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Rock Music: Style Basics and Instruments in MUSC 309 Lecture 2 - Prof. Roberta Schwartz, Study notes of Music

University of Kansas (KU)Music
Prof. Roberta Schwartz

This document from musc 309 lecture 2 explores the basics of rock music style, including definitions, time aspects, and instruments. Topics covered include the difference between rock and pop, the importance of rhythm and form, and the role of drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and keyboards in rock music.

Typology: Study notes

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 03/10/2009

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MUSC 309 Lecture 2: Style basics; the musical background of rock
I. Rock definitions
A. What is it?
1. rock and roll – musically definable style
2. rock – larger definition
a. music influenced by rock and roll
b. subgenres
c. fusions
d. is it white music?
B. Rock v. pop
II. Rock basics – It’s Only Rock and Roll
A. Rhythm
1. Time aspect of music is one of most important characteristics
2.Rhythm
a. Orderly movement of music in time
b. Controls all relationships in music
c. Organized in terms of a basic unit of length = beat
3. Beat
a. Regular pulse heard in most types of music
b. In most music beats heard in groups of 2, 3, 4, etc.
4. Bars
a. In Classical music, first beat of every bar accented
b. Not always so in blues, rock
i. Accent on second in group of two
ii. Called backbeat
iiii. Usually brought out some way; drum beat, snaps, claps
B. Form
1. Way that a piece of music is organized
2. At its most basic level, musical form based on principles of:
a. Repetition
b. Contrast
3. Form articulated by
a. Lyrics – return, change of topic, etc.
b. Changes in certain elements
i. Addition or subtraction of instruments, voices
ii. ie: change in texture
c. Change in dynamics
d. Alteration of some other element How elements of
4. Basic rock form: verse/chorus
5. Chorus – words and music repeat
6. Verse
II. Style
A. Def. – sum of shared features that set one group of pieces apart from others
B. Most commonly used to describe commonalities among artists from certain time
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MUSC 309 Lecture 2: Style basics; the musical background of rock I. Rock definitions A. What is it?

  1. rock and roll – musically definable style
  2. rock – larger definition a. music influenced by rock and roll b. subgenres c. fusions d. is it white music? B. Rock v. pop II. Rock basics – It’s Only Rock and Roll A. Rhythm
  3. Time aspect of music is one of most important characteristics
  4. Rhythm a. Orderly movement of music in time b. Controls all relationships in music c. Organized in terms of a basic unit of length = beat
  5. Beat a. Regular pulse heard in most types of music b. In most music beats heard in groups of 2, 3, 4, etc.
  6. Bars a. In Classical music, first beat of every bar accented b. Not always so in blues, rock i. Accent on second in group of two ii. Called backbeat iiii. Usually brought out some way; drum beat, snaps, claps B. Form
  7. Way that a piece of music is organized
  8. At its most basic level, musical form based on principles of: a. Repetition b. Contrast
  9. Form articulated by a. Lyrics – return, change of topic, etc. b. Changes in certain elements i. Addition or subtraction of instruments, voices ii. ie: change in texture c. Change in dynamics d. Alteration of some other element How elements of
  10. Basic rock form: verse/chorus
  11. Chorus – words and music repeat
  12. Verse II. Style A. Def. – sum of shared features that set one group of pieces apart from others B. Most commonly used to describe commonalities among artists from certain time

period, geographical region, or who share set of influences C. What elements consider when regarding style?

  1. Rhythm a. Beat i. Accent on beat, or backbeat? ii. How defined? b. Subdivision of beat i. Other regular rhythms in most rock that move faster than the basic beat ii. Often heard in drums, rhythm guitar, bass iii. Even divisions? Or is one longer than the other? c. Can think of as “style” beat i. Even = rock beat ii. Uneven = shuffle beat iii. Is the style beat heavily emphasized, or only lightly (almost subliminal)? d. Tempo e. Other layers of rhythm i. Where riffs occur, or patterns played by certain instruments, clapping, etc. ii. Often different than both beat and subdivisions of beat iii. Common method of creating rhythmic interest is displacing accents from their normal metrical patterns aa. ie: “in-between” the beats bb. syncopation f. Layers of activity = texture i. Lots going on at once = thick, dense ii. Only a few things = thin g. SO: Rhythm in rock and roll i. Medium - fast tempo ii. Strong backbeat iii. rock style v. syncopation vi. rhythmic layers
  2. Melody a. Melody only in voice, or do other instruments play melodic ideas (= motives or riffs)? b. Riffs c. Hook i. catchy musical or text phrase that repeats throughout song ii. Grabs attention
  3. Harmony a. Pretty hard to hear, esp. when starting to listen for b. Speed at which change – harmonic rhythm d. Slow, accelerates as approaches title phrase, slows again after e Harmonic rhythm contributes to shape of song

Maracas: Bo Diddley; Good Vibrations (5) (D section) Conga drums: Oye Como Va Triangle: Save the Last Dance for Me (5) Tambourine: We Can Work It Out (7); Sledgehammer (17) Wood block: Uncle John’s Band (10) Cowbell!: Rock Lobster (15) (intro) ; Photograph (17) (under refrain; “Oooh, look what you’ve done to this rock and roll clown…”) B. Bass

  1. The role of the bass is to provide the link between rhythm and harmony a. Bass part is derived from kick drum rhythm pattern—"locking in" with the drummer b. Other notes are filled in to create an interesting part c. Walking bass line is common: even rhythmic pattern in a scale- oriented set of pitches d. Emphasis is put on the root note of the chord by playing that note on the first beat of the measure
  2. Early rock music used acoustic bass
  3. From the 1960s on electric bass has been the primary bass instrument a. Jazz and country still continued to use acoustic bass b. Electric bass is tuned the same way as acoustic bass c. One octave below the four lowest strings of a guitar Electric Bass examples I Get Around (5) (verse; lots of reverb) Dazed and Confused (11): opening riff I Can’t Turn You Loose (6) opening riff C. Rhythm guitar
  4. Function is basically to provide full chords in rhythmic alignment with the drums and bass a. Frequently the rhythm guitar enhances the snare beats while bass locks in with the kick drum b. Can be either acoustic or electric guitar
  5. Acoustic rhythm guitar in early rockabilly actually replaced the drum kit D. Keyboards
  6. Keyboard instruments can also be used as rhythm instruments a. Acoustic piano Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu (5) Any Little Richard songs (4) (Lucille, Tutti Frutti) Great Balls of Fire (4) Roll ‘Em Pete (3) b. Electric piano Watermelon Man (14)

Mother and Child Reunion (13) Drive My Car (7) c. Organ (also capable of providing a long sustaining tone if needed) Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (7) I Get Around (5) Hammond Organ: I Never Loved A Man (6) d. Synthesizer (capable of an unimaginable array of sounds) can provide long or short tones When Doves Cry (16): all keyboard sounds (several), weird vocal manipulations Wanna Be Startin’ Something (14): most of the percussive sounds, including the “bass,” are synthesized

  1. Their musical function in that case is the same as rhythm guitar a. Filling in notes that outline chords with a rhythmic pattern fitting in with drums and bass (and guitar) b. Organ and synthesizers can balance sustaining notes against rhythm instruments as well
  2. Rhythm instrument players must be careful not to get in each other's way II. Sweetening and soloing instruments A. Horns and strings
  3. Additional auxiliary instruments add interesting timbral elements to the music a. The term used in recording is "sweetening" b. These tracks must be written carefully not to detract from the vocal tracks
  4. These parts usually center on harmonic or melodic concepts
  5. Horn sections consist of brass instruments and/or saxophones a. Trumpets b. Trombones On Broadway (5) : Interlude – exchanges between trumpet and electric guitar Pharoah’s Dance: trumpet lead Soul Man (6): trumpet riff in intro, chorus, punctuation in verse) I Can’t Turn You Loose (6): horn riff – trumpets and trombones c. Saxophones (commonly alto and tenor) I Got You – alto sax solo Respect (6) – alto sax solo Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu: tenor sax – punctuation and solo The Wanderer: Tenor sax Young Blood: tenor sax

b. An example of this would be the Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl" c. They can function as responses to the lead vocal d. As in the Beatles' "Twist and Shout!" IV. How it all fits together A. "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple http://www.people.ku.edu/~rfschwar/rockpage11.html

  1. Form: verse-chorus pattern:
  2. Introduction, four verse-chorus pairs (the third of which is instrumental) with a coda to end the song
  3. Introduction a. Four-measure blues-inflected riff on electric guitar with overdriven amplifier distortion b. That is repeated c. On the third pass the drums enter, beginning with high-hat d. Snare is added on the fourth time through along with distorted organ doubling the guitar part e. Bass guitar is added on the fifth occurrence of the riff f. Bass drum (kick) is added on the sixth time through the riff
  4. Verse begins with the entrance of the vocal a. Drummer plays regular rapid notes on the high-hat with snare and kick on strong beats b. Cymbals crash at the beginnings and ends of phrases c. Guitar and bass play very similar parts d. Organ takes the role of rhythm instrument playing chords against drums and bass
  5. Chorus has changes in what the instruments are playing a. Organ, guitar, and bass play more sustained notes b. More cymbal crashes on the drums c. Vocal harmony parts are added
  6. The next verse and chorus are very similar to the first verse-chorus section
  7. The third verse-chorus section is a guitar solo a. Bass is more active during the solo b. Snare becomes the busiest part of the drums—reversing the role with the high-hat c. The chorus is more dynamic than in previous vocalized choruses d. The guitar introduction material returns at the end of the chorus section to link back to the verse B. "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers http://www.people.ku.edu/~rfschwar/rockpage5.html
  8. Begins with acoustic guitar without distortion a. Dual acoustic guitars playing rhythm strumming b. The acoustic guitars set the rhythmic pace for the song
  1. Drums are light: brushes on the snare drum—no other drums or cymbals are used
  2. The song begins with the chorus a. Duo vocals are the Everly Brothers' trademark b. Both sing lyrics together in rhythm c. Vocals are high with little or no vibrato
  3. Electric guitar is present, but subtle—providing only accents with a lick between chord changes
  4. Bass is played on an acoustic bass
  5. Vocals are accompanied by rhythm guitars, electric guitar, snare, and acoustic bass for the whole song
  6. Verses are sung by a solo vocalist, choruses are sung by both singers V. Comparison between the two songs A. There are obvious differences between the styles of these two songs but they also share common aspects
  7. Singing is placed in front and in the center of the mix
  8. Rhythm instruments combine to form a coordinated accompaniment, though in different ways a. Deep Purple use more forceful playing on all instruments b. Deep Purple use distortion on guitar and organ
  9. Everly Brothers use their acoustic guitars to drive the rhythm
  10. Both examples use solo vocals in the verses and duets in the choruses
  11. "Smoke on the Water" features an instrumental solo; "Bye Bye Love" does not B. The combinations of musical elements played in the songs cause the difference between the songs
  12. When examining rock songs, it is important to listen to individual aspects as well as the overall sound
  13. It must be understood that each song has many layers that contribute to the final product
  14. The accompaniment parts must all combine to form a tapestry that supports the vocal melody