Basics of Rock and Roll

1. Basics of Rock and Roll

2. Rock styles • Certain types of rock music that share characteristics • Often from a particular time period or location

3. Regulates movement of music through time Basic unit = beat Regular pulse heard in most music Organized in measures or bars Rhythm

4. Measure or Bar • Group of beats • Number of beats in a measure is determined by the time signature (akameter) • In popular music, usually 4

5. Backbeat • In Classical music, accent on first and third beat of every bar 1 2 3 4 • In blues, jazz, and most rock, accent is on the backbeat = second and fourth beats 1 2 3 4

6. Elements of rock styles: Rhythmic • Accent on beat, or backbeat? • Style beat • Underlying rhythmic pulse that is common in particular musical styles • Two beat (marches, fox trot, country, honky tonk) • Four beat (swing jazz, funk) • Eight beat • Even = rock beat • Uneven = shuffle • Tempo

7. Elements of rock styles: Rhythmic • Syncopation - accents of melody displaced from normal metrical pattern If I could stick my pen in my heart 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 And spill it all over the stage 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Would you think the boy is strange? Ain't he stra-a-nge? 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

8. Elements of rock styles • Texture • Thick • Thin? • Medium? • Does the texture change at some point in the piece? • End-weighting • Texture builds throughout • Increases tension or momentum

9. Melody • Dominant musical line • In popular music, usually the vocal line • Contains main musical ideas of piece • Motive = short, distinct figure • Riff = motive with a distinct rhythm that repeats throughout piece • Hook– text phrase or musical idea that “grabs you” – repeated frequently • Range- distance between highest and lowest note

10. Harmony • Sounds that provide support for a melody • Chord - simultaneous sounding of 3 or more notes • Most common in pop music = triad • Three notes • First, third, fifth notes of a scale • Ex. C D E F G A B C • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 • Harmonic progression – sequence of chords that define the key

11. Key • Scale upon which the piece is built • Pattern of half and whole steps • Important notes: tonic (1st) and dominant (5th) • Melodies frequently return to the tonic

12. Basic Chord Progression • I - tonic - built on the first note of the scale • VI • IV - subdominant - built on the fourth • V - dominant - built on the fifth • I

13. Form • Structure of a song or piece • Basic principles - repetition and contrast • Articulated by • Lyrics • Addition or subtraction of elements = changes in texture • Alteration of other elements

14. Common Rock Forms • Verse and refrain • Refrain frame: verse and refrain, but refrain occurs first • AABA = pop song form • 12-bar blues

15. Blues • Many (not all) blues lyrics aab (a) Mean old levee, taught me to weep and moan (a) Mean old levee, taught me to weep and moan (b) Its got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home

16. 12-Bar Blues • Phrase 1 (a): I I I I • Phrase 2 (a): IV IV I I • Phrase 3 (b) V IV I I

17. Elements of rock styles: Harmonic • Fast or slow harmonic rhythm • Rate at which harmonies change • Fast - different chord every measure, or on every beat • Slow - Chord held for several measures before change

18. I Know….. Verse E If I could stick my pen in my heart I would spill it all over the stage Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya, Would you think the boy is strange? A G E Ain't he stra-a-nge?

19. Chorus A E I said I know... it's only rock and roll, but I like it A I know... it's only rock and roll, E D A E but I like it, like it, yes I do A E A Oh well I like it I like it I like it D A I said can't you see D A E that this old boy has been a-lonely

20. Elements of rock styles • Performing style • Blues influenced? • Gospel? • Pop? • Country?

21. Rock ‘n’ roll as Style? • Backbeat? • Style beat? • Tempo? • Riffs/hooks? • Syncopation? • Stylistic influences? • Instrumentation? • Harmonic rhythm? • Texture? • Form?

22. Jim Dandy – Laverne Baker Jim Dandy to the rescue (x3) Go Jim Dandy Jim Dandy on a mountain top/ 30,000 feet to drop He's got a lady on a runaway horse/ Uh huh, that's right, of course

23. Breathless – Jerry Lee Lewis Now if you love me please don't teaseIf I can hold then let me squeezeMy heart goes round and roundMy love comes a tumblin' downYou leave me ahhhhhhhBreathless Ah!

24. Elements of rock styles • Instrumentation • Melody instrument • Rhythm instrument • Chording instrument • Bass instrument • Other: strings, horns, auxiliary percussion

25. Rhythm Section • Drums and percussion—the heart of the rhythm section • Establish the tempo and meter • Establish the "feel" of a song

27. Bass Guitar • Provides link between rhythm and harmony • Articulates important notes of chords • Reinforces rhythm of drums, rhythm guitar • If song based on riff, usually in bass

28. Guitar • Lead guitar • Doubles melody line • Provides countermelody and fills • Solos • Rhythm guitar • Provides full chords in rhythmic alignment with the drums and bass = chording instrument • Frequently enhances snare drum part