Borrowed Riffs

[Jake T]

(listen from 10 to 19 seconds)

OH NO!!!

Just a note regarding this subject. As a songwriter, you draw from all of your previous listening experience. It's impossible to remember if the melody in your head comes from a movie, TV show, commercial, etc. It's real tough to be completely original or to know for certain that the melody is original. Sometimes the borrowing is intentional, sometimes it's not. Then there are the Steve Millers of the music world.

 

[Tray73]

My whole life's been a lie.

Some real surprises for me too here!


I think everybody knows about The Jam's Start! having the same guitar and bass riff as Taxman by The Beatles. I read somewhere that Paul Weller did ring Paul McCartney to ask his permission to use it.


Start!


Taxman

 

[METALPRIEST]

(listen from 10 to 19 seconds)

 

[Vehicle]

Just a quick riff, but definately there.

1982




1987




What about borrowing from yourself? Not just the riff, but the title as well.

 

[Jake T]

Journey borrowed a few bars from Rodgers & Hammerstein, intentionally I'm sure, just before launching into their "Favorite Thing", jamming.

Journey - Nickel & Dime

 

[Vehicle]

It's not exact, but I guarantee the first time an old school rocker heard this, The Cars was their first thought.

It's a pretty cool song in it's own right.