The short, repeating melodic phrase that defines a track's identity.
Definition
In trance, a riff (also called a hook or lead riff) is a short, memorable melodic phrase — usually 2 to 8 bars long — that recurs throughout a track and serves as its primary identity. The riff is most often performed by the lead synth, sometimes doubled by a vocal or piano. Strong trance riffs are designed to be singable: simple in shape, harmonically clear, and emotionally direct. The riff is typically introduced in the breakdown, developed during the buildup, and reaches its full impact at the drop. Iconic trance tracks are often remembered first by their riffs — "For an Angel," "Out of the Blue," "Adagio for Strings," "Concrete Angel" — making the riff one of the producer's most consequential creative decisions.