5762 / 18210 · Workshop 40 — “The Sidewinder”: Hard Bop Groove, Dominant-Blues Harmony, Riff Layering, and How to Make a Vamp Feel Like a Full Arrangement← prev⊞ allnext →
40.93Three levels of riff function
A riff can operate as:
Surface
just a catchy phrase.
Harmonic
defines root/quality/color.
Structural
marks section boundaries and returns.
A strong arrangement uses all three.