How To Practice Riffs & Runs

 

by Camille van Niekerk

Riffs and runs, though they originated in gospel music, have made their way into almost every contemporary music genre including r&b, pop, and even country.

Learning how to sing with this technique can be difficult.

We might define a run as “one lyric or syllable sung with many fast-moving pitches in succession.”

A riff is often more improvisational and can be vocal or instrumental (ie: guitar riffs).

Riffs and runs are difficult for 2 main reasons:

1. The pitches go by too quickly for many beginning singers to follow

2. The speed requires a higher level of vocal agility than most beginning singers have developed

To address both of these issues, here’s an easy step-by-step guide for learning and practicing riffs and runs.

Slow It Down

As with any concept that you're working on, it's usually best to slow the practice down a bit.

Instilling proper singing techniques while going slowly will make it much easier when you speed things up.

When watching your favorite vocal performances on YouTube, watching in .75x speed is a good place to start.

On a laptop or desktop in YouTube (not the app) click the Settings gear > Playback speed > .75x.

This will help you hear exactly what the vocalist is singing within the riff or run.

Sometimes it just goes by way too fast!

Another thing to consider is your vocal range. 

Make sure the riffs and runs you're working on is within your range so you can actually sing it.

Determine The Individual Pitches

With the passage slowed down, you'll be able to more easily identify the individual picthes within a particular riff or run.

You don’t need to notate the pitches by pitch letter name, but you do need to match pitch slowly before you can speed it up.

Work out each pitch within the run one at a time.

Then you'll be able to string them together.

This is similar to a lyric practice called 'chewing the words.'

Working slowly through this process in your singing practice will instill proper habits in your body, face muscles and vocal chords.

By developing good habits while going slow, when you speed things up you'll be all set.

For very complex runs, I’ll stop and start every 1-2 seconds while I listen and repeat, just working on a few pitches at a time.

It’s a somewhat tedious process, but you'll get faster the more you do it.

PRO TIP - Make a note of repeated pitches or directional changes - aka "turns."

These can easily trip you up

Also take note of which pitch is stressed (held longer).

Understanding these nuances will help you with timing and inflection later on.

Put The Run Together For Practice

Thinking about tackling an entire run at once can be overwhelming.

Break it into manageable chunks.

This is usually 2-3 sections - sometimes more if it’s a very long run.

Practice each section alone before putting it together.

Start by singing a consonant on the pitches.

Singing on DOO or DAH will be much easier than singing on a vowel.

The consonant gives some separation to the pitches so they don’t “bleed together.”

Riffs and runs require speed AND specificity.

It’s not a “clean” run if the pitches just blend and slide into one another with no distinction.

Make It Sound Pro

Everything up until now is the tedious work of making your vocal runs work.

Now it's time to sound like the real deal.

Increasing the speed of the run is where your practice will pay off.

As mentioned before, if you don't have distinct notes throughout the run, it will souund like a bunch of slides all over the place.

The best way to do this is to sing along with an online metronome.

Start at a tempo that you might think is "too slow" - 80bpm is a good rule of thumb.

By nailing the run at this speed you'll confirm that your preperation was the right move.

Then try the run again at +5bpm, or even +10bpm.

Work out the riff/run at this new tempo.

Keep increasing the speed only if you can cleanly sing the run at the current tempo.

If you're singing along with a performance on YouTube, use the custom speed function.

Once you can sing the run at .75 speed, bump it up to .8, and so on.

As you continue to speed up, return to the vowel or lyric within the song.

This can be tricky, so you may want to start on a narrow vowel like OO or EE (those are easier than wide open vowels like AH or EY at first).

PRO TIP - Do your best to match the dynamic and inflection of the original artist.

This will take you from a somewhat “boring” string of notes to an exciting run with dynamic variety and phrasing.

Increase Vocal Agility

Any exercises with a fast and/or wide-range will help train you to sing smoother, cleaner riffs and runs.

Challenge yourself to sing just a little faster than you’re currently comfortable with. 

If you’re a 30 Day Singer student: look for exercises titled “9-tone” and “long line agility” within the beginner courses.

Full access students: watch our Riffs & Runs Tutorial and any tutorials labelled “advanced” or “pro” for more exercises to train your agility.

Other tips: vowel choice, tone, and registration

Your vowel choice will also impact your vocal agility.

Narrow vowels (like EE and OO) are easier to sing than wide or open vowels.

Learn a run on a narrow vowel and/or modify to a narrower vowel when you actually sing it.

Try singing with a lighter tone while practicing your riffs and runs.

A lighter tone is usually easier than heavy; nasal is usually easier than chesty.

Start there and gradually move to your desired tone.

Also, consider your passaggio!

You can (1) use your break stylistically (the “pop flip” or “falsetto flip” in Madison Beer’s “Selfish” run is a good example of that), or (2) use some skillful vowel modification to achieve a consistent tone, even if you’re singing over your passaggio.

Listen To The Best

Add these singers to your Riffs & Runs playlist for endless inspiration and practice: 

Whitney Houston

Mariah Carey

Brian McKnight

Jazmine Sullivan

Beyoncé

Usher

YEBBA

H.E.R.

Tori Kelly

Avery Wilson

JoJo

Jessie J

Pink

Ariana Grande

Scott Hoying

Clark Beckham

FAQ

What is a run vs riff?

A run is a fast, smooth sequence of notes played in a scale or melody, while a riff is a catchy, repeating sequence of notes or chords that forms the backbone of a song, usually in rock or blues.

How to do riffs and runs?

To do riffs and runs, practice playing scales and patterns at different speeds, focusing on precision and fluidity. Start slow, then gradually increase speed as you get more comfortable.

What are runs in music?

Runs in music are rapid sequences of notes, often ascending or descending, that add flair and complexity to a melody.

What is a riff example?

A classic riff example is the opening guitar part of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple—simple, memorable, and instantly recognizable.

What is the most famous riff of all time?

The most famous riff of all time is often considered to be the opening riff of Led Zeppelin’s "Whole Lotta Love"—it’s iconic and has influenced countless guitarists.

What does "riffs" mean in slang?

In slang, "riff" can mean to improvise or play around with ideas, especially in conversation or music, like when someone says they’re riffing on a theme.

What is a riff in simple terms?

A riff is a short, catchy musical phrase that repeats throughout a song, usually on guitar or bass, and gives the song its signature sound.

Why do people riff?

People riff because it’s a fun and creative way to experiment with music, adding personality and flair to a song or performance.

What does just a riff mean?

"Just a riff" means a simple or brief musical idea, not fully developed into a complete song or piece.

What is a synonym for the word riff?

A synonym for "riff" could be "lick" or "phrase," especially in a musical context.