riffage
Repeated guitar phrases
Riffage is the collective riffs in a piece of music, especially heavy or repeated guitar patterns in rock and metal.
The word emphasizes quantity or quality of riffs as a feature worth noting: The album delivers relentless riffage from start to finish, That song is pure riffage.
Sometimes used appreciatively for any music built on strong, driving instrumental hooks.
Twisting from original state
- shredTorn fragment
- licksTongue strokes
- fretboardStringed instrument's neck face
- arpeggiosChord notes played individually
bends · vibrato · harmonics · tapping · strumming · chords · solos · tablature
Hard conductive solid
- grungeAccumulated dirt or filth
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
- prog-rockAmbitious, complex popular music
- headbangingViolent rhythmic skull movement
moshpit · anthem · stadium · gig · festival · heavy · shredding · thrash
Curved catching device
- motifRecurring thematic element
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- repetitionAct of redoing
- variationChange from a norm
structure · arrangement · melody · rhythm · pattern · progression · sequence · turnaround
Narrow cut or routine
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- basslineLow-register musical foundation
- drummingPercussive rhythm-making
ensemble · rehearsal · musicianship · dynamics · interplay · vamping · looping · call-and-response
distortion
Twisting from original state
arpeggios · bends · vibrato · harmonics · tapping · strumming · chords · solos · tablature · pickups
metal
Hard conductive solid
headbanging · moshpit · anthem · stadium · gig · festival · heavy · shredding · thrash · doom
hook
Curved catching device
- motifRecurring thematic element
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- repetitionAct of redoing
variation · structure · arrangement · melody · rhythm · pattern · progression · sequence · turnaround · intro
groove
Narrow cut or routine
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- basslineLow-register musical foundation
drumming · ensemble · rehearsal · musicianship · dynamics · interplay · vamping · looping · call-and-response · soloing
riffagesoloing
Performing without accompaniment
guitar solo · lead guitar · improvisation · noodling · shredding
riffageambience
Pervading mood of place
atmospherics · drone · soundscapes · minimalism · delicacy