Difference between guitar licks and riffs can certainly be confusing. Often used interchangeably, a guitar riff tends to be a repeating and distinctly recognizable theme (think Smoke on the Water). A guitar lick, on the other hand, is a once-off idea that is part of a solo or fill and does not call to mind a particular song.
More on Licks & Riffs
It’s not always easy to understand the difference between guitar licks and riffs. In fact, musicians (and general listeners everywhere) often confuse the two. An easy way to remember is to think of the ‘R’ in the word riff as ‘repeating’ – that is, a riff will repeat throughout a song, sometimes more often than others. A riff is typically that most memorable part of a song. A few examples of famous riffs include: Seven Nation Army, Sweet Home Alabama, Hells Bells, Beat It, and so many more.
Licks on the other hand, are typically one-offs and used as fills between vocal phrases. To be able to play licks well you’ll want to brush up on your scales. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and tons of blues lead guitarists are just some of the many examples of great guitarists and creators of both very cool licks and catchy riffs. Hopefully this makes it easier to recognize the difference between guitar licks and riffs.
Knowledge Is Power