Stylistic Overview
Typically, a rock band was originally made up of a lead electric guitarist, a rhythm electric guitarist, a bass player, a drummer, and a lead singer. But, as time went on, the music became more developed and more instruments were added to the genre. Sting sections, brass sections, wind sections and also keyboards featured in some songs. With the addition of synthesisers later on.
The use of effects like distortion, feedback, reverb etc became prominently used on electric guitars. This was used to achieve a new sound and feel to the music.
In rock music they also include riffs, which is short section of the piece that's repeated over and over to build up the song and give it more of a heavy feel. All the instruments in the band will play its own riff in that section of the song. Along with sometimes including guitar solo's.
Most rock songs are in 4/4 time and revolve around a verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure. Sometimes they include a middle eight or a bridge to avoid the repetitive structure. This is an 8-bar structure that includes different chords, lyrics and new feel to the song.
There's often a 32-bar form, which breaks down into four eight-bar sections. This forms an AABA structure where the 1st, 2nd and 4th sections are the main theme, and the third section uses a contrasting theme.
The use of effects like distortion, feedback, reverb etc became prominently used on electric guitars. This was used to achieve a new sound and feel to the music.
In rock music they also include riffs, which is short section of the piece that's repeated over and over to build up the song and give it more of a heavy feel. All the instruments in the band will play its own riff in that section of the song. Along with sometimes including guitar solo's.
Most rock songs are in 4/4 time and revolve around a verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure. Sometimes they include a middle eight or a bridge to avoid the repetitive structure. This is an 8-bar structure that includes different chords, lyrics and new feel to the song.
There's often a 32-bar form, which breaks down into four eight-bar sections. This forms an AABA structure where the 1st, 2nd and 4th sections are the main theme, and the third section uses a contrasting theme.
Harmonic Overview
Most rock music was influenced by the 3 chord progression of the Tonic (I), Subdominant (IV) and the Dominant (V) brought about by blues music. Typical chord progressions used in rock are usually made up of changing the order that the I - IV - V progression comes in. Like for instance the chord progressions V - I - I, I - V - IV and V - IV - I, are commonly used in rock music. And example of a chord progression that follows this is in The Beatles song - She Loves you, with the Sometimes, the Dominant (V) chord has an added 7th to it, this brings more interest into the song and creates tension.
Other popular chord progressions of this genre is I - vi - V and I ii - V. These
Often in rock music, bands tend to have a different key for the verse and chorus.
Other popular chord progressions of this genre is I - vi - V and I ii - V. These
Often in rock music, bands tend to have a different key for the verse and chorus.
Take this song for example, this is 'One' by U2. The chord progression of the verse is in Minor and has a progression like : I - IV and ends in VI - VII before going back to chord I. For the chorus, the chord progression changes key. The chord progression of this starts on the relative major of I, before going back to minor VI - VII, then goes back to major IV - V. This key change in rock music has become increasingly common in modern rock music. It adds more interest and alters the feel of the music to reflect different sounds and emotions in the music.
Another commonly used feature of rock music is the use of the cycle of fifths progression. An example of where this is used join rock music is Muse's song - 'Thoughts of a dying atheist' In this song it uses the cycle of fifths progression by descending down the cycle of fifths.
Another commonly used feature of rock music is the use of the cycle of fifths progression. An example of where this is used join rock music is Muse's song - 'Thoughts of a dying atheist' In this song it uses the cycle of fifths progression by descending down the cycle of fifths.
If you listen to the intro of this song, it uses the chord progression I - IV - VII - III, each note following the Tonic is moving down a fifth to the next root. This is used mainly in the minor key and is becoming more common in modern music.
The use of different chords and chord extensions are prominent in rock music. A lot of rock music, like in blues use the 7th chord extension. This is popular because it adds more complexity to the sound of the chord, rather than doing a simple triad. In some rock songs, there's a wider use of extended chords by using notes outside the octave. This gives the chord a wider sound.
Power chords are used a lot in rock music and is seen as a key element of the genre. The power chord isn't exactly very hard or complex, being made up of the tonic and the fifth, but it creates a very thick sound when played, which is good for making solid backing in rock music. It was commonly used in some of The Beatles songs for simple and catchy backing. Below is an example of what a power chord sounds like.
The use of different chords and chord extensions are prominent in rock music. A lot of rock music, like in blues use the 7th chord extension. This is popular because it adds more complexity to the sound of the chord, rather than doing a simple triad. In some rock songs, there's a wider use of extended chords by using notes outside the octave. This gives the chord a wider sound.
Power chords are used a lot in rock music and is seen as a key element of the genre. The power chord isn't exactly very hard or complex, being made up of the tonic and the fifth, but it creates a very thick sound when played, which is good for making solid backing in rock music. It was commonly used in some of The Beatles songs for simple and catchy backing. Below is an example of what a power chord sounds like.
production_music_-_power_chord_2_-_two_power_chords_on_a_sol.mp3 | |
File Size: | 70 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Rock music also uses a lot of suspended chords, this is
Rhythmic Overview
Typically rock music is in 4/4 time. Many sub-genres of Rock music are all rhythmically different, but it's usually got this time signature. Rock music is usually fairly simplistic and unsyncopated rhythms. Syncopation is basically where there a shift in a normal musical accent and a beat is stressed on usually an unaccented beat. So unsyncopation is basically the opposite to that, where everything is fairly rhythmically consistent. (But not always)
Commonly, in rock music it usually has a standard straight 8 drum beat with alternating bass and snare beats. It's called a straight 8, mainly because it stays consistent and plays a straight beat.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
This is a little example of how the 8 straight beat is presented. Typically it is played like this: The bass on the 1st, 3rd + the 'and' after the 3rd beat of the bar. The snare on 3rd beat, and with consistent 8 straight quavers on the hi hat throughout the bar, which is showed on the little diagram.
Commonly, in rock music it usually has a standard straight 8 drum beat with alternating bass and snare beats. It's called a straight 8, mainly because it stays consistent and plays a straight beat.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
This is a little example of how the 8 straight beat is presented. Typically it is played like this: The bass on the 1st, 3rd + the 'and' after the 3rd beat of the bar. The snare on 3rd beat, and with consistent 8 straight quavers on the hi hat throughout the bar, which is showed on the little diagram.
Structural Overview
Most rock music has a verse-chorus-verse-chorus (AB) structure. With the verse-chorus form, it usually starts off with an intro. The intro to the song usually takes the best part of the song in general and sets the mood for the whole song and grabs people's attention. The structure then goes into a verse, which usually has the same melodies and tune, but the lyrics change for each verse. The chorus then has a different melody and vibe, and the lyrics are often fairly catchy. In a lot of rock music of this form, the verse and chorus are usually 8 or 16 bars long.
Often a middle 8th or bridge is added within the song that contrasts to the rest of it. This stops the song from sounding too repetitive and usually has a new set of chords, lyrics and a new vibe. With the addition to the AB structure, with the added middle 8th or bridge, it becomes ABC.
Another structure used in rock music is the 32-bar song form, that could also be described as AABA. This is basically a form where it breaks down into four 8 bar sections. Sections one, two and four, have the main theme and are described as the A. Section 3 or B, which could also be called the middle 8th has a contrasting theme. This 32 bar form repeats like a chorus, but the verse is usually only played once and is used as more of an introduction, it is usually the main melody of the song. At the ending of the first verse, it's usually harmonically closed with a cadence, which is typically of the Tonic chord.
An example of where this structure is used is the Led Zeppelin classic, Whole Lotta Love.
Often a middle 8th or bridge is added within the song that contrasts to the rest of it. This stops the song from sounding too repetitive and usually has a new set of chords, lyrics and a new vibe. With the addition to the AB structure, with the added middle 8th or bridge, it becomes ABC.
Another structure used in rock music is the 32-bar song form, that could also be described as AABA. This is basically a form where it breaks down into four 8 bar sections. Sections one, two and four, have the main theme and are described as the A. Section 3 or B, which could also be called the middle 8th has a contrasting theme. This 32 bar form repeats like a chorus, but the verse is usually only played once and is used as more of an introduction, it is usually the main melody of the song. At the ending of the first verse, it's usually harmonically closed with a cadence, which is typically of the Tonic chord.
An example of where this structure is used is the Led Zeppelin classic, Whole Lotta Love.
A riff is often used in rock music. This is a short section of music that's repeated, it could also be called ostinato. A riff can be played on any instrument, but regarding rock music, it's typically played on either the drums, bass and guitar. These all play a different riff at the same time, this builds up tension and is often used for a change before the chorus.
Similar to blues, rock sometimes features call and response. Like described before, this is a feature that can be played on any instrument or vocals where there's two parts to it. One part plays or sings something and the second part responds, giving the effect of answering a question. This is effective in some genres of rock, as it sounds very catchy so it will draw listeners in and it makes it sound more memorable.
Similar to blues, rock sometimes features call and response. Like described before, this is a feature that can be played on any instrument or vocals where there's two parts to it. One part plays or sings something and the second part responds, giving the effect of answering a question. This is effective in some genres of rock, as it sounds very catchy so it will draw listeners in and it makes it sound more memorable.
Case Study
My case study is on Jeff Buckley's song, Grace. This is a classic rock song, that holds many elements that make it significant to that genre. Here are some extracts of the sheet music for this song, I have written captions, which explain what is going on.
This song presents a verse chorus form, which is a key element that crops up in Rock music. Within this song there're three verses and two chorus’s, each verse has a chorus, there's a bridge after chorus two (which is a contrast to the rest of the song), and a climatic coda based on the chorus at ending of the song.
This song presents a verse chorus form, which is a key element that crops up in Rock music. Within this song there're three verses and two chorus’s, each verse has a chorus, there's a bridge after chorus two (which is a contrast to the rest of the song), and a climatic coda based on the chorus at ending of the song.
The song ends a coda, which has the climax of the song. Jeff uses a lot of falsetto, which is also used frequently in rock music, as described earlier. The chords are based off there chord sequence for the chorus, which are just repeated over and over - F, Eminor and Eflat7. These chords are strummed on the guitar with a distorted, flague effect on the guitar.