Sometimes the identity of a song is in its repeated bass line (known as a “riff,” which is a short repeated pattern). Listen to the distinctive bass lines in the following examples.
14.7.1 Distinctive Guitar Riffs
You will also find distinctive riffs played by guitar in conjunction with bass, as in the following examples.
This chapter is meant to give you ideas about animating chords and chord progressions with accompanimental textures, including riffs. It is by no means meant to be exhaustive, but rather to encourage you to listen closely to texture and accompaniment.