Hi Pamela,
Off the top of my head I sayā¦ intros can be a lick or multiple licks played together, which is a solo but called an intro because it is at the beginning ā¦I think ā¦ a riff is a pile of notes that are repeated and by which you recognize the song I think ā¦ oh well, it doesnāt matter as said beforeā¦
And if someone goes over the minute we will ask them to post next time in AVOYP (or not ) because then it became a song ā¦probably ā¦I think ā¦
As you can see ,I don`t know and all is good
While a riff is designed to set the vibe, a lick is used to showcase the skills of a guitarist by standing out . Unlike riffs, licks allow a guitarist to perform solos or improvise on an established melodic line of the song. While riffs go down as memorable, licks might not necessarily have the same staying power.
I always thought of licks as the words which when put together make phrases and that riffs are just short rhymic phrases played repeatedly as a back up part and are recognisable.
Good description @Socio. To me a riff is a rhythmic part and a lick is a phrase in a lead part.
@Richard_close2u Justin does describe riffs and licks over a few different lessons although itās not a clear defining point. But the beginner grades are definitely focused on chords and strumming/fingerpicking, not riffs or licks.
All I might see slightly differently is āback up partā. If I think about riffs, those classic most recognisable riffs, then āback upā doesnāt really do it for.
Iām thinking contenders for the most recognisable of all time, dare I say GOAT riffs (have a natural aversion to all this GOAT talk). For example Smoke on the Water, Satisfaction, and (to show Iām not totally into boomer grandad rock) Seven Nation Army.
a repeating and recurring part of the song that is both rhythmic and melodic in structure ā¦ many songs have iconic riffs that are instantly recognisable
examples:
The Beatles - Day Tripper
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
Lick ā¦
a short phrase, mostly played as a lead guitar part within a solo or as a small fill between vocal lines ā¦ these can be the foundation of solos or strung together to create solos, they are often mixed with improvised sections and some players have ātrademark licksā that they use as a default home base to start from and return to when improvising
examples:
hard to give because they are not riffs ā¦ see Justinās minor pentatonic lessons for five licks in each of the five scale patterns
Most riffs and licks are both played using notes from scales so that may explain some of the confusion.
You can remember the distinction if you think like a dog. Riff riff riffing is generally rhythmical and can go on for an extended period of time, whereas licking stops once the novelty or flavor wears off
ā¦ a riff is a pile of notes that are repeated and by which you recognize the song I think 
ā¦ oh well, it doesnāt matter as said beforeā¦
Oh! I get it! I think 
