Asian Riff

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Melody of the Asian Riff

A more-accurate sheet music for the Asian Riff

The Asian Riff is a musical riff or phrase that is often used to represent Asian culture. The riff typically signifies Chinese culture, but in some cases it has been used to signify Japanese culture as well. The riff is also known by an extremely diverse set of names: "The Chinese Melody", "The Stereotypical Oriental Tune", "The Asian Jingle" or the even the "trope of musical orientalism".

It remains an open question as to whether the Asian riff has an actual Asian origin or is purely a Western invention. The notes used in the riff are part of a pentatonic scale, giving the riff a resemblance to Asian music.

[edit] In popular culture

The "Asian Riff" has been included as part of numerous musical works. One of its most famous incarnations was in the 1974 #1 hit single "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas. The riff has been included in a number of other successful songs: "Bad Detective" by The Coasters (1964) and covered by New York Dolls (1974), "A Passage to Bangkok" by Rush (1976), "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors (1980). A similar, albeit substantially different, musical phrase used in "China Girl" by David Bowie (1983) is often seen as an homage to the Asian Riff.

Zach Galifianakis, a contemporary musical comedian, includes the Asian Riff in his act:

Whenever my Asian roommate walks in the door, I play this. [he plays the Asian Riff]. And she says "Zach, why do you do that every time I come in the room?" and I say "Because I don't have a gong."