406949 |access-date=29 January 2019 |work=NME |date=October 25, 2012}}</ref> "[[Brown Sugar (Rolling Stones song)|Brown Sugar]]" and "[[(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction]]" by [[The Rolling Stones]],<ref name="AllMusicGuide">{{cite book |title = All Music Guide to the Blues |last = Bogdanov |first = Vladimir |display-authors=etal |year = 2003 |publisher = Backbeat Books |isbn = 0-87930-736-6 |page = 477}}</ref> "[[Smoke on the Water]]" by [[Deep Purple]],<ref name=NME/><ref name=Chilton>{{cite news |last1=Chilton |first1=Martin |title=15 Of The Best Guitar Riffs |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-guitar-riffs/ |access-date=29 January 2019 |work=Udiscovermusic |date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> "[[Back in Black (song)|Back in Black]]" by [[AC/DC]],<ref name=NME/><ref name=Chilton/> "[[Smells Like Teen Spirit]]" by [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]],<ref name=NME/><ref name=Chilton/> "[[Johnny B Goode]]" by [[Chuck Berry]],<ref name=NME/><ref name=Chilton/> "[[Back in the Saddle]]" by [[Aerosmith]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Michael|title=Top 10 Joe Perry Aerosmith Riffs |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/joe-perry-aerosmith-riffs/ |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=10 September 2014 |language=en}}</ref> and "[[You Really Got Me]]" by [[The Kinks]].<ref name=NME/><ref name=Chilton/>