Pop music: Rock n roll, rock anthems, pop ballads

Rock ‘n’ Roll Lyrics

Simple, repetitive and easily memorable – teenage concerns

Rock ‘n’ Roll Tempo and metre

Fast (Allegro) – ideal for dancing

165 – 185 bpm

4/4-time signature

Rock ‘n’ Roll Harmony and Tonality

Major Tonality using mainly simple and repetitive primary chords – I, IV and V with slow harmonic Rhythm, often in 12 bar blues structure

Close harmonies in vocals

Rock ‘n’ Roll Melody

Often uses ‘blue notes’

Catchy melodies – narrow vocal range

Vocal and Guitar melodies use repeated phrases, riffs and hooks

Rock ‘n’ Roll Dynamics

Consistent loud volume

Often louder in the choruses through amplification

Rock ‘n’ Roll Rhythm

Backbeat

Walking bass line

Syncopation, swung and Boogie-Woogie rhythms also used

Rock ‘n’ Roll Texture

Homophonic

Solo singer + instruments

Textural variety through instrument dropping out

Rock ‘n’ Roll Articulation

Harsh, brash and raw sound

Accents on 2^nd and 4^th beat - backbeat

Rock ‘n’ Roll Accompaniment

Sometimes Call and Response between lead singer/instrument and accompaniment

Rock ‘n’ Roll Form and Structure

Verse-Chorus Form with a short

Introduction

solo verses,

chorus, instrumental section

(Improvised solos or shuwaddy

section featuring Scat singing)

ending with a Coda/Outro.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Vocal performance and technique

Mainly male lead

Falsetto - untrained or shouty tone/timbre screeches, jeers and cheers.

Portamentos and Scat Singing

often used.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Technology

Amplifiers for Electric Guitars

Reverb and Echo.

 Clean guitar sounds (not overdriven).

Double-track lead and backing vocals for

richer sounds. “Raw” sound of recordings.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Venue

Dance Halls, Clubs (live), Concert Halls, Juke

Boxes, Coffee Bars, Radio and to buy on

Record/Vinyl.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Artists, band and performers

Little Richard, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bill

Haley & The Comets, The Beach Boys,

Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly,

Chubby Checker, The Doors.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Instrumentation

piano, drum kit, saxophone, trumpet, harmonica, trombone and double bass. The Electric Guitar

soon became an essential part of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Backing Singers/Vocalists were frequently used in Rock ‘n’ Roll songs.

Rock anthems Lyrics

politics, philosophy, religion and

literature with darker, powerful and

more serious lyrics.

choruses designed to be sung loudly by

the audience.

Rock anthems temp and metre

Moderate to Medium Fast (Allegro

Moderato)

110-120 bpm.

4/4 Time Signature.

Strong steady “Rock Beat”.

Rock anthems harmony and tonality

Early Rock – Primary chords

Later – Auxiliary, Chromatic, added 6, 1^st and 2^nd inversion, altered note

Power chords key

Modulations common

Rock anthems melody

Performed by the lead singer

Lead electric guitar plays short sections of the main melody

Rock anthems dynamics

Very loud

Use of amplification

Rock anthems rhythms

Strong + Driving Rhythms

Incessant driving patterns

Use of heavy bass drum

Continuation of backbeat

Rock anthems texture

homophonic

polyphonic occasionally

Rock anthems articulations

Effects added to guitars

-          Distortion

-          Echo

-          Reverb

-          Overdrive

-          Delay

-          Overdrive

-          Delay

-          Wah – Wah

Rock anthems accompaniment

Lead singer accompanied by band for rhythm, bassline + chords

Opportunities for solos

Rock anthems form and structure

Verse Chorus

Long intro

Modulation in bridge

Memorable chorus

Longer duration 7-8 mins

Rock anthems vocal performance and technique

Mainly male vocal lead singer

Growly, raspy and husky style of singing

Rock Anthems Technology

Amplification technology up

New sounds and effects, Distortion, Wah-Wah, Delay, Overdrive

Multi track recording

Rock anthems venue

Louder amplification -> larger audiences in stadiums, sports arenas and pop festivals

Special effects

Rock anthems artists, bands and performers

Led Zeppelin, The Who (Hard Rock) Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden (Heavy Metal), David Bowie, Queen, KISS (Glam Rock), Yes, Pink Floyd (Progressive Rock)

Sex Pistols, Blondie (Punk Rock

Rock anthems instrumentation

Lead singer

Drumkit

Trio of guitars

Lead electric

Rhythm

Bass

Pop Ballads Lyrics

Tell stories

Pop Ballads Tempo and metre

Slow and mod tempo to emphasize word meaning

70 – 100 bpm

4/4 Time Signature

Rit and tempo rubato used

Pop Ballads harmony and tonality

Chord Progressions such as I, V, VI, IV.

 Slow Harmonic Rhythm. Often use Chord Inversions, Repeating Block Chords, Broken Chords or Arpeggios.

Modulation in final chorus.

II,III and IV used more.

Pop Ballads melody

Mainly diatonic

Pop Ballads dynamics

start mp and increase

Pop Ballads rhythm

syncopating on snare

Pop Ballads texture

homophonic

texture builds throughout

Pop Ballads articulation

Legato

Pop Ballads accompaniment

Supports lead singer

Pop Ballads form and structure

Verse Chorus

Strophic

Pop Ballads vocal performance and technique

Expressive and emotional

A Cappella, Vibrato,

Falsetto, Melisma, Portamento, Riffing,

Ritardando, Tempo Rubato, Large Vocal

Ranges, Long Held Notes.

Pop Ballads technology

Heavy reverb on vocals → warm sound

Pop Ballads venue

Pop Concert, Radio, TV, CD, MP3 Download

Internet Sites, YouTube.

Pop Ballads artists bands and performances

Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Chris de Burgh,

Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Bette

Midler, Take That, The Carpenters, Sting,

Extreme, Seal, Robbie Williams, Lionel

Richie, George Michael, Eric Clapton.

Pop Ballads instrumentation

No “set list” of instruments

Guitars (Acoustic, Electric and Bass), Drum Kit, Vocals (Lead and Backing Singers – often called BVOX), Piano, Electric Piano, Saxophone and Strings

Music Technology.