Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!​

You are voting for your favorite riff in Round 1 of the December 2009 Riff-Off. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here. In this round, there are eight head-to-head matches. Be sure to check out and vote for your favorite riff in the other seven Round 1 matches, also found in the Tips and Clips room. To view the bracket for this month's Riff-Off, go here.

Because not all contestants have access to the same quality of recording equipment, your voting decision should be based first on the actual composition, second on the player's execution of the riff. Try to look past recording quality. Some questions you may want to ask yourself while considering which way to vote: What is the emotional impact of the riff? How original is the riff? Does the riff inspire me? Would I want to hear a whole song built off this riff?

Note that each contestant has chosen a battle name for the Riff-Off; their identities have been hidden from all other contestants and the voting public, and will be revealed at the end of the Riff-Off, when a champion is crowned.

Lastly, while comments are strongly encouraged, please realize that each contestant put personal time and creative energy into his or her submission. If you have any critique to provide in this thread, give the contestants the courtesy of making it constructive. This competition is built on the premises of fun and musical growth.

Here are the links to each clip in this head-to-head:

The Walkin' Dude

Robin Williams

If you run into any technical issues or have other question regarding the Riff-Off, contact me via email (kgmessier at gmail dot com).

Have fun!

- Keith

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Another tough one

Both riffs are inspiring imagery/accompanyment, I just gotta figure out which one feels like it has more room to expand.

 

[Markk]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Walkin' Dude's seems more like a nice lick that would go great between a verse and chorus or at the end of one of those. Maybe something about it being a little complicated at the beginning and the sudden chord strikes.
Robin William's has more potential to become a riff that could be in a song as the main driving force.

But great playing. Moving on to the next ones.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Walkin' Dude's seems more like a nice lick that would go great between a verse and chorus or at the end of one of those. Maybe something about it being a little complicated at the beginning and the sudden chord strikes.
Robin William's has more potential to become a riff that could be in a song as the main driving force.

But great playing. Moving on to the next ones.

Great comments, Markk!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

See I'm just the opposite. I hear Walkin Dude's as more of a Van Haleny intro with DLR doing some improv scat over the top - think a faster Ice Cream Man meets Big Bad Bill and One Foot Out The Door.
All it needs is another few seconds to bust into the full band.

However, Robin Williams' is sticking with me more. It's got a feel of an underlying melody ala U2 with the chorus going over it.

Not a big fan of U2, but I went with the one that had more sticky

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

voted.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

voted.

arent you a contestant?

i am really getting confused on some of the rules

 

[sosomething]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

contestants can now vote, due to all the polls being made anonymous.

even presidential candidates can vote in their own elections - seemed fitting.

In fact, only Keith CAN'T vote, since he's the only one who knows who everyone is.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

ah, gotcha

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Vote in

 

[Fresno Bob]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Voted

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

voted
very close - hard to pick
nice riffs and playing guys

 

[elscorcho]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

voted
very close - hard to pick
nice riffs and playing guys

+1 awesome!

 

[Jake]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Walkin Dude - Cool riff.

Robin Williams - Also cool riff. Yours has more of a catchy feel to it, so I voted for you.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

whoa it's 21 to 21 at this point! Insane!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

whoa it's 21 to 21 at this point! Insane!

I wish that were the case with the Pats-Dolphins game.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

any thoughts on what to do in case of a tie?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

any thoughts on what to do in case of a tie?

Adam and I have been discussing this. Not sure yet.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Adam and I have been discussing this. Not sure yet.

Why not take an existing riff and have each do their own take on it? Have a day of voting and the person with the best version of the riff is the winner moves on to the next round.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 1.1: The Walkin' Dude vs. Robin Williams

Why not take an existing riff and have each do their own take on it? Have a day of voting and the person with the best version of the riff is the winner moves on to the next round.

So a variation on a set riff? I'm not quite sure how that would work, although I'm open to the idea if it's fleshed out a bit more.