Music GCSE
Riff
What Riff means in Music GCSE, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Riff
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Reference: Pearson Edexcel
A short repeated melodic or rhythmic figure in popular styles of music, functioning much like an ostinato.
A short repeated melodic idea, common in popular styles, often played by guitars or brass.
A closely related term, typically a repeated melodic or chordal figure in popular styles.
A short repeated melodic or rhythmic idea, common in popular styles.
Topics that use Riff
- Appendix 3: Musical vocabulary - Organisation of pitch (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Component 3: Appraising - Detailed application of musical elements (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Ostinato
- Pedal
- 12-bar blues
- Aural identification
- Baroque performing practice (continuo)
- Bass line
- Broken chord
- Cadences and closure
Using Riff in the exam
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