by Ed Rawlings
I love guitar riffs. Great riffs encapsulate the chords, melody, and feel of a song. They are a force that propels the songs forward. A good song also tells a relatable story, but a great guitar rock and roll riff can draw people quickly into that story.
Sometimes, riffs are memorable guitar melodies, like The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” or Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” I particularly like riffs that are part chord, part melody, and are often as memorable as the lyrics, or maybe more so – like Chuck Berry’s opening riff for Johnny B. Goode – one of the classics of rock and the inspiration for many riffs to come.
Keith Richards is a master of chord/melody riffs and has always been a big influence on my guitar playing. Think of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Can you hear me knocking?”, “Tumbling Dice” or “Brown Sugar.” Other examples of great riffs include David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” (played by guitarist Alan Parker), U2’s The Edge on “I Will Follow,” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River” and “Fortunate Son,” played by John Fogerty.
Riffs are also a very natural part of instrumental rock music. One of the most memorable was the Ventures “Walk Don’t Run.” Other standouts include “Miserlou” by Dick Dale. Surf Bands are all about riffs – “Pipeline” or “Wipeout,” for example. Hank Marvin of The Shadows also created memorable guitar riffs, and “Apache” and “Midnight” stand out.
When I write songs, I often try to combine the chords and melody into something that can introduce and energize the songs. I first got into creating riffs in my San Francisco bands the Hostages and Die Bossa Nova – while backing singers. For my new instrumental album, A Foolish Inconsistency, several songs include chord/melody riffs: “Waiting for Something,” “Almost Home,” and my favorite, “Riff Raft.”
Great guitar riffs are at the heart of most rock and roll. They’re a glue that keeps everything concise and focused and keeps the song moving. I love that there are all these great influences to absorb and mold into something new. I’m grateful to have all these awesome riffs rocking and rolling around in my head. They have inspired me and my music, and I’m happy to be able to continue the tradition.
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