Rock: Style

The Musical Characteristics of Rock

Rock uses a range of tonalities, from major and minor to different modes, like mixolydian and aeolian. Power chords are often used in rock, which have the first and fifth notes of a chord, omitting the third, making the chord neither major or minor. Some genres of rock, such as rock and roll, use more 7th notes, as they are more so rooted in blues styles. Minor and major pentatonic scales are common in rock, as well as blues scales. Riffs are also an essential feature of the average rock song, usually a short, catchy motif on an electric guitar or sometimes a bass. 4/4 time signature is used in most rock songs, and the genre is characterized by a strong backbeat (snare drum on beats 2 and 4). Rock melodies are usually strong and energetic, focusing on powerful vocals with pentatonic scales being used very often. Rock music typically features drums, electric guitar, bass and vocals, and sometimes there is two guitarists, one for rhythm, usually playing rhythmic chords, and one for lead, usually covering the riffs and solos of the song. Different genres of rock feature different textural elements, lighter rock genres are more homophonic, with a melody supported by instruments, whilst heavier rock genres are more complex, with more layers in the composition. Rock lyrics often cover topics ranging from love and romance, to rebellion, to social commentary. A common instrumental technique in rock is palm muting, where the palm of the hand is used to mute the strings on a guitar, creating a more dull, percussive sound. Improvisation is usually seen in guitar parts in the rock genre, usually with added motifs and solos throughout a song. 

Notation of Important Riffs, Melodies and Rhythms

Here is my notation of three different power chords, C, D and E. Power chords are very common throughout the rock genre, and are chords without the third, making then neither major or minor.

A tutorial on playing power chords on guitar:

How to Play Power Chords | Guitar Lessons

Three Subgenres of Rock and their Similarities/Differences

Three subgenres of rock are metal, indie rock and rock and roll. Metal is a heavy version of rock, guitars are often extremely distorted and vocals are aggressive and sometime feature screams or growls. Metal also has extremely fast tempos, as well as intricate guitar solos. Indie rock is often self produced, with raw, lo-fi production. Indie rock often covers topics of social commentary, and is more experimental and non-conformist. Rock and roll features fast, danceable tempos, and often features themes of rebellion due to its difference to other genres when it emerged in the 50s. Rock and roll shares more features with blues, like the use of the 12 bar blues structure. All three of these genres have similar instrumentation, although some are more distorted whilst some sound more clean, but these genres also differ in their themes and their motives. 

My Opinions on the Rock Subgenres

I love rock music as a whole, but I especially love some genres of metal. Some of my favourite bands include acts like System of a Down and Limp Bizkit, but I do also enjoy some indie rock too, although my true love lies in the metal genre. 

Examples of Famous Musicians from Rock Subgenres

Black Sabbath are widely know to be the creators of heavy metal. Their use of down tuned guitars, as well as their occult themes changed the genre as a whole, inspiring future metal bands to come. The Smiths is said to have revolutionized indie rock in the 80s, with their mix of vulnerable vocals with socially aware, melancholic lyrics and intricate, jangly guitars. They provided a blueprint for many indie rock bands ahead of them, including bands like Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys. Elvis Presley is said to be one of the creators of rock and roll, blending blues and county to form the rock and roll we know today. His charismatic persona also influenced the stereotypical image we have of a rock star, inspired those after him to take on a persona of power and rebellion. 

Paranoid by Black Sabbath, one of the first bands pioneering the heavy metal genre:

BLACK SABBATH - "Paranoid" (Official Video)

How Soon Is Now? by the Smiths, who revolutionised indie rock in the 80s:

The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (Official Music Video)

How did Rock Evolve?

Rock started with blues and country, eventually forming into rock and roll with musicians like Elvis Presley. British artists, such as the Beatles, interpreted American rock into their own, the genre becoming more experimental throughout the 60s. Then, in the 70s, several subgenres split from the original rock sound, taking different directions to create more heavy sounds, like metal, and softer sounds, like indie rock. Then the 90s brought more rebellion to the genre, with bands like Nirvana pioneering a more grunge sound. Overall, rock has taken many different directions, each different path still developing further in the modern day. 

What does Rock have in Common with Other Styles

Rock shares a lot of characteristics with genres like blues, as these genres came first, ultimately developing into rock. Some genres of rock do still use the 12 bar blues, as well as blues scales. On top of this, pop and rock also have similarities, such as the verse chorus structure of the typical pop/rock song.