Word
riff
US/ˈɹɪf/
UK/ɹˈɪf/
Definitions
01music
n. a short, catchy part of a song that is repeated many times.
n. a short, repeated melodic or rhythmic phrase, often serving as the hook or foundation of a track.
“The guitarist played a famous riff that everyone in the crowd recognized immediately.”
“The song is built around a heavy, distorted bass riff that provides a dark foundation for the ethereal vocals.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'play', 'write', or 'create'.
03to improvise
v. to talk or perform freely by building on an idea or a theme.
v. to perform or speak in an improvisational manner, typically by expanding upon a specific topic or motif.
“The comedian started to riff on the strange decorations in the hotel lobby.”
“During the interview, the director began to riff on the future of cinema, moving effortlessly from technical specs to philosophical questions.”
Informal
Usage
Usually takes the preposition 'on'.
Real-World Examples
“On The Singer in My Band, however, he swaps that for twangy guitar riffs, crumpled Elliott Smith-esque singalongs and a surprising amount of sunshine.” “In the space downstairs, it’s all hyper-referential, full of riffs on Brancusi and Hepworth.” Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/riff