What is the easiest way to write an effective guitar riff?

Question

How do you do it 'cause I can't make up any catchy ones.

Answer 1

If anybody knew that and could explain it they would make a computer program that did it for them and would make $millions. I doubt jimmy page could tell you how he wrote his riffs so good, he just did it. You just have to write thousands of them and some will stick in your head.

Something to think about is that people often feel the urge to use every trick they know all the time in every riff. They guitarwank, in other words, and it just sounds stupid. Keep things simple would be my advice.

Answer 2

here are some ways:

1) s***w around on the guitar until you find something to get you started

2) think one in your head and try to transfer it to your guitar

Answer 3

You need to

1) Base it on a scale, because random notes don't sound cool

2) Possible write a song chord progression first, and base it upon that.

and 'catchy' all depends on your own creativity, you can't teach someone to write riffs... its a quality only you can achieve.