Musical characteristics of Rock
Tonality
Most rock songs are written with the classic major/minor tonality, major keys make the songs sound more energetic and lively while minor keys gibes the song more of a grittier darker vibe.
Harmony
A big feature in the harmony of rock songs are power chords which are not major or minor chords which makes the music sounds more versatile and its a good support for the lead guitar.
Extensions
A typical extension in rock music is adding a 7th to the simple triad chord, to give the sound more colour and it gives the chord more movement. More typical extensions can be 9th chords and suspended chords.
Scales
The most typical scale you can find in rock music is a minor pentatonic scale which is a 5 notes scale typically being used in guitar solos and riffs.
Riffs
Riffs can sometimes be the foundation of a rock song, they are typically simple but powerful. It immediately make the song song sound recognisable.
Rhythms
Rock typically has a typical 4/4 time signature with a heavy back beat, there can also be a use of syncopation in the drum fills.
Melody
Rock melody's often use riffs and hooks to make the song catchy. The vocal melodies can be raw and gritty to enhance the emotion of the song.
Instruments
The core instruments used in rock music are, electric guitars, bass guitar, drum kit and vocals.
Textures
The most common texture in rock music is Homophonic with there being a lead vocalist or guitar being supported by the chords played on the rhythm guitars or keyboards.
Lyrics
Rock usually has themes of love and relationships, personal struggle, rebellion and reflection.
Instrumental Techniques
The more obvious instrumental techniques are seen on the guitars with techniques like palm muting, hammer-on's, slides, distortion and many more.
Improvisation
The improvisation in rock music are often based in the scales that the song is in because it allows the guitarist or bassist do little licks in between sections.
Important notation
Who wants to live forever - guitar tab (We Will Rock You ver.)
3 Subgenres of Rock
- 3 subgenres of rock are heavy metal, indie rock and classic rock.
- The similarities of all 3 are is that they all have the classic rock foundations like the instruments and instrumental techniques.
- Heavy mental's sound is known for being more intense and aggressive, the vocalist is known for sounding shouty and for reaching high pitches. The lyrics can be of a more dark rebellious theme and the tempo is usually more fast and complex. Metallica: Enter Sandman (Official Music Video)
- Indie Rock sounds more melodic and chilled, the vocals are more classic/clean. The lyric theming is more personal and modern, the tempo is moderate. The instrumentation unlike heavy metal tends to be simpler and more experimental. The Smiths - This Charming Man (Official Music Video)
- Classic rock is more guitar-driven and energetic, the vocals are powerful with inspiration from blues. The lyrics are known for being more social and emotional, the tempo is also moderate but unlike indie classic rock adds more of a groove to the sound. AC/DC - Thunderstruck (Official Video)
Opinions on Subgenre's
My personal favourite out of the 3 is classic rock because it was what I was raised on and really you can't beat classic, its iconic.
Famous musicians in each subgenre
- A famous heavy metal musician is the late Ozzy Osbourne he was famous for being the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath, his presence on stage and his powerful vocals made the band iconic as well as his "Heavy Metal lifestyle''.
- A famous indie rock musician is Jeff Magnum he founded the band Neutral Milk Hotel, they were known for their unique sound with a blend of indie rock, folk and psychedelic music. Their breakthrough album was In The Aeroplane Over the Sea regarded as a cult classic and influenced the indie rock genre massively.
- A famous classic rock musician is Elvis Presley globally known as the "King of Rock and Roll", he brought a whole new sound to rock with his African American blues inspired songs like "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound dog". What made him so famous was his stage presence and movements in his performances which was widely popular with the females.
Evolution of Rock
Rock originated in the late 40s-50s building off African American blues sound. Early rock sounded energetic catchy with strong back beats. In the 1960's rock became global and particularly famous in the UK which introduced more psychedelic sounds with bands like the Beatles. In the 70s came more hard rock/ heavy metal with a more aggressive sound. In the 80s was the more punk rock which was anti-establishment music with more rebellious theming bringing in teen audiences. Now rock has evolved into many sounds with so many different themes from band like Ghost to artists like Phoebe Bridgers.
What Rock has in common with other styles
The rhythms have influences from blues music, the simple triads can be similar to folk and jazz. Another thing rock has in common with jazz is its use of improvisation because both rock and jazz can typically improvise dynamic solos.
Comments
Post a Comment