Ostinato#Riff
Reef is in music a short, concise melodic- rhythmic melody figure that is characterized by constant ostinato repetition of a two - or four-bar melody sequencing and provided with a high recognition value.
General
The harmony use of various methods to optimize the sound of a composition. Riffs are a way to ensure, through repetition for voltage and recognition. Even with a change of harmony of the reef remains largely unchanged. Its frequent repetition affects voltage -enhancing and can increase the memory ability of the listener to the catchy tune. Together with the hook, it ensures the recognition value for the success of a song of extraordinary importance. Its counterpart in the rhythm is called Groove.
Word origin
The etymology of this anglicism is unclear. Supposedly used by musicians since 1917, it is defined lexically since 1935 as " melodic phrase in jazz ". Possibly this is also an abbreviation of riffle ( mix ) or from chorus. It is also conceivable that it is derived from the English speaking theater where riffing fireworks witty remarks on a subject referred to, ie the expansion of individual thoughts in a structured sequence. As a genus of the word reef long time in the German dictionary Duden masculine ( the reef ) was specified.
History
Riffs are not an invention of jazz. They were structurally already used in classical music, but there were named motif or simply ostinato. The Passacaglia for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach includes a repeating bass theme on which to base the whole, resulting 1706-1713 work. The most famous " classic riff " is certainly the opening motif of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with the distinctive three -eighths on G, which in the same dynamics (Fortissimo ) an elongated follows. The note sequence was so famous by Beethoven in the spring of 1808 finished work, that she was often adapted into paraphrases ( Ekseption May 1969 and the intro with Roll Over Beethoven by Electric Light Orchestra, January 1973, and the number -one hit A Fifth of Beethoven by Walter Murphy May 1976).
Riffs appeared for the first time seen as significant figure of sound in jazz Jelly Roll Morton's Black Bottom Stomp (recorded on 15 September 1926) on. Here is a break the rhythm section is used in order to accommodate a cornet solo by George Mitchell; the reef early jazz was born. In Kansas City jazz bands played often riff- oriented. Here Benny Moten riffs built into his blues - oriented jazz with Toby (13 December 1932), of which took over in New York, Benny Goodman, the idea of the reef. Prominent for Goodman Bugle Call Rag of a clarinet reef (16 August 1934). Count Basie Swinging the Blues (16 February 1938) contains a two-measure riff, while Basie's One O'Clock Jump (July 7, 1937) and Charlie Parker Cool Blues (19 February 1947) included a four-stroke reef.
Shape and characteristics
While in classical music, a reef was largely sung by string sections, guitars, saxophones, keyboards and brass sections are mostly responsible for riffs in jazz, blues, rock and roll and pop music. Typically in rock music is often a constantly repeated bass figure ( " basso ostinato "; obstinate bass), with soul music and disco riffs were reduced to two - or one-bar motifs. Conspicuous riffs in rock music are already present in the intro (Whole Lotta Love, Smoke on the Water). In arrangements for big bands of the reef is often presented in unison. Especially popular are riffs in the blues - related music styles such as blues rock and hard rock and also in metal. There they are usually two, four or more bars long and consist of single tones or two sounds (often open fifths ), known in rock music and pop music as power chords.
Voltage is generated that the apparent monotony of the often-repeated riffs is canceled by harmonic change again. The reef is to separate in jazz improvisation of the melody of the group because it usually does not repetitive phrases. A reef is always a thematic component which, although rhythmically oriented, but not revealed to the rhythm of a piece of music. Thus, the rhythmic function of the reef becomes clear what is expressed also at Holmes; for it is a " jazz riff a constantly repeated melodic means having a main rhythm function." While riffs were used to play more in the background, they came already during the swing era to the forefront of intonation.
In many cases, the riff of the lead guitar ( Smoke on the Water), from the bass guitar ( Another One Bites the Dust, Queen) or played by two ( Day Tripper ). In Soul often take on the brass riff (I Feel Good also known as I Got You by James Brown). More rarely, a reef with keyboards ( Jump by Van Halen or The Final Countdown by Europe). A good reef features - beyond all theoretical considerations - always through its " immediacy ", which draws the listener into its spell.
We distinguish between a reef from the ostinato rhythm of the accompaniment, which is based on decreasing melodic differentiation and constant repetition. The ostinato accompaniment pattern is used as an accompaniment of the singing voice and has no autonomy as riffs. Examples of riffs that are used to accompany the singing voice are I Feel Fine and Day Tripper by The Beatles, Come as You Are by Nirvana, Weezer Hash Pipe or Whatever You Want by Status Quo.
Examples
A purely instrumental riff is often built as an intro or transition between verse and chorus in one piece. Well-known examples are:
- "The Peter Gunn Theme " Henry Mancini's theme music for the television series Peter Gunn ( August 1959 )
- (I Can not Get No ) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones (May 1965),
- Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple ( April 1973),
- Walk This Way by Aerosmith ( August 1975 )
- Axel F, the " Beverly Hills Cop Theme" by Harold Faltermeyer Beverly Hills Cop from the movie - I soluble in the event in any case ( March 1985),
- Money for Nothing by Dire Straits (June 1985)
- Enter Sandman by Metallica (July 1991)
- Zero by The Smashing Pumpkins ( April 1996),
- One Step Closer by Linkin Park ( September 2000),
- Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes (March 2003).