Riff Generator
Pick a key, scale, tuning, tempo, difficulty and technique, then press Generate riff. You get a riff that can be played on a real guitar, drawn as tab and with playback, metronome and drums. The same seed always gives the same riff, so a good one can be found again.
How to use it
- Choose key, scale and tuning. Every note in the riff belongs to the scale.
- Set tempo, difficulty and technique: chug, gallop, tremolo, melodic or mixed.
- Press Generate riff. The tab is drawn at once. Press Play to hear the riff, with metronome or drums if you like.
- If you like the riff, save it. To get it back later, note the seed and enter it again. More advanced options are in Riff Lab.
What is a riff generator?
A riff generator creates a new guitar riff from rules you choose: key, scale, tuning, tempo, difficulty and technique. Fabbe's generator draws the riff as tab and lets you hear it with a metronome or drums.
All notes belong to the chosen scale and sit within reach of the hand. That makes the riffs playable on a real guitar, not just on paper.
Which choices shape how the riff sounds?
Three choices have the biggest effect: scale, technique and difficulty. The scale sets the mood, for example natural minor for heavy and dark or phrygian dominant for a more exotic colour.
The technique controls the rhythm and which notes repeat.
- Chug: short palm-muted notes on a low string, often on the same note.
- Gallop: a pattern of one eighth note and two sixteenth notes that gives forward drive.
- Tremolo: fast picking of the same note.
- Melodic: movement between several notes in the scale.
- Mixed: a combination of the techniques.
How do I find a riff I liked again?
Every riff is created from a seed, a number that together with the settings gives exactly the same riff every time. Note the seed and enter it again with Use seed when you want the riff back.
You can also save the riff in the browser and open it in Riff Lab, where you can change it with sliders and buttons.
Frequently asked questions
Does the same seed always give the same riff?
Yes. The same settings and the same seed give exactly the same riff every time and on every device. Type in the seed and press Use seed to get a riff back.
Can the riffs be played on a real guitar?
Yes. The generator stays within reach of the hand: fret numbers, string jumps and tempo follow the difficulty. At the lowest level everything stays close to the first seven frets.
Do all notes belong to the scale?
Yes. The riffs use only notes from the scale. If you want chromatic notes outside the scale, they are in Riff Lab.
Are my riffs stored anywhere?
Only in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. Saved riffs are opened and edited in Riff Lab.
Can I get a random metal riff?
Yes. Choose for example natural minor or phrygian dominant, a low tuning such as Drop C and the technique Gallop or Chug, and press Generate riff. Every press gives a new riff, and the seed lets you find the one you liked again.
Which scales and tunings can I choose?
Ten scales: major, natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, minor and major pentatonic, dorian, phrygian, phrygian dominant and mixolydian. Nine tunings, from E Standard to Drop B, including Drop D, Drop C and Drop B.
Related tools
- Solo Generator: Randomize a one-minute guitar solo in a melodic death metal style, with tab, backing and playback.
- Riff Lab: Shape a riff with sliders for pedal tones, melody, chugs, tremolo and chromatic notes, then build on it.
- Backing Track Machine: Build a backing track with drums, bass and rhythm guitar in any key and metal style.
- Tone Vault: Your private library of guitar tones: gear, settings, notes and tags.
- Amp Simulator: Experimental guitar amp in the browser: distortion, EQ, cab, delay and reverb through your audio interface.
- Community: Browse riffs, exercises, presets and backing tracks that other guitarists have shared, and share your own.