Creating Riffs

GlennPagano · #1 06-19-2010, 09:28 AM

I have been playing bass for about a year. I know my scales and some theory. When ever I try and create an original riff it just sounds stupid. I was wondering if there are anyways to create better riffs. Should I just play for hours trying to come up with something? When I am jamming in a band setting I come up with a decent riff fine. I can't come up with a stand alone bass riff like Chris Squire.

J-B'ass · #2 06-20-2010, 12:34 PM

You could learn to play every riff you think sounds good. I think that would help a lot.
Try jamming and grooving along to a backing track and seeing what comes out. If you try and sit down and think "now I'm going to write a riff", you probably won't end up writing a riff. Just try to jam with a drummer or a backing track and just remember the ideas that worked.

St Drogo · #3 06-20-2010, 12:51 PM

Record everything you do.

Atomik Rooster · #4 06-20-2010, 01:06 PM

Assume you'll never be the best judge of your own material. Play what makes you happy, what sounds right to you. Chances are your riffs are better than you think.

Eminentbass · #5 06-20-2010, 01:11 PM

Don't be afraid to be influenced by the bands you like. It's possible to have influences without them being blatantly copied. Learn some of your favourite riffs so that you get a feel for the context in which the theory works. It's also much easier to come up with ideas when jamming with someone because you can feed of the vibe they're helping to create. I've had more ideas that happened at soundchecks later evolving into complete songs than i've come up with alone at home.

somegeezer · #6 06-20-2010, 02:14 PM

Learn all the riffs you're trying to sound like and play around with them. Change them around, mix em about, turn them upside down and then shove them in another key. Whatever you can think of, until it stops sounding like the original riff and more like your own original composition.

GlennPagano · #7 06-20-2010, 06:18 PM

Thanks alot everyone. I have been messing around for the past couple hours and finally found a couple good riffs. Geezer, thank you very much for your suggestion. It is very good and will use it. Thank you very much everyone. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated. Would it help to learn different modes?