A bass guitar riff is a repeating pattern of notes played by the bassist. These are often the foundation of a song and help to give it its rhythm and melody.
The bass line from Green Day’s ‘Longview’ is a great example of a simple bass riff that beginners can practice to build their speed. This riff uses string slides and hammer-ons to play a repetitive melody.
Simple Riffs
A simple bass riff can be a great way to learn the basics of playing the instrument. It can also help you work on your finger positioning on the fretboard and improve your string sliding skills. You’ll also want to practice this riff at a slow tempo so that you can work on getting the transition from one set of strings to another smooth and without stumbling.
This bass riff is from the famous British Invasion song by The Kinks and it features the use of the full step interval, which means that you play the next note up on the fretboard by moving your index finger from the fifth fret to the 12th fret. This riff is also an opportunity to get familiar with the hammer-on pull-off technique, which can make a bass line sound really cool.
If you’re a fan of classic rock, then this is definitely a riff that you should check out. It’s easy to play, and it’ll give you a good idea of how to combine a basic chord progression with a bass line. This riff is also a great way to get familiar with the Mixolydian scale, which is the major scale with the last note lowered by half a step.
It’s always fun to try out a few of the most iconic bass lines from heavy metal and this is no exception. Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath created the genre of Heavy Metal and this is one of the most important riffs to learn if you want to play this style. It will also teach you how to use a pentatonic scale, which is one of the easiest ways to build bass lines that sound cool and unique.
This is a classic rock song that every bass player should learn, and it’s also an excellent opportunity to work on alternating between different strings. This riff is also a good example of a simple triad, which are three notes that you can play on the bass to outline a chord that’s played on another instrument. This is a great way to get started with learning how to build a basic bass line that can be used in any kind of music.
Complex Riffs
This type of riff uses chords and licks in different combinations to create intricate patterns that can help support the melody of a song. Riffs can be a very important tool in a bassist’s arsenal to create a unique sound for their style of music.
Riffs can be used in any genre of music, from the simple tenor saxophone honks in jazz to the intricate riff-based variations in the head arrangements in classical pieces such as Ravel’s Bolero. Most often, a riff is repeated throughout the song and acts as an anchor for the melody and rhythm. It can also act as a starting point for the bassist to build improvisations or compositions on top of.
The key to learning a complex riff is practicing it over and over until the pattern becomes second nature to the bassist. By constantly playing it over, the bassist can focus on the rhythm and melodic elements of the riff while also developing their finger dexterity. This type of riff can be difficult for beginners to grasp, but is well worth the time invested as it will provide an excellent foundation for advanced bassists to build upon.
To play this riff you will need to know your scales and chords, but most of all the timing and feel of the riff must be memorized by the player. A great way to do this is by listening to the original tracks and practicing the riff along with the beat, until the cadence of the riff is completely ingrained into the bassist’s mind.
This riff is a classic in hard rock and metal music. It requires a lot of dexterity, especially when moving between frets. It is important for bassists to be able to move between different positions quickly and fluidly.
Another great benefit of this riff is that it can be played with or without the use of a pick, making it perfect for beginners to learn. To get a better sound, try to hit the strings as hard as you can while keeping the note lengths consistent. This will give the riff some extra punch and make it more exciting to listen to.
Riffs with Syncopation
Rhythmic patterns that emphasize beats or parts of beats that are typically unstressed are known as syncopation. This musical technique gives music a punchy feel and helps create energy. A good example of this is the riff in The MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams.” In this riff, the bass and drums place accents on beats that are normally unstressed, creating a dynamic rhythm that feels like it’s pushing against resistance. This kind of bass line can be found in many genres of music, including jazz, rock, blues, metal and funk.
One of the most iconic bass riffs in history comes from Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. This riff is very simple, but requires precise playing to match the song’s tempo. This riff is perfect for beginners who are looking to work on their timing and consistency.
This bass line is also a great workout for more advanced players. It uses a lot of ghost notes and syncopated 16th notes, so it’s a fantastic way to work on your muting, finger tapping and left hand slapping skills. It’s also a fun song to listen to, so you can practice your timing while enjoying a classic rock tune!
Another riff that’s both engaging and challenging to play is the opening riff from Tool’s “Tool.” This bass line features an odd time signature and is perfect for those who are looking to add some complexity to their arsenal. This riff can be played on most bass guitars, and it is a great opportunity to work on your shifting between different positions. It also allows you to build strength in your pinky finger, which is a must-have skill for any bass player.
Despite the fact that it has an unusual time signature, this is actually a very easy riff to learn. It starts with a straightforward pentatonic sequence and then moves to a C major scale, allowing you to get some serious thump out of your bass. The final part of the riff is a quick shuffle between the fifth and sixth frets, which will require some precision to be executed correctly.
Riffs with Rhythm
If you want to play songs on bass guitar that are more than just a riff, you’ll need to learn how to create some of the more complex licks and passages that support the music. These tend to use rhythm and syncopation and are often found in the bridge or chorus of a song. While they are not quite as simple as a riff, they can be a challenge for even the most skilled bass guitarists.
For example, this bass line from Black Sabbath’s classic “Iron Man” is a great exercise in both creating a powerful rhythm and using syncopation. It starts off with a simple riff that uses the chord progression from the first measure of the song to set the rhythm for the rest of it. Then it adds a short fill, which is a figure played to add excitement or interest when there is space in the music (not to be confused with a bass run, which usually refers to the same type of figure, but played on drums or piano rather than bass).
Another example is this funky riff from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. It is a great example of using triads to build up a melody and to create tension and release in a song. Triads are groups of 3 notes that form the basis for chords, and there are different types of triads (major, minor, etc) that you can use in different genres to create a specific sound. This riff uses a major triad, and you’ll need to be able to reach down to the 2nd fret of the A string in order to play it fluidly.
Finally, we’ll finish up with a classic bass line from one of the most famous songs in history – Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. This riff is easy to play for beginners and is a great way to develop your finger stretch skills in preparation for more challenging riffs! It is also a good example of how a simple riff can be catchy and memorable.
Whether it’s the thunderous thump of Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust” or the gloomy pop hook of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”, there is no doubt that the bass is responsible for some of the biggest moments in music history. Whether the bass is providing rhythm, melody or both, it is critical to the success of a song.