Different Genres Of Pop Music

Question 1

Reggae Characteristics

Answer 1

o Backbeat (chords on beats 2 and 4
o Skank – chords on every other quaver (all the ands)
o Prominent syncopated bassline
o Lyrics about political issues
o 4/4, moderate bpm and major
o Verse chorus structure
o Use of horns (especially trumpets)

Question 2

Rock n Roll Characteristics

Answer 2

o 4/4, major and fast bpm (around 125-140)
o Use of improvised solos in the middle 8 (piano, guitar or sax)
o Pizz upright bass playing the WALKING BASS
o 12 bars in each section – based on 12 bar blues
o Uses the 12 bars blues chord sequence that ONLY uses primary triads (chords I,IV and V)

Question 3

Disco Characteristics

Answer 3

o 4/4, major and bpm of around 110-120
o Use of orchestral instruments
o Prominent hi hat use and often 4 to floor (crotchets on every beat of the bar in bass drum)

Question 4

Funk Characteristics

Answer 4

o Funk was an off shoot of disco so all of the above apply
o More use of syncopated rhythms
o Wah wah pedal in electric guitar
o More prominent bass line
o More prominent use of horns (trumpets and saxes)

Question 5

Rock

Answer 5

o 4/4, mostly major and mostly around 100-110 bpm
o Use of distorted guitar
o In the 60s we add a Hammond organ
o In the 70s we hear a keyboard (piano or synthesizer) – not as common from 1980s onwards.
o Backbeat on snare
o Extended electric guitar solo with effects use as vibrato, whammy bar and slides.

Question 6

Folk

Answer 6

o Modal harmony
o Story telling lyrics
o Acoustic instruments eg banjo, harmonica and tambourine.
o Slower bpm of around 60-80
o Look out for subgenres such as folk rock (Mumford and sons) and folk indie .

Question 7

Drum n Bass

Answer 7

o Fast tempo
o Sometimes shouted lyrics
o Syncopated bass lines
o Double pedals in bass drum kit
o Use of Amen Break