A short repeated musical phrase or figure.
a jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation
a musical pattern or phrase that is repeated by one voice while a soloist improvises a melody
an oral or written improvisation with the phrase or approach repeated so as to become a kind of signature
a prominent feature of jazz music
a repeated rhythmic figure that suggests interesting harmonic ideas to the soloists
a series of short rhythmic or melodic patterns, usually only played for a few bars or sporadically, and sometimes used in a kind of call and response pattern
a short phrase of notes, not always, but usually in the lower register of the guitar
a short piece of music which you never get of sick no matter how many times you play it or hear it
A repeated melodic phrase
(1) A relatively simple, catchy repeated phrase. May be played behind a soloist or as part of a head. Often in a bluesy style. Riff tunes are made up of riffs, characteristic of the black bands of the 30s. (2) A pre-packaged phrase used by an improviser when he can't think of anything else, especially one which is especially catchy.
A common word for a musical motif or phrase, especially popular with guitarists and keyboard players.
A melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.
a jazz term denoting a repeated musical phrase
A short melodic phrase, one or two measures long, played repetitively.
A short melody repeatedly played in a tune (sometimes with variation) often between vocal lines.
A short musical phrase (melody). Also called a "lick".
A short melodic musical idea that is repeated in a song.
Short fragment of melody, usually repeated many times.
A catchy pattern of notes.
A musical phrase, usually repeated for a whole section of a song, which gives the song its flavour and sometimes its hook . Rifts are most frequently played on guitar and/or bass, occasionally on other instruments.
In music, a riff is an ostinato figure: a repeated chord progression, pattern or melodic figure, often played by the rhythm section instruments, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition (Usually rock music, Latin, Funk or jazz, but also occasionally classically orchestrated music, Ravel's Boléro being an obvious example). They can be as simple as repeated saxophone honking an entire chorus on a single exciting note by Big Jay Mc Neely or as complex as the head arrangements played by the Count Basie Orchestra.
