Ever wonder what the difference between a “Riff,” a “Lick,” or a “Chop,” is?

Guitar players, in general, tend to throw around a lot of terms and just assume everyone knows what they mean, so in this video I’ve taken some of the common ones that I see and explained them.

However, I’m sure I’ve missed some, so if you have any other terms you hear, but aren’t sure what they mean, leave them in the comments and I’ll try to answer them here or in another video.


    43 replies to "Guitar Terms For Beginners"

    • John

      Griff….I have never seen you use a Capo, but I see many performers using one. Could you explain why musicians use them? Could u give your viewers some insight about this technique? Forgive me if you already have mentioned this in another earlier video!

      • ACE DRAGON

        SAD, SAD. I damaged my left rotator cup and can’t do a bar cord. fingers tips are numb. I can only play little cords. my bar finger will reach all the way to the low E, but I have no strength to bar all 6 strings.
        THIS VIDEO HELPED. Thanks Griff.

    • Darryl Manire

      Yeah,I think you’re wrong, guitar player’s that have women,call them licks, guitar player’s that don’t..call them riff’s ,ha..I’ve always called them riff’s, even when I had a woman..and I will until the day I die..riff,riff,riff..ok I go now, bye’eeee..

    • Donald Wolfe

      Playing Over Playing Over
      A term I’ve heard a million times and still not sure what it means. Thanks Donald Wolfr

    • Walter L.

      As ridiculous as it sounds, would you define “lead” as in “playing lead”? I know that in the blues and much of rock, we are dealing with appropriate notes from the blues or pentatonic scales in interesting patterns. However, in listening to music, there are lead guitar parts that sound like or incorporate the melody of a piece and others that soar into the atmosphere and seem totally detached from the melody. It’s like two different things are being called “lead.”

    • Steve L

      Hi Griff,
      I’m trusting that something that seems as simple as counting will be the difference in either sounding right or not. At 65 I have over ten years of learning guitar behind me, with at least 5yrs self taught. Most of time I’m memorizing what others have already recorded. So I’m hoping if I can slow down enough to learn this, and maybe enough theory to communicate ideas that maybe in the near future I can feel like a guitar player with my own expressive ideas. So I just purchased the new Rhythm idea courses, I’m trusting your plan. You gotta help me get there I’ll put the work in. I have been for a little while but I’m not quite happy with my results.

    • Paul

      Good lesson as always. Since this lesson is largely meant for beginners, could it be said that a moveable chord is a chord that only contains fretted strings? just to avoid confusion! Seems to me that there are a lot of chords, for example several that are shown in the video, where the high and low E strings should not be played as they are open in the chord shape. This is not obvious to a beginner! Short and sweet, if the chord only contains fretted strings, you can move it. Thanks.

    • Mark

      Caw
      your fingers are the keys.
      get them going and you should be good to go.

    • Mark

      CW
      Your fingers Are the Keys.
      Get them going and you’ll be off to the races.

    • tony szydlo

      So what is a coda ? I have seen it in music but no clue what it means . Think it is a Jimmy Page thang .

    • John (Ed) Devlin

      Griff is there a way that we could communicate and I could pay for the blues guitar unleashed course for that Joseph Lorenz person.

    • Joseph Lorenz

      Sir
      I enjoy all of your YouTube videos and your emails. I’m on the short end of 85 years old and want desperately to learn how to play the blues, but truth be told, having to live on a limited income I just can’t afford all of the lessons which are available. Is there anything in your arsenal that would help at at reasonable price?

      Love your lessons and your dedication.

      Rev. Joseph L. Lorenz

    • Norm

      What is a “vamp”?

    • Ed

      What is your definition of a hook

    • Dan

      Hello,

      Is their a difference between a riff and a fill? I have heard fills used to mean something of the same way Griff explained riffs.

      Thanks

    • Bruce (Doc) Frazer

      Hey, Griff—
      Students might profit from a thorough lesson or two on the Nashville Numbering System. I occasionally take a student, and have found this seems, for some reason, difficult for some to comprehend. I think it is crucial for communication among musicians, regardless of the genre.

    • Thomas Ward

      What are “breaks”?

      • Dan Braden

        A break is when you don’t play. Might be a few beats or even measures long. And it is also when you put your guitar down and go get a drink.

        • Mark Walters

          I think of a break as a break in the singing of verses and chorus where individual players take solos and play over the melody of the song.

          • Thomas Ward

            Thanks, guys. Interesting…

    • Tom Ward

      I think I know what they mean but I was wondering how you would define them, Griff.
      “intro”; “outro”; “solo”; “interlude”; “shred”; “arpeggio”.

    • Frank

      What is a “run”?

      Perhaps a short series of single notes that makes the transition between chords interesting?

    • ben

      Would like to know the real difference between a verse, a chorus, and a bridge.

      • Michael

        Ben, a verse is the story, the chorus is a repeated part of the story, which comes in two maybe three times during the song. A bridge, is a section of the song that takes you away from the original story for a short moment to return back. This was the way it was explained to me. Hope it helps. Michael

    • Alan

      Hey Griff

      love your blog, lessons and videos. Here is my issue it has taken me for ever but i know Boxes 1,2 and 3 like i know my name. it even surprises me how well in know them lol. But lol now that i do whats next i just dont seem to be able to use them to develope a melody that doesnt soud like i am just going up and down the particular box i am in. I need HELP !!!!

      • Ian Richardson

        Did you learn box one, or shape one, from tab?
        Did you start on the 6th string?
        Did you learn it by just playing the whole scale up and down?
        If so that’s probably why it always sounds like a scale.
        Reset required.
        Just use strings 1 and 2, even go to the 4 note box Griff has shown many times.
        Use pentatonic minor box 2 for this, later add the E..you have the house shape as Griff calls it.
        In that position you have the notes of A minor on 3 strings, in the higher register where most of your soloing is done.
        Once you can use this well add another note up or down the neck..Maybe add your flat 5 blue note. Which is a diminished 5th in reality.
        Avoid trying to use the whole shape across the neck, when you do remember you have a middle octave splitting two octaves, lower one and higher one.
        Learn the notes but also think in intervals because if you go to say box 4, the shape changes but the intervals do not. If you play C minor pentatonic the notes change, the intervals are the same. Root, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, flat (minor) 7..octave.

        If you use the pentatonic minor scale and learn it bit by bit it will help you learn your neck, find notes and remember the same notes live around an A where ever it is on the neck ( B string allowed for). C is always the same distance away from A, as is G from E etc. Same for every other note.
        As A minor is all natural notes you start seeing the intervals between them and around them. The 4th is next door on the next highest string..A on the 5th fret 6th string, it’s 4th, D, next door on the 5th string (one fret up on the B string).
        Going back A is Ds 5th..and so on.

        Major pentatonic is the same as minor, you drop out the 4th and 7th interval, minor you drop the 2nd and 6th interval. This removes the 2 half steps from the diatonic scales…hence your pentatonic scale.
        Add them back in you have your 7 note diatonic scale.

        You need to get yourself out of the habit of playing a scale as you learned it.
        Also if you know shape one or any of the 5 shapes, you already know the other 4, they’re all the same, the notes, or intervals, just fall on different strings.

        Longish reply but if it helps you I’m happy. Or if it helps someone else.
        Griffs 4 note and bb box (house shape) videos would be of help.

        • Mark Walters

          Hi Alan,
          My guitar instructor encourages me to try to use the melody of the song (the notes sung) as a basis for soloing. Doesn’t have to be exact, but referenced and a good place to start.
          The singing notes are usually contained in the note scale of the chord being played at any particular moment.
          Also best to focus on the strongest chord tones of whatever chord is being played, i.e. the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the chord’s scale.
          Try picking out the 1, 3, and 5 notes from the boxes and just play those as an exercise.
          And sing or hum a note progression and mimic it on your guitar, it will develop your “voice”,

        • Heri Sanchez

          I’m having to read this several times, while using my fretboard as a visual guide to the information you’ve provided. It’s slowly starting to make sense. I see a cloud starting to break up. Thank you for these helpful instructions!

    • Rev. Doug Deegan

      Hi Griff: I stopped playing guitar more than 50 years ago, but now at 82 years of age I’m starting all over, as a beginning, having to start from scratch. I appreciate your lessons and informative comments very much. I’ve always thought of a barre (as in barre chord) as being a moveable nut, with the barre finger serving the same function as the guitar neck nut. Thanks for all your help, and I’m looking forward to making some guitar progress. Blessings in all that you do!! Rev. Dee (ret’d.)

    • Dick Frederick,aka Fearless Freddy

      Greetings & Salutations from the Emerald City.It seems from the responses that there is a need for a “Blues/Rock/Music Terms Glossary” (or addendum). I know that the title seems a bit much. I don’t think you want re-write “brand X school of music dictionary” but guitar players might want to know some of the basic terms used to relate to others in the band (keyboard,drums,horns,etc.).
      God bless you,your family, & the rest of you pickers and sliders reading this.

      • Alan

        I agree 👍

    • Dave D

      I second to define verse and chorus and maybe give an example.

      Thanks Griff

    • Marv Murray

      Hi Griff. I’ve got a request. Usually u just show a new lick or rhythm etc. I was wondering if you could put out a video showing basically a lot at once. Like a shuffle a turn around and a lick and what order u play them in. It preferably shouldn’t be too advanced for us relatively new guys. This would help me greatly I think. Thx Griff. Hope I’m not asking too much 👍

    • RollyS

      Love your blog and the videos! One of the things that comes up on a regular basis are the terms “Verse”, “Chorus” and “Bridge”. As always, thanks so much for this!
      Rolly

    • CW

      I bought a used guitar from a guy but he didn’t give me any keys, how am I going to get it started?

      LOL

      • Dave M

        CW. I thing you’re going to have to plug it in and crank it up.

    • chris clemans

      Hi Griff, we used these same terms as you have defined them back in 1964. The first one s I learned were riff, bridge, and bar chord. Thanks for the refresher.

    • Chris Roper

      Modes? Boxes? Progression? I found out gradually but might be of use to people along the way and cut out the need for a search or the puzzlement that might otherwise exist until further on up that road?

    • John

      I always had the impression that a riff was a distinctive group of notes which define a tune, and make it instantly recognisable. Often, they are repeated several times in the one song. Obvious example is the opening of Smoke on the Water. Another is Come As You Are’s opening notes.

    • Weldon Hart

      Hi Griff I enjoyed the lesson. I was wondering about the boxes in a key I guess is how you would say it? What I mean is what are the keys and where are they found on the fretboard? I hope I have asked the right question?
      I enjoy all your lessons and look forward to your emails every morning. Thank you sooo much. Weldon

    • Jim P.

      Thanks. How about the significance of triads and inverted chords.

      • CW

        I bought a used guitar from a guy but he didn’t give me any keys, how am I going to get it started?

        LOL

        • Marty

          You might have to hotwire it. LOL

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