Hard Rock Flashcards
1
Q
Instrumentation
A
- vocals (usually male)
- two guitars (rhythm & lead)
- keyboards
- bass
- drums
2
Q
Performance and Arrangement
A
- powerful vocals usually delivered in a high register (screaming level)
- guitars play riffs using power chords (root & dominant chords)
- fast soloing with high degree of technical ability
- pentatonic/blues/modal/chromatic scales used regularly for solos and riffs
- driving rhythm called ‘chugging’ used by guitar, drums and bass
- keyboard not used in a lead role
- drums feature a lot of cymbals and toms and can be very technical
3
Q
Technology and Production
A
- Distortion and Valve amp sound create a huge guitar sound
- Fuzz, Wah-Wah and phaser are the main effects used
- Feedback and finger tapping techniques
- Drums and bass create a thick and heavy sound
- Large reverbs
4
Q
Influences
A
- Blues
- British blues
- R&B
- Prog Rock
- Psychedelic Rock
5
Q
The Kinks
A
- ‘You Really Got Me Going’
6
Q
The Yard Birds
A
- Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page
7
Q
Jimmy Hendrix
A
- From Seattle
- Everybody looked up to him. Pioneered distortion, wah-wah, feedback
- More blues, didn’t get the repetitive riffs
8
Q
Cream
A
- Split up in 1968
- Transformed American blues into British psychedelic rock
- Heavy riffs, pounding drums, wailing guitar & screaming vocals
9
Q
Arthur Brown
A
- Sinister theatricality and extreme vocal range inspired many
- Violent energy, nightmarish
- Although they came from the type on the hippies they weren’t part of the movement
10
Q
The Doors, Vanilla Fudge & Iron Butterfly
A
- American bands
- Flamboyant and psychedelic
- Vanilla Fudge: great musicianship but didn’t hold the heaviness. Hugely influential to rock - first time thought of Hard Rock as supposed to Rock&Roll
11
Q
Blue Cheer
A
- The heaviest, loudest and grungiest band
12
Q
The Edgar Broughton Band
A
- Underground trio
- UK band
- ‘Psychopath’ on 2nd album
13
Q
Led Zeppelin
A
- They were the catalyst
- Guitar based, very riffy
- Classiness about them
14
Q
Black Sabbath
A
- Birmingham based
- Working class
- The name came from the Boris Karloff movies ‘Black Sabbath’
- Began writing original material that reflected their fascination and fear of the dark side
- Nobody was talking about the evil so it seemed an ideal thing to talk about in their music
- Their music reflected the tough reality
- Many we’re convinced that they were a Satanic band and deserved to die
15
Q
Uriah Heep
A
- Heavy Organ and guitar driven sound
- Down South
- Late 60s mix of blues, prog rock and folk
- Very Heavy
- Did acoustic covers as well
- Getting following through live shows
