Country: Style

The Musical Characteristics of Country

Country music usually uses simple major or minor scales, but sometimes makes use of blues and mixolydian modes to add complexity. The genre has a foundation of first, fourth and fifth chords, and also features complex vocal harmonies as well as sliding notes. Country music often keeps to simple chords, but sometimes branches out to 7th, 9th and sus4 chords. Country often uses major and minor pentatonic scales, also adding blues and mixolydian scales to create its signature sound. Country riffs sometimes follow country scales (major pentatonic with a minor third) and are often adapted from banjos and fiddles. 4/4 time signatures are common, often featuring country shuffle rhythms (drums/bass play straight rhythms whilst piano/guitar play on the upbeats). Melodies in country music are often in a verse-chorus structure, being very repetitive and memorable. Country music often makes use of acoustic guitars as well as banjos and fiddles, upright bass, mandolins and harmonicas. Country music is commonly homophonic, having a straight forward instrumental section with a melody on top. The lyrics of country music often features storytelling, but also follows themes of heartbreak, faith and hardship. Country music often uses percussive strumming as well as sliding notes. Improvisation in country music is often played by guitarists, featuring arpeggios and bending notes. 

Notation of Important Riffs, Melodies and Rhythms

Below is the notation I wrote for a C major blues scale, which is a common scale used within the country genre. Country shares many of its characteristics with the blues genre, especially its use of blues notes and the blues scale. 

Educational video on using the blues scale, 0.38 for the explanation of what a blues scale is:

How To REALLY Improvise Using The Blues Scale

Three Subgenres of Country and their Similarities/Differences

Three subgenres of country are bluegrass, rockabilly and country and western. Bluegrass is known for its use of acoustic instruments as well as fast tempos. It also features improvisational instrumental breaks, and it draws more from folk music compared to other genres of country. Rockabilly is an early genre of rock n roll, combining elements of country and rhythm and blues. The subgenre features electric guitar along with traditional country instruments, combining new developments with old techniques. Country and western features storytelling lyrics, often with themes of love and heartache, with ballads and duets being common. All of these subgenres make use of classic country instruments, as well as featuring elements of blues and folk music combined. 

My Opinions on the Country Subgenres

My favourite of these genres is bluegrass, mostly due to the fast tempo and upbeat rhythms. I don't enjoy most country genres, the vocal twangs and instrumental techniques don't appeal to me, but I do appreciate some songs. 

Examples of Famous Musicians from Country Subgenres

Flatt and Scruggs were influential to the bluegrass genre, establishing the sound of the genre with Scruggs' banjo styles and Flatt's guitar and vocals. They also brought bluegrass into mainstream media via TV and radio. Elvis Presley was foundational to the rockabilly genre, making use of energetic vocals as well as instrumental techniques like slap bass and guitar picking. Johnny Cash was influential to the country and western genre. His lyrics featured themes of social issues, giving voices to the marginalised, and also combining folk and rock to appeal to a variety of people. 

I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash, famous country and western musician:

Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line (The Best Of The Johnny Cash TV Show)

Salty Dog Blues by Flatt and Scruggs, who established the bluegrass genre:

Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Salty Dog Blues

How did Country Evolve?

Country music originates partly from European traditional/folk music, brought over by settlers to the USA. Over time, these traditional genres mixed with African-American styles, such as blues, creating a unique mix. Country music spread all over the USA with the help of radio as well as migration in the Great Depression, helping country become a national phenomena. 

What does Country have in Common with Other Styles

Country music shares many elements of folk and blues, having evolved from these two genres. It also shares many elements with rock, as rock also evolved from blues. These similarities mostly include timbre, such as the heavy use of string instruments (guitars, fiddles and banjos), as well as structures such as 12-bar blues.