A Riff and a Lick

Riff

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt

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A short, repeated phrase in popular music or jazz, riff  may be a shortened version of refrain. 

Well. I was going to find some riffs on You Tube and share them with you, but in order to do that I’d have to post some stuff that I really dislike. No offense intended to anyone who enjoys hard rock. It’s just not my shtick. You’ll find plenty of examples if you want to do your own search.

I think the distinguishing feature is that they are instantly recognizable, especially to followers of the genre. Even for those of us who aren’t, we’ve probably all heard certain introductions or breaks that stay in one’s mind like an ear worm.

I always wondered where the word riff came from, and what was the difference between a riff and a lick. So now I’ve learned that a lick is usually associated with a single-note melodic line, while a riff is a progression of chords.  I understand that, and I’m glad I know the difference now 🙂

Here’s one of the very best:

 

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/riff/

 

 

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