Countless great songs are based on riffs -- catchy guitar phrases that repeat until they're seared into your brain forever -- or snappy chord sequences as memorable as any melody. Riffs get people excited, whether they are musicians or listeners. Advertising agencies use riffs on television, internet videos, and cinema trailers. Riffs sell concert tickets, guitars, and downloads. YouTube is full of guitarists playing riffs.

This book now in its third and updated edition digs deep into the wo...