writing lead riffs on guitar

[gibsonman246]

so when ever i sit down to write a song, i can usually come up with some pretty good rhythms, but then i always have trouble coming up with a solid riff to put over it. i just cant find what sounds good, and when i find something, it worry if there can be something better, because i'm using it cause it works. any suggestions how to get better at this?

[SamKS]

Determine the key of the chord progression / song and just use the notes in the same key as that.

[remoteCONTROL]

music theory

[OveriseFan]

Determine the key of the chord progression / song and just use the notes in the same key as that.

Not that simple...

music theory

and yeah - if you learn theory, it will help immensely. The start, Sam was right, is to "use the notes in the same key" as the chord progression - but not every note will work always. People will tell you that pentatonic scales work over every chord - but that's not exactly true either.

My advice, whilst learning music theory, is to listen. How do your favorite bands do it? Learn their riffs AND their chord progressions - and learn how they fit together. You can start using their techniques in your own songwriting, because I promise with some work, you'll "get it".

[chrisstahl]

It'll click one day.

[Sal]

I have the opposite problem. I suck at writing rhythms. I think it's because I'm too worried about writing something that sounds like something else.

When it comes to writing guitar riffs/melodies over rhythms, I just listen over and over and kinda start humming different shit in my head, until something sounds good.

[harveyn590]

Best way is music theory. Im not good at this but learning.

You can learn the different chord shapes/arpeggios that apply to each chord within the key and this will give you a better idea of what notes will sound good.

One good thing to remember may be this;

For each scale degree here is the what kind of chord it is in a major scale

1st- Major
2nd-Minor
3rd- Minor
4th- Major
5th- Dominant/Major works too
6th- Minor
7th- Diminished

[steviestare]

If you already have the ability and keep writing things and then scrapping them, don't scrap them. Keep with them. You'll probably think of ways to change them slightly after playing them for a while and you'll end up with something you like.

[OveriseFan]

Best way is music theory. Im not good at this but learning.

You can learn the different chord shapes/arpeggios that apply to each chord within the key and this will give you a better idea of what notes will sound good.

One good thing to remember may be this;

For each scale degree here is the what kind of chord it is in a major scale

1st- Major
2nd-Minor
3rd- Minor
4th- Major
5th- Dominant/Major works too
6th- Minor
7th- Diminished

"Dominant" isn't the quality of the chord - major is. So the 5th (or dominant) chord is still a major chord. You can't say "Play a G Dominant" chord.

Dominant refers to what degree chord it is, so the 5th scale degree, building a triad off of that, makes the "dominant" in the key. However, there's some ways to go out of key and still build a "dominant" chord (i.e. a chord that resolves to the tonic, or I, sounding like an authentic cadence [V chord directly followed by a I chord.].)

The reason I mention it at all is to make sure you're not mixing up Dominant with Augmented - I don't think you are - but I felt the need to mention it. An augmented chord is built with two major thirds. (i.e. a "C augmented chord" would be C-E-G#)

[The Boathouse]

I'm fairly certain you can, in fact "play a dominant chord." I know the jazz guys I used to play sax with spoke of them, and it was generally just shorthand for "dominant 7th chord." So keep that in mind. The chord is constructed on the dominant degree of a scale, the fifth degree, and is made of a major triad with a minor 7th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominant_seventh_chord

[OveriseFan]

I'm fairly certain you can, in fact "play a dominant chord." I know the jazz guys I used to play sax with spoke of them, and it was generally just shorthand for "dominant 7th chord." So keep that in mind. The chord is constructed on the dominant degree of a scale, the fifth degree, and is made of a major triad with a minor 7th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominant_seventh_chord

A V7 chord, not a V chord. Thanks for the heads up though, and you're right.

I originally had it in my post - then changed my mind because I felt like I was just being an obnoxious theory-nerd. Good call though.

[SamKS]

Usually the notes in that same key as your chord progression will work if it doesn't then even the untrained ear will be able to notice so that shouldn't be a problem. I have no full understanding of music theory one bit but I have most of the common keys and the notes in them memorized and If I don't know one I can look it up online in a second.

I'd say a healthy start is learning how to determine the key of a progression (which is pretty easy). It's USUALLY, and I say usually, the first note of the progression. If not I usually go by the note that sounds right the whole way through the progression.

With these techniques I've never had any problems and I've been writing songs for a while now.

But if you want to do it the right way learn theory, I really need to get on that.

[darkpelican]

This question is so broad, you can go about it in many ways. In this pop punk genre of music, a lot of the riffs are just based around the I chord of the key and suspending it in various keys. Another key is to take from what the bass suggests, your chords essentially have root movement which creates a melody. Experiment, perhaps create a melody line that creates counterpoint, Or notice which notes change in the chords and emphasize them. A large part of it comes from experience and practice, its really limitless. A good start is to learn basic music theory. A good riff is essentially a melody in a sense, listen to what the singer is singing, try to play his melody, harmonize, play another counter melody over it. I suggest googling basic music theory, counterpoint, voice leading, suspensions (used a lot in this form of music), and the basic tendencies of melodies (Usually go step wise, with occasional skips). Another very good way to force inspiration is to try to write on something foreign to you. This can consist of a piano, an alternately tuned guitar, anything. Your fingers have tendencies to go places, and sometimes writing melodies on something unknown can help you break out of these boxes. Learn the notes of the chords, and learn to resolve melodic phrases on chord tones for the most part. The magic part of song writing, is a part always comes to you naturally, a starting point, a melody, a chord progression, hell even a line. What separates the good song writers from those who are not is knowing when to feel things out, and plan them out. After you get this basic inspiration, this basic starting point, you should go into a more scientific mindset and plan using a more theoretical mind based on music theory. When you are feeling something, ALWAYS go with it, only go into this more academic mindset when you are not getting any ideas.

Good luck on your riffing.

[Heroin Robot]

This question is so broad, you can go about it in many ways. In this pop punk genre of music, a lot of the riffs are just based around the I chord of the key and suspending it in various keys. Another key is to take from what the bass suggests, your chords essentially have root movement which creates a melody. Experiment, perhaps create a melody line that creates counterpoint, Or notice which notes change in the chords and emphasize them. A large part of it comes from experience and practice, its really limitless. A good start is to learn basic music theory. A good riff is essentially a melody in a sense, listen to what the singer is singing, try to play his melody, harmonize, play another counter melody over it. I suggest googling basic music theory, counterpoint, voice leading, suspensions (used a lot in this form of music), and the basic tendencies of melodies (Usually go step wise, with occasional skips). Another very good way to force inspiration is to try to write on something foreign to you. This can consist of a piano, an alternately tuned guitar, anything. Your fingers have tendencies to go places, and sometimes writing melodies on something unknown can help you break out of these boxes. Learn the notes of the chords, and learn to resolve melodic phrases on chord tones for the most part. The magic part of song writing, is a part always comes to you naturally, a starting point, a melody, a chord progression, hell even a line. What separates the good song writers from those who are not is knowing when to feel things out, and plan them out. After you get this basic inspiration, this basic starting point, you should go into a more scientific mindset and plan using a more theoretical mind based on music theory. When you are feeling something, ALWAYS go with it, only go into this more academic mindset when you are not getting any ideas.

Good luck on your riffing.

good advice, it helped me