riff

A riff is a short musical phrase that's repeated and varied throughout a song. Think of it as a catchy hook that gets stuck in your head.

When musicians talk about a riff, they often mean a memorable little pattern of notes or chords that give their song its distinctive sound. For example, you might hear someone say, "That song's got a killer riff from the beginning." In this case, they're talking about a short musical phrase that grabs your attention and gets stuck in your head. Sometimes riffs are used as a kind of intro or hook, while other times they're woven throughout the entire song to create a sense of continuity and rhythm.