How to Create Synth Riffs and Backing Parts

Essential Techniques for Synth Arrangements

Synthesizers have a place in music of all genres.

They can play leads and obbligato lines,
rhythmic chord arpeggios, pads that fill the gaps,
and many other kinds of parts.

One especially common approach is
a chord-based synth riff or backing part.

Putting your own spin on it can add originality and make a song more memorable.

Here we’ll show you a simple way to create synth riffs and backing.
You don’t need to play an instrument, so experiment and enjoy refining the part until you’re happy with it.

Video Tutorial

Questions and Answers from the YouTube Video

Can this be used for guitar too?

Yes, you can apply it to rhythmic guitar strumming. Think of the single-note portions as muted strokes and the chord portions as sounded chords to create a rhythmic strumming phrase. Adding slides to chords and hammer-ons and pull-offs to single-note passages can make it sound more like a guitar part.

Program the Accents

Listen to the rhythm section and place chord notes where you want accents.

The placement itself has a strong effect on the feel:

• Quarter-note beats: Placing notes on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4 gives the rhythm stability.
  Used too often, however, it can sound heavy.
  If your part feels too heavy, try shifting some notes away from these beats.
• Eighth-note offbeats: These can create a laid-back rhythmic feel and often form the core of a riff or backing part.
• Sixteenth-note offbeats: These add finer rhythmic movement.
  They can sound contemporary, but too many can make the part cluttered.

As a starting point,
keeping these ideas in mind can make the process easier.

Adjust the Note Lengths

Note length is another important factor.
Try different lengths to shape the groove.

There is no fixed rule, but
if you’re unsure, try making the notes progressively shorter for quarter-note beats, eighth-note offbeats and sixteenth-note offbeats, respectively.
This is often a useful starting point.

Then adjust the lengths to fit the feel of the song.

Add Notes in the Gaps

Add chord tones or scale notes in the empty spaces for color.

Try combining the placement and note-length ideas above.
In this example, sixteenth-note offbeats add small movements, and those notes are made slightly shorter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between a synth riff and a backing part?

A synth riff is a phrase with melodic movement that can give a song character, while a backing part plays chords to support the rhythm section. Both can be created with a synthesizer and combined for a richer arrangement.

Q2. Can I make synth backing without playing an instrument?

Yes. You can place notes with a mouse in your DAW’s piano roll. Basic music theory can help, and experimenting until you are satisfied is an important part of the process.

Q3. How should I choose note lengths?

There is no fixed rule. As a starting point, try progressively shorter notes for quarter-note beats, eighth-note offbeats and sixteenth-note offbeats. Then adjust them freely to suit the song and genre.

Q4. What should I watch out for when using sixteenth-note offbeats?

They add fine rhythmic movement and a contemporary feel, but too many can make the part sound busy. Place them carefully and listen for balance.