Riff: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used in rock, jazz, and blues music to describe a short, repeated musical phrase or pattern that is catchy and memorable.

• The guitarist played a killer riff that got stuck in everyone's head.
• That song has an amazing riff that makes you want to listen to it over and over.

Commonly used in the context of guitar and other string instruments to describe a short series of notes that showcases skill. It is often improvised during solos.

• She played an impressive guitar lick during her solo.
• I've been practicing this blues lick all week.

In music, a phrase is a sequence of notes that are perceived as a single coherent unit, similar to a sentence in language. It is often a segment of a larger piece.

• The pianist played a beautifully phrased opening to the concerto.
• Try to connect those notes into a smooth phrase.

Used in both music and literature to describe a recurring idea, theme, or element that has symbolic significance. In music, it often refers to a distinct, recurring musical idea within a composition.

• The motif of heroism is consistently highlighted throughout the book.
• That piece of classical music has a haunting violin motif.

In music and literature, a theme is the central subject or idea that recurs throughout the work. In music, it often refers to the main melody or section of a piece.

• The film's theme is instantly recognizable.
• The main theme of the symphony repeats several times throughout the movements.

Used when talking about a short, repeated musical phrase often found in rock, jazz, and blues music. It also can be used in a broader sense to describe repeating a theme or idea.

• The guitarist played an amazing riff during the solo
• They kept riffing on the idea until they found a solution

Used when creating music, dialogue, or plans spontaneously without preparation. Often used in artistic and performance contexts as well as in everyday problem-solving.

• The comedian had to improvise his entire set when the power went out
• The jazz band started to improvise after the main song ended

Used informally to describe playing music together in a relaxed, spontaneous setting, often in a group. It can also refer to a casual get-together.

• The musicians like to jam every Friday night
• We had a great jam session last night; everyone was in sync

Used when experimenting or having fun with music, ideas, or objects without a specific goal. It has a casual and exploratory connotation.

• Let's play around with these chords and see what sounds good
• The kids were just playing around with the new app