Conventions of Pop Music Flashcards
What instruments were used in Rock’n Roll in the 50-60s.
Acoustic instruments: Guitars, Double Bass, Drum kit and piano.
What types of venues did Rock and Roll bands play?
Small dance halls, clubs or concert halls.
Rock and Roll songs include the following musical features.
-Fast Tempo
-Major Key
-4/4 time
-Lively Swung Rhythms
-Constant Loud Volume
-Fast moving basslines.
What is the verse chorus structure in a rock and roll song?
An introduction
Solo verses
Chorus
Instrumental section
Solo artists and groups that composed and performed rock and roll.
Chuck Berry, Bill Hayley and the comets, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Holly, The Everly Brothers, Ray Charles.
Where were rock anthems often performed?
Clubs, pop festivals and stadiums.
What did rock anthem songs need to be?
Powerful and memorable to engage audiences to sing and dance.
What changes were there in rock anthems to rock and roll.
Electronic instruments, amplification, effects such as: distortion wah-wah, echo and reverb.
Rock anthems include the following musical features.
-4/4 time sig
-long introduction
-high male voices with vibrato
-Steady strong rock beat- 110-120 bpm
-clear verse chorus structure
-strong memorable chorus
-repeated chord patterns
Rock anthems of the 70s-80s.
Bruce Brunstein- born to run
Europe- The final count down
Survivor- The eye of the tiger
Led Zepplin- Stairway to heaven
Queen- We will rock you
What is a pop ballad?
Generally Romantic or sentimental songs that tell a story.
What are pop ballads suitable for?
Suitable for a wide variety of events and occasions.
Features of a pop ballad.
-Simple acousic guitar or piano accompaniment.
-lyrics need to be easily hear
-common to have rock band instrumentation using synthesisers.
-4/4 time sig
-Slow tempo 60-100bpm
-More complex than rock and roll- wider range of chords and key changes.
-Modulation- Key changes
-Usually key changes go upwards
-Standard verse chorus structure
-Build gradually
What is a ballad?
A story telling song or poem.
Name some well known pop ballads?
Whitney Houston- I will always love you
Elton John- Your song
Celine Dion- my heart will go on
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