ROCK MUSIC

YR 82014

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ROCK1. Use of guitars as the primary backing2. Tendency to harshness (in guitars and

vocals)3. Use of acoustic drums4. Harmonic and tonal variety – i.e. use of

natural minor scales and complex chords5. Use of some studio recording effects6. Lyrics frequently containing political or social

commentary

STUDIO RECORDING EFFECTSAn ‘effect’ is the modification of an audio signal to make it sound more interesting.

These ‘effects’ can change the timbre, pitch and volume as well as its echoing quality.

RECORDING EFFECTS1. Stereo – a pair of matched signals heard together that

may contain identical or entirely different information. 2. Equalisation (EQs) – alters the timbre of sounds,

boosting the treble or bass frequencies to make them brighter or darker

3. Reverb – one of the most used effects in pop music, creates a variable spatial effect that can simulate the resonance of performance venues of different sizes, from small rooms to large halls. Without it, recorded sounds can be dry and unappealing

4. Delay – Provides distinct echoes of an almost infinite number of repeats

GUITAR EFFECTS 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg6QaQpSoUc

2. Chorus - pedals mimic the effect choirs and string orchestras produce naturally by mixing sounds with slight differences in timbre and pitch

3. A phaser or "phase shifter" - creates a slight rippling effect - amplifying some aspects of the tone while diminishing others

4. A flanger creates a "jet plane" or "spaceship" sound5. A tremolo effect produces a slight, rapid variation in the

volume of a note or chord6. Vibrato effects produce slight, rapid variations in pitch which

mimicks the sound of opera singers and violinists

5. Wah-wah: Wah is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice.

6. Delay/Echo: Delay/Echo units produce an echo effect by adding a duplicate instrument-to-amplifier  electrical signal to the original signal at a slight time-delay

7. Reverb - units simulate sounds produced in an echo chamber by creating a large number  of echoes that gradually fade or "decay“

8. Overdrive/Distortion - Over/Dist effects are sometimes called "gain" effects. Distortion effects create "warm", "gritty" and "fuzzy" sounds by "clipping" an instrument's audio signal, which distorts the shape of its wave form and adds overtones.

9. Noise gate: Noise gates eliminate "hum", "hiss" and "static“ by greatly diminishing the volume of sounds that fall below a set threshold.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEAVY ROCK1. Use of distorted guitars2. Prominence given to the lead guitar for riffs, improvised

solos and melodic fillers3. Importance of riffs as a structural element4. Heavy drumming techniques with strong, driving

rhythms5. Extremely loud volume6. Harsh vocals7. Improvised and extended guitar solos that seek to push

the boundaries of technical possibility8. Lyrics that are frequently anti-social or controversial

SMOKE ON THE WATER1. How many times is the riff heard at the start before vocals?2. Name the instruments in order at the start3. Which instrument plays the riff?4. What is the bass guitar doing when it enters? 5. Which part of the drum kit is the loudest?6. On which beats does it play?7. How would you describe the beat?

1. Gentle 2. Jazzy 3. Strong and heavy8. Why is the riff so important?9. Which word best describes the speed?

1. Allegro fast 2. Andante (Walking pace) 3. Slow

CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIE-ROCK1. Defined by not being “mainstream”2. Includes a large host of musical styles including; soft, melodic

rock to heavy metal3. Change in instrumentation including acoustic bass and

orchestral strings4. Some examples of Indie-Rock bands include;

• Nirvana• Oasis• Midnight Oil• U2• Smashing Pumpkins

5. Lyrics often contained provocative political and social messages

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT ROCK1. Emphasis on lyrical melody2. Use of acoustic instruments3. Intricate vocal harmonies4. Softer volume than heavy rock5. A gentle, romantic mood6. Relaxed tempos7. Extended chord progressions8. Often romantic lyrics

COOL CHANGE – LITTLE RIVER BAND1. Describe the speed of the song.2. Describe the mood. Aggressive? Relaxed? Explain.3. How many voices can you hear in the chorus?4. Name the instruments you can hear. 5. Do you like the song? Why/why not?6. Little River Band was very successful overseas. Why do

you think they were so successful away from Australia?

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUL1. A highly emotional and dynamic delivery2. Call-and-response between the lead singer and a female

backing group singing in harmony3. Improvisation by the lead singer4. Use of expressive vocal techniques such as shouting,

glissandos, melismas and vibrato5. The use of a “vamp” – a repeated chord progression

over which the lead singer improvises on the melody and lyrics while the backing group repeats a single phrases

MUSTANG SALLY – WILSON PICKETT1. Is this song based on the 12 bar blues?2. What woodwind instrument can you hear?3. Are there brass instruments?4. Are the lyrics complicated or simple?5. Describe the lyrics in the chorus

1. Call:2. Response:

6. What keyboard instrument is playing?7. Is the texture thick or thin?

CHARACTERISTICS OF ART/PROGRESSIVE ROCK1. Frequent changes of mood, tempo, dynamic levels and

styles2. Use of added non-rock instruments for expressive

effects3. Emphasis on expressing words rather than providing a

beat for dancing4. Virtuoso displays of vocal and instrumental technique5. Their use of recording techniques such as multi-tracking

and stereophonic effects

STRUCTURE OF BOHEMIAN RHAPSODYSection Listening Guide Story

SECTION ONE

Opening Close harmony (multitracking) Questioning reality

Middle Main melody, solo singer, piano accompaniment

Murder committed

End Guitar improvisation ------------------------

SECTION TWO Choir vs solo singer, generally faster, use of multi tracking

Debate

SECTION THREE Heavy metal, solo singer, guitar riff, loud backbeat

Anger, escape

SECTION FOUR Similar to Section One, gentler and slower, return of piano accompaniment

Calmer, resigned

THE BEATLES – PIONEERS OF ROCK1. They presented themselves as a group, rather than band

backing up a lead singer2. They performed their own original content3. They didn’t worry about commercial considerations when

writing a song4. They often used non-rock instruments such as orchestral and

brass band instruments, harpsichord and Indian sitar5. They used elements of other cultures eg. French 6. Experimented with new sound effects, one of the first groups to

use synthesized sounds7. Didn’t follow a particular style – each album featured different

kinds of music eg. Rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, country, ballads, comic songs and songs of social commentary

THE BEATLES – COMPARISONShe Loves You Lucy in the Sky with

DiamondsTone Colour Clean, no effects,

traditional instrumentsVibrato and reverb effects

Dynamics and E.T Mostly loud throughout Soft in verses, louder in chorus

Duration Fast, constant Metre changes from compound duple to simple quadrupleSlow in verse, fast in chorus

Lyrical Content Simple and coherent, love

Noncoherent, strange and nonsensical

Instrumentation Guitar, Male vocals, Drums, bass

Tambura, guitar, organ, drums, bass, vocals

Pitch Melody with harmony throughout

Solo melody, back up vocals in unison in chorus

CHARACTERISTICS OF REGGAE1. Laid-back tempos2. An ensemble of lead, rhythm an bass guitars, organ,

piano, drums and Latin percussion3. Prominent disjointed bass lines against which the other

instruments play short ostinato pattern4. Thin textures5. Heavily accented second and fourth beats of the bar6. The use of timbales usually playing a fast introductory

‘pick-up’ as well as fills7. Lyrics with a social, political or religious message

CHARACTERISTICS OF CLUB/DANCE1. An emphasised dance beat with a heavy four-to-a-bar

bass drum beat2. Unchanging quadruple metre3. Emphasis on smooth and stylish production4. Entirely created and performed in the recording studio5. Electronic accompaniment (synthesisers, drum

machines, and so on)6. Repetitive lyrics7. Catchy melodies

CHARACTERISTICS OF DISCO1. A lively, hypnotic ;beat; for dancing, frequently with

incessant cymbal rhythms and throbbing bass drum with the bass guitar emphasising every beat of the bar

2. Much use of harmony singing3. Lavishly produced songs, often featuring strings and

horns for a refined, sophisticated sound4. The incorporation of electronic sounds an guitar effects

CHARACTERISTICS OF RAP1. Words spoken rhythmically in time2. A lively dance beat3. Lyrics that deal with human relationships, the ‘gangsta’

lifestyles of urban African-American slang, different types of rhyme and word play

4. Underlying accompaniment of bass, drums and keyboard or guitar

5. An emphasis on rhythm and timbre rather than harmony6. Sound effects such as scratching, quick-mixing and later,

synthesized ad computerised effects.

METALLICAThe creators of speed metal; fast tempos with sudden breaks. It was droning and hypnotic and harmonically simple. Lyrics full of the frustrations of teenage existence.Had a basic, well-crafted styleStage shows feature no props, few guitar solos and little interaction with the crowd.

MASTER OF PUPPETSSection One1. Which instrument starts the song?2. What is the speed of the song?3. Do you think it has a riff?4. What is the bass guitar doing?5. Comment on the drum beat. Which part of the drum beat is

loudest?6. Does the vocal style match the guitars? Explain your

answer.7. Which instrument is missing from the song?8. Describe the mood of the first section

Section Two9. What happens to the speed of the music?10. How does this section differ from the first section?11. Does this section sound like heavy metal?

Section Three12. Section Three is similar to which other section?13. What features do these two sections have in common?14. Describe the guitar solos that occur during the song.15. What do the voices do at the very end of the song?16. Do you like this song? Why/why not?