It's all about the Rrrrrriiiffffffss!

I figured I would put some thought into how I come up with riffs just for the sake of discussion or to put my own thoughts into words. Sometimes people ask me how I write, or how do I come up with so many riffs, or if I have tricks or secrets or whatnot.

It's difficult to answer since I have zero theory to reference... I don't know or understand music from an academic standpoint whatsoever.

My thoughts:
1. Sometimes I sit down and play a little bit and find a cool mini riff, or an idea and then I'll work something out and make a riff out of it. Change the order or the number of times played,.... "Work it out " like I would at a jam session with a drummer or the band.... and then practice it 2 or 3 times and then record it.

2. Sometimes I have a little ditty idea in my head (that I usually wake up with, or it comes to mind during my morning shower) and I'll sit down and find those notes on the guitar and that becomes the riff. I'll practice it twice or so and then record it.

3. Oftentimes I sit down with the intent to make something cool.... And after 15-30 minutes of mindless (or even mindful) plinking around I don't have anything good to show for it and so I put it away. There might be good tones, but nothing really "musical" or fruitful . There's really no loss in that, at least I was playing the instrument. "Mechanical Practice".... AKA- "the bowl of creativity is empty"

4. Once in a great while, I grab a guitar, flick the amp on and the notes just pop out, in order, no brain needed, it's like the guitar has something to say and I just do what it says (in a non-hippy non-mystical/magical way).... Ha ha I know my guitars are dead peices of wood and wires.. .
But the riff literally just writes itself, and I just quickly record it as it came out, before I can mess it up by adding or changing anything.
Those end up usually being my favorite riffs...

This last riff I posted above, #1661, is one of those and it got me thinking about the process a little bit....
Wonder how I can make that happen more often....?

Also today was a #3...... Nothing cool whatsoever!
 
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@Headache
I know exactly where you’re coming from here, I haven’t had any thing cool come to mind in over a year, but then again I am not really playing, or working with anyone on a weekly basis, or schedule.

If I was I would probably be in a lot better playing position and have more to offer, or be more inclined to sit down and work out the bugs and rust.
But I do use pretty much the same approach as you do.
 
Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
@Headache
I know exactly where you’re coming from here, I haven’t had any thing cool come to mind in over a year, but then again I am not really playing, or working with anyone on a weekly basis, or schedule.

If I was I would probably be in a lot better playing position and have more to offer, or be more inclined to sit down and work out the bugs and rust.
But I do use pretty much the same approach as you do.
Click to expand...

I think we all go through phases too.... When it's fall and I'm doing a lot of hunting I hardly even get to pick a guitar up. For a solid month or 2 at times....

And we all go through dry spells as musicians, where nothing seems to be pouring out at all. Seems like all we can do is keep a positive attitude and try to at least maintain our skills. Trying to find motivation to play during these down times can be difficult.

I think we just have to really enjoy and try to capture the times when it is flowing.
 
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