When is a riff not a riff?

Subject: RE: When is a riff not a riff?
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Dec 25 - 02:28 PM

Nobody mentioned the chorus.
In Contra & Irish Set dancing they often refer to verse & chorus.
But no riff or raff.

Subject: RE: When is a riff not a riff?
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Dec 25 - 04:12 PM

The opening of Day Tripper.

Subject: RE: When is a riff not a riff?
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 23 Dec 25 - 05:19 PM

Paperback Writer

Some famous Country Music riffs-
Mama Tried by Merle Haggard (Roy Nichols gtr.)
Honky Tonk Man by Johnny Horton (? gtr.)
Big River by Johnny Cash (Luther Perkins gtr.)

Subject: RE: When is a riff not a riff?
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 23 Dec 25 - 05:33 PM

... and that opening riff of Oh Well by Fleetwood Mac from the Peter Green era. Maybe the heaviest one ever. Gary Moore wound up with Green's   Les Paul as his main ax for quite awhile.

Subject: RE: When is a riff not a riff?
From: PHJim
Date: 24 Dec 25 - 01:32 AM

I think of a riff as a repeated phrase that can be used over more than one set of chord changes. Sometimes the final note will vary.
I have a bunch of four bar riffs that I use three times for a 12-bar blues.