H. P. L. Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 This question has been bugging me all weekend. Is it possibile to identify the very first "riff" in rock history? Who came up with it? The Kinks? The Beatles? The Rolling Stones? Jimi? Some obscure garage band?And which song are we talking about? Submit your article here, rock librarians! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Farrah Fowler Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I think he's talking musical riff...not a rift. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. Hey babycat!!Actually, as Amy Farrah said, I was talking about the riff as a musical figure (the real nature of which I am very unsure myself, not being a musician): the new Black Sabbath album, with all the Iommi rifforama, put me in "riff mode", and I went thinking about whoever "invented" the riff.I doubt Tony is the very first inventor of the figure, even if he is certainly the master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Do any come to mind before the Stones' "Satisfaction" in 1965? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesweetscience Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Since Rock got influences from blues, jazz and even classical music, I think the question is imposible to answer. When did humans first start stringing notes together to make melodies? I doubt you could ever answer the question. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 Since Rock got influences from blues, jazz and even classical music, I think the question is imposible to answer. When did humans first start stringing notes together to make melodies? I doubt you could ever answer the question.I agree with that, but still I think, given the even more "restricted" nature of the riff, an answer might be given."Satisfaction" came to my mind also. Or something by the Davies brothers? "All day and all of the night"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Chuck Berry, when it comes to rock and roll guitar firsts, listen to Chuck Berry. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. Hey babycat!!Actually, as Amy Farrah said, I was talking about the riff as a musical figure (the real nature of which I am very unsure myself, not being a musician): the new Black Sabbath album, with all the Iommi rifforama, put me in "riff mode", and I went thinking about whoever "invented" the riff.I doubt Tony is the very first inventor of the figure, even if he is certainly the master. Awwww.., crap..! I'd misread the thread title! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Beethovens fifth is a riff guys. Dum dum duh dum. The first riff was invented hundreds or possibly thousands of years ago. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Farrah Fowler Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. Hey babycat!!Actually, as Amy Farrah said, I was talking about the riff as a musical figure (the real nature of which I am very unsure myself, not being a musician): the new Black Sabbath album, with all the Iommi rifforama, put me in "riff mode", and I went thinking about whoever "invented" the riff.I doubt Tony is the very first inventor of the figure, even if he is certainly the master. Awwww.., crap..! I'd misread the thread title! Happens to the best of us. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steevo Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. Hey babycat!!Actually, as Amy Farrah said, I was talking about the riff as a musical figure (the real nature of which I am very unsure myself, not being a musician): the new Black Sabbath album, with all the Iommi rifforama, put me in "riff mode", and I went thinking about whoever "invented" the riff.I doubt Tony is the very first inventor of the figure, even if he is certainly the master. Awwww.., crap..! I'd misread the thread title! Cute posting bc! http://i41.tinypic.com/atnj43.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 Chuck Berry, when it comes to rock and roll guitar firsts, listen to Chuck Berry.This is a good one!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. P. L. Posted June 18, 2013 Author Share Posted June 18, 2013 Beethovens fifth is a riff guys. Dum dum duh dum. The first riff was invented hundreds or possibly thousands of years ago.What if we cut it down to "composed on an electric guitar?" :lol: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D3strukt Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 It's ALL Chuck Berry, and maybe Robert Johnson, earlier in the 20's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cO0LJAiohw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGr8imL84AD8inF8sBlackSedan Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 The very first riff? That's easy. Right here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. Hey babycat!!Actually, as Amy Farrah said, I was talking about the riff as a musical figure (the real nature of which I am very unsure myself, not being a musician): the new Black Sabbath album, with all the Iommi rifforama, put me in "riff mode", and I went thinking about whoever "invented" the riff.I doubt Tony is the very first inventor of the figure, even if he is certainly the master. Awwww.., crap..! I'd misread the thread title! Cute posting bc! http://i41.tinypic.com/atnj43.jpg Awwwwwwwww!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I doubt if this was the first, but the only one I can think of is The Eagles. Very bitter break-up. God knows what happened. I think they said something like: "We'll get back together when Hell freezes over!" Roughly 12 years later, that did get back together, and their next offering was called "Hell Freezes Over". Or something like it. No idea what the state of play with them is right now. Hey babycat!!Actually, as Amy Farrah said, I was talking about the riff as a musical figure (the real nature of which I am very unsure myself, not being a musician): the new Black Sabbath album, with all the Iommi rifforama, put me in "riff mode", and I went thinking about whoever "invented" the riff.I doubt Tony is the very first inventor of the figure, even if he is certainly the master. Awwww.., crap..! I'd misread the thread title! Happens to the best of us. :) Thanks... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I think he's talking musical riff...not a rift. :)And obviously it wasn't the f***ing Eagles who had the first rift in rock n roll! :eyeroll: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeduck Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 The first riff in mankind's history was probably a caveman's fart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D3strukt Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Hey guys, what if like Into the Void was created before, but the band that created it suddenly died in a fire or something drastic, and their tapes were destroyed? Imagine that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bastille Dave Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 probably Robert Johnson or Howlin' Wolf or one of those blues guys from back in the day would be my guess. Rock did come from the blues, did it not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue J Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Theprobably Robert Johnson or Howlin' Wolf or one of those blues guys from back in the day would be my guess. Rock did come from the blues, did it not? The first guitar riffs definitely did come from the blues- Son House, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson...Muddy and the Wolf both came a bit later. But as far as pinpointing what the very first recognizable riff was? No idea... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusGal Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 From a rhythmic standpoint, rock is firmly rooted in the blues which derived from African rhythms. From a tonal standpoint (i.e. pitch and scale), the modern day 12-tone chromatic scale we know in "western" music (not as in country/western, though it uses the same 12-tone scale) originates in the Catholic church and Gregorian chants, which used a different scale than those we know today. These scales developed through the Baroque (Bach), Classical (Mozart), Romantic (Beethoven) and Modern (Stravinsky) eras to the modern scales we know today (major, minor and its many variations, pentatonic, etc.). Early "riffs" were the prayers and songs used in Mass. And, of course, music existed prior to the chants and scales. I do not know what the earliest known piece of music is. Here's some Benedictine monks chanting though: http://youtu.be/_MbDqc3x97k Of course, there are many more elements that have influenced modern music (Eastern semi-tones or traditional/tribal music, for example). Enough music history for today ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I think he's talking musical riff...not a rift. :)And obviously it wasn't the f***ing Eagles who had the first rift in rock n roll! :eyeroll: Clearly not, but it was the first thing I thought of..! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now