A lick is different from the related concept of a riff, as riffs can include repeated chord progressions. Licks are more often associated with single-note melodic lines than with chord progressions. However, like riffs, licks can be the basis of an entire song.
While a riff is designed to set the vibe, a lick is used to showcase the skills of a guitarist by standing out. Unlike riffs, licks allow a guitarist to perform solos or improvise on an established melodic line of the song. While riffs go down as memorable, licks might not necessarily have the same staying power.
A fill is a guitar figure meant to fill a space. A riff is a repetitive guitar figure that forms part of the structure of the song. A lick is an expressive, usually short, phrase of music that often responds to the singer.
A guitar lick is a short phrase of notes played on guitar that appears, usually one or two times in a song, often as a unique motif that's intended to embellish rhythmic and melodic ideas or fill out a solo.
Lick vs Riff
A Lick generally refers to a short musical pattern usually played by one musician or it can serve as a short improvisation by a soloist. It is an original idea. A Riff, on the other hand, is more a recurring musical pattern and it is usually rhythmic.
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompaniment of a musical composition.
“Smoke on the Water” has enjoyed widespread popularity since 1972, when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore conjured what is possibly the world's most famous guitar riff ever.
The term "The Lick" was coined by an eponymous Facebook group in the 2010s and popularized by a YouTube video assembled from clips from the group by professor Alex Heitlinger in 2011.
A riff in music, a riff is a repeated sequence of notes or chords. A guitar riff is often catchy and helps give structure and character to a piece of music. Riffs most commonly appear in rock, funk, jazz, and Latin music, though they can be found in almost any genre of music.
It's origins can be traced back to 1932 in reference to jazz but it's very likely it was first used in the 1920's. The word 'lick' can mean “a small amount” so it's possible it was originally used in terms of the guitar as a small amount of playing or small number of notes.
What's a riff. A riff is a short, repeated, phrase on the guitar that could contain single notes, chords, or a mix of both. The goal of a riff is to be memorable.
So what's the difference between a hook and a riff? The riff is a short and catchy melodic idea and it recurs so often that it gives character and structure to a song. The hook is any part of a song that is meant to grab the listener's attention.
The main difference between a guitar lick and a guitar riff is how a melody or idea is used. If the idea is a key part of the song, it's a guitar riff. If it's a once-off idea that is part of a solo, it's a lick.
A riff is a progression of notes, usually played on top of some chords (could be played a capella, could be played over one chord, could be anything). There isn't any rule that specifies how long a riff is. A riff could be half a measure, could be 3, could be 6. A chord progression is a progression of chords.
Technically speaking, a riff is not specific to the guitar. It can be played on any instrument. It is a musical phrase that repeats over and over (also known as an ostinato). Usually, an instrument will repeat a short phrase (riff), while other instruments play different melodies over the top.
lick (v. 1)
Old English liccian "to pass the tongue over the surface, lap, lick up," from Proto-Germanic *likkon (source also of Old Saxon likkon, Dutch likken, Old High German lecchon, German lecken, Gothic bi-laigon), from PIE root *leigh- "to lick."
Synonyms: taste, lap, tongue, touch More Synonyms of lick. Lick is also a noun.
On social media, lick is primarily a synonym for "theft." For example, an office worker might post "check out this lick" alongside a photo of supplies they stole from their office. You may also see lick used to mean "an easy mark" or "a (likely illegal) side hustle," but those meanings are less common than "theft."
Despite its popularity, the Stairway to Heaven riff has become known as the “forbidden riff” due to its complicated and controversial copyright history. The Stairway to Heaven riff was written by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in 1971.
Single-line riffs or licks used as the basis of Western classical music pieces are called ostinatos. Contemporary jazz writers also use riff- or lick-like ostinatos in modal music and Latin jazz.
Each of the black keys on piano is either called a sharp or a flat depending on the context.
Riffs can be singular notes that form lines of melody, or harmonies that are played with multiple notes that are played at the same time. Chord progressions aren't riffs, but sequences of power chords, which are simplified versions of chords, can sometimes be interpreted as riffs.