the.com/riff
a short phrase that gets repeated until it becomes the whole point of the song.
means a repeated musical or rhetorical phrase that anchors a piece and gives it identity, catchy enough to survive one listen.
from from refrain, shortened by jazz musicians in the early 20th century to describe a short recurring figure a soloist could build on; the word later leaked into speech, meaning any improvised riff on an idea.
jazz originstarted as shorthand for refrain among big bands
guitar erarock made riffs the whole song's identity, not backup
beyond musicnow means any improvised variation on a theme
for instance
smoke on the water — deep purple, 1972, four notes everyone can hum
seven nation army — white stripes, 2003, stadiums chant it without lyrics
sweet child o mine — guns n roses, 1987, opening riff is the hook itself
day tripper — beatles, 1965, riff carries verse and chorus alike