are these riffs too similar?

[fr0me0]

my guitar player is trying to tell me the riff I've wrote sounds way to much like Bro Hymm by pennywise. I'd never heard the song before I came up with the riff and after hearing that they sound the same I looked it up. I notice some similarities, the minor second mostly but I don't think its an over the top rip off. Any feedback would be appreciated

I played the riff first a couple times for the people who arn't familiar with the song. the first riff is the pennywise tune, the second riff is mine. I've also heard the riff sounds like "something else" but no one has put their finger on it. If you know what that "something else" is let me know.

thanks

Fraser

[tplyons]

I really don't hear much of a similarity.

That's like claiming ownership of a I-IV-V progression.

[Munjibunga]

Maybe your friend is tone deaf and only notices that both riffs are a bunch of 16th notes. They're not that similar. Tell him Munjibunga said to shut up.

[BassManPatsFan]

Yeah...considering both of them are just outlining simple chord changes; even if they sounded similar, which they do not, there would be no "rip off".
-Alex

[bannedwit]

He is hearing the root to a run to the next root and thinks they are the same.

However, the timing and different notes and stuff of that nature makes it nothing like the song he is comparing it to.

[Bob Clayton]

no, not too similar.

also...

when i come around by green day and what's my age again by blink 182 are the exact same progression.

so i wouldn't worry.

[d8g3jdh]

Similar, but little more than an influence really.

[fr0me0]

thanks guys. I think the guy just has issues with other people doing any writing. looks like i'll just look for other people to work with.

[Bad Brains]

Sounds like Bro Hym to me. I wouldn't use that riff or you're never going to hear the end of it.

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Originally Posted by Bad Brains

Sounds like Bro Hym to me. I wouldn't use that riff or you're never going to hear the end of it.

Do you mean the first riff, which is bro hymn? Or the second riff?

IMO the second riff sounds as much like the first as any punk bass line sounds like the first... which is to say not much.

[Munjibunga]

Another thing. Those aren't riffs, they're lines.

[subsonic87]

Nope. Not really any similarity (besides that of the genre, but I digress). Tell him he's an idiot.