{"id":92,"date":"2018-06-08T11:40:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T18:40:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-01-10T10:06:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T18:06:17","slug":"creepy-piano-riff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/creepy-piano-riff\/","title":{"rendered":"The Creepiest Piano Riff Ever?!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Film music was my first love as I started to dive into the piano as a kid. I used to put on a movie mainly to just sit a listen to that film\u2019s soundtrack, and I\u2019d have all the songs in my head long after the credits had rolled.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I listened to more and more film scores, I began to hear a very specific sound in <\/span>so <\/span><\/em>many movies. This little riff had this creepy, suspenseful vibe that I just could not get enough of. I had to figure out what it was! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I figured it out. And I\u2019ve been using it to creep my friends out ever since! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Sorrowful<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The riff is actually really simple, and a great way to build on your ear training and understanding of the minor triad. Here\u2019s the riff broken down for you\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take it in the key of <\/span>A minor,<\/strong> and play the chord broken from the bottom to the top. That means you play the notes <\/span>A – C – E<\/strong>, <\/strong>but here\u2019s where the creepiness comes in: Once you play that broken triad, you also play the <\/span>minor 6th<\/strong> note, just one semitone above the 5th note (in this case, <\/span>F<\/strong>).  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Creepy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That semitonal rub is what gives it that creepy flavor. So in the key of <\/span>A minor<\/strong>, the notes would be <\/span>A – C – E<\/strong>, and <\/span>F<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you can take this into any key and make that riff. All you\u2019ve got to do it take a basic <\/span>minor triad <\/strong>in any key, and add the <\/span>minor 6th <\/strong>note (one semitone above the 5th) to give it that creepy, suspenseful vibe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There you have it! Have fun busting this creepy riff out the next time you\u2019re in front of the piano!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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