Top Five Synth Riffs (and what made them?)

[fluffy_little_something]

A riff is some kind of short melodic phrase. It can be a bass line, a sequence, lead line, chord progression or just about anything where the melodic element is distinct and relatively short. Most riffs are no more than 8 to 16 bars before they repeat.

I could post tons of examples and point them out but it's something you either understand and have a feel for or don't. It's like trying to define porn. You just know it when you see it.

I will say this much. Your question sure explains a lot.

I only know riffs from rock music, i.e. guitar riffs, where a riff simply is a short catchy melody to me.
But "synth riffs" sounded unusual to me...
In that case even an arp might produce riffs

[fluffy_little_something]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=guitar+riff

Hehe, but irrelevant because every info imaginable is on Google, so we might as well close KVR altogether.

[chk071]

Why irrelevant? The first hit from my link describes exactly what it is. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riff_(Musik)

[fluffy_little_something]

Why irrelevant? The first hit from my link describes exactly what it is. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riff_(Musik)

That's the point. If I wanted to read it up on Wiki, I would have done so...

[chk071]

So you're rather interested in opinions than facts?

[Introspective]

Rez by Underworld (lovely playful synth riff, vaguely reminiscent of the alien's attempt to communicate in Close Encounters, again no idea what it was played on)

Underworld actually got that idea from Carousel by Koenig Cylinders:

Cool, thanks! These were both worth knowing about (and I didn't).

[Introspective]

Bassline, atmospherics and pads from Jam on it by Newcleus (no idea on synths used)

And this awesome bassline from Dead Prez

Bonus extras: some Van Halen Obx action that isn't from Jump, and probably some of the filthiest synth noise around at the time (Edit - turns out from the youtube comments the synth is an EHX Microsynth

These were also awesome. Thanks again.

[.jon]

Rez by Underworld (lovely playful synth riff, vaguely reminiscent of the alien's attempt to communicate in Close Encounters, again no idea what it was played on)

Underworld actually got that idea from Carousel by Koenig Cylinders:

That Carousel is insane thanks for posting!

I think the lead in Rez is sampled guitar, I recall them telling in some interview about their workflow including the Hyde jamming/experimenting with vocals or guitar and pedals, and Smith sampling that.



Some synth lines that I can't get over: (These all sound rather shitty on Youtube, but listen from some proper media if intrigued)

Röyksopp - from 0:44 on, the gnarliest of gnarly synth line revolving all through "Vision One":


Possibly played on a Wasp.


Air - a similar piercing and simple riff from 2:50 to the end on "All I Need":


Could be any synth, simple sound but I love the drive and attitude behind relying purely on the synthiness.


JMJ - the attack part of the envelope is just so perfect it hurts on Oxygene IV:


ARP2600 afaik. Epic mix as well.


Pre-cheese era trance was a style pretty much based on synth riffs in the breakdowns, but couple that still stand out for me is the fantastic balance of rhythmic movement, filter fiddling and melody on Kaycee's Escape (Signum remix):



And the same but different Coming on Strong from Signum feat Scott Mac:


Probably something like a Virus or JP like on all of the tracks of that era, doesn't matter, he just nailed the theme.

X-Dream's Freak finishes my trip down the memory lanes- so simple yet totally commanding, that lift makes it :

[shonky]

Bassline, atmospherics and pads from Jam on it by Newcleus (no idea on synths used)

And this awesome bassline from Dead Prez

Bonus extras: some Van Halen Obx action that isn't from Jump, and probably some of the filthiest synth noise around at the time (Edit - turns out from the youtube comments the synth is an EHX Microsynth

These were also awesome. Thanks again.

Glad you enjoyed, always nice to share some faves with others

I must admit since posting, I totally forgot this classic. Do love me some early electro and pretty sure this fits the thread with numerous lovely riffs to bodypop away to

[Turello]

Europe - The Final Countdown...
Vangelis...

[JonSolo]

Riff...not solo, not lead...riff. A repeated phrase.

REPEATED PHRASE. Repeated, even if it makes you nauseous. Phrase- a short gathering of notes. Repeated. Not solos. Not great RUNS. REPEATED PHRASES....

Ok...

Axel F- sick, cheese, number 1 on the charts...that makes it tops.
Jump- cheese, key of C, number one on the charts
Take on Me- more cheese, complex cheese like a fine bleu cheese, in the vein of Axel F
Only Time Will Tell- Better than anything thus far on the list and instantly recognizable
The Final Countdown- Cheese trying to be Only Time Will Tell

Honorable Mentions-
Just What I Needed- Car cheese, less cheese than Axel or A-ha
Cars- More car cheese but with a Gary Numan flare
Save A Prayer- Doublemint Cheese
Touch and Go- ELP cheese (never thought I would say that, but this is it)

I cannot include Chariots of Fire as that really is a piano.

[wagtunes]

Riff...not solo, not lead...riff. A repeated phrase.

REPEATED PHRASE. Repeated, even if it makes you nauseous. Phrase- a short gathering of notes. Repeated. Not solos. Not great RUNS. REPEATED PHRASES....

Ok...

Axel F- sick, cheese, number 1 on the charts...that makes it tops.
Jump- cheese, key of C, number one on the charts
Take on Me- more cheese, complex cheese like a fine bleu cheese, in the vein of Axel F
Only Time Will Tell- Better than anything thus far on the list and instantly recognizable
The Final Countdown- Cheese trying to be Only Time Will Tell

Honorable Mentions-
Just What I Needed- Car cheese, less cheese than Axel or A-ha
Cars- More car cheese but with a Gary Numan flare
Save A Prayer- Doublemint Cheese
Touch and Go- ELP cheese (never thought I would say that, but this is it)

I cannot include Chariots of Fire as that really is a piano.

You crack me up man. LOL.

[nordickvr]

Think those ones worth'v been mentioned.
The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (hard synced OSC lead/melody)
Gino Vannelli - People Gotta Move (brassy synth answer during chorus,
I think that would be Korg. Special mention to the synth bass. Moog?)

Would have liked to add Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground, but well,
Clavinet isn't a synth.
Too bad.

[JonSolo]

Yes I stuck with synths. I mean if you include clav you have to include theremin and include Good Vibrations.

Now if the topic were KEYBOARD riffs...well I would need a top 50.

P.S. It was very cool to see an Arch Enemy (closet fan, indulgent, like BabyMetal but not) ad here...although I am sure that is a Google thing instead of a direct pay ad.

[ENV1]

These are the first that came to mind, but the list could be extended quite a bit.

Synths according to memory.

No particular order.

(IMO theyre all genius.)


- Liaisons Dangereuses, Los Niños del Parque - KORG MS-20

- DAF, Der Mussolini - ARP 2600

- Anne Clark, Our Darkness - Various Versions, one was very likely a PPG wave 2.x

- Newcleus, Automan (Lead) - Most likely Roland SH-101 (The bassline is a TB-303)

- Moroder/Summer - I Feel Love - moog modular

Trivia: The Automan lead vamp was lifted (ca. half speed and the last quarter plays first) by Snap! for Rhythm is a Dancer.



As to what was used for Jam On It, the 'dududududu' was a TB-303.

And the bassline came from a Sequential Circuits Pro-One.

(Heres an instrument list Cozmo D once posted. As you can see they never had an excessive amount of gear, and especially Jam On It was made with an absolute minimum of stuff.)

Here's an instrument list:

Let's see...pre Jam-On Revenge album ("Jam On Revenge" and "Jam On It"):
Sequential Circuits Pro One
Roland RS09
Roland TB-303
Roland TR-808
Electro Harmonix Vocoder

Jam-On Revenge album:
Sequential Circuits Pro One
Roland RS09
Roland TB-303
Roland TR-808
Roland SH-101
Roland Juno 60
Oberhiem DMX
Electro Harmonix Vocoder

Pre Space Is The Place Album ("Drunk Driving", "Dynamic"):
Sequential Circuits Pro One
Roland RS09
Roland TB-303
Roland TR-808
Roland SH-101
Roland Juno 60
Roland JX-3P
Roland MC-202
Roland SVC-350 Vocoder

Space Is The Place Album:
Sequential Circuits Pro One
Roland RS09
Roland TB-303
Roland TR-808
Roland SH-101
Roland Juno 106
Roland Jupiter 6
Roland MC-202
Roland MSQ-700
Roland TR-727
Yamaha RX-11
Yamaha QX-1
Yamaha DX7
Yamaha DX9
Casio CZ-101
Ensoniq Mirage
Roland SVC-350 Vocoder