(Pop)- Rock Anthems of the 1970/80s

Question 1

how had Rock ‘n’ Roll evolved by the 1960s?

Answer 1

By the 1960’s, Rock ‘n’ Roll evolved into a new style of music, known simply as Rock Music.
There are many subgenres of Rock Music: (separate flashacrd)

Question 2

what were the sub-genres of Rock Music? (5 things)

Answer 2

1) Hard Rock
2) Heavy Metal
3) Glam Rock
4) Progressive Rock
5) Punk Rock

Question 3

what was hard rock?

Answer 3

– loud and aggressive, distorted electric guitars, solo guitar sections, use of power chords

Question 4

what was heavy metal?

Answer 4

– harder, louder and more distorted than Hard Rock with longer guitar solos

Question 5

what was glam rock?

Answer 5

theatrical and glitzy, catchy hooks, spangly suits and make up

Question 6

what was progressive rock?

Answer 6

– experimental and complicated structures, long instrumentals with effects and mythological
lyrics

Question 7

what was punk rock?

Answer 7

harsh and angry, loud and fast, anarchy and rebellion as themes

Question 8

what were the lyrics like?

Answer 8

1) Wider subject matter than the simpler
lyrics of Rock ‘n’ Roll with themes such
as:

2) politics, philosophy, religion and
literature with darker, powerful and
more serious lyrics.

3) Powerful anthemic 
choruses designed to be sung loudly by 
the audience, (Songs needed to be 
powerful and memorable to engage audiences and encourage people to sing 
along and dance.)

Question 9

what was the tempo like?

Answer 9

Moderate to Medium Fast (Allegro
Moderato)
110-120bpm

Question 10

what was the metre?

Answer 10

4/4 time signature, strong steady “Rock Beat”

Question 11

how does the lead singer sing the melody?

Answer 11

Performed by the lead singer with
lyrical vocal phrases featuring
repeated patterns.

Question 12

how does the lead Electric Guitar play the melody?

Answer 12

The lead
Electric Guitar plays Strong Guitar
Riffs based on short sections of the
main melody.

Question 13

what are the dynamics?

Answer 13

Due to heavy amplification, Rock
Music is designed to be performed
very loudly – Fortissimo (ff).

Question 14

what was the rhythm?

Answer 14

1) Strong and Driving Rhythms.
2) Incessant Drumming Patterns.

3) Use of a heavy Bass Drum and 
continuation of use of Backbeat 
(emphasising the 2nd and 4
th beats 
of the bar on the Snare Drum)

Question 15

what was the texture?

Answer 15

Homophonic (Melody and 
Accompaniment) Texture although 
thick Polyphonic Textures are often 
used when singers, guitars and 
drums play different rhythms at 
the same time.

Question 16

what was the articulation?

Answer 16

Effects added to guitars: Distortion, 
Echo, Reverb, Overdrive, Delay, 
Wah-wah and Feedback (the noise 
made when a mic or guitar are too 
close to a speaker).

Question 17

what was the accompaniment?

Answer 17

Lead singer accompanied by band 
that provide the accompanying 
rhythm, bass line and chords, 
although there are opportunities 
for virtuosic instrumental solos.

Question 18

what was the form and structure?

Answer 18

Verse-Chorus Form.

1) Long Intros.

2) Modulation in the Bridge
(extended instrumental solo
improvisation). (from jazz)

3) Memorable
Chorus.

Question 19

how long to rock songs last for?

Answer 19

Rock Songs often of longer

duration – some 7-8 minutes.

Question 20

what was the vocal performance and technique like?

Answer 20

Mainly male vocal lead-singer singing with a
growly, raspy and husky-style of singing
using very high pitch screams singing with
Vibrato but not Falsetto.

Question 21

how did a develop in technology affect Rock Anthems of 70s/80s? (3 things)

Answer 21

1) Amplification technology developed – louder
volumes.

2) New sounds and effects:
Distortion, Wah-wah, Delay, Overdrive.

3) Multi-track recording created increasingly
complex textures.

Question 22

what were the venues?

Answer 22

Louder amplification = increasingly larger
audiences in stadiums, sports arenas and
pop festivals.

Question 23

what did performances feature visually?

Answer 23

Performances feature special

effects – light shows and pyrotechnics.

Question 24

examples of Artists, Bands & Performers:

Answer 24

Led Zeppelin, The Who (Hard Rock)
Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden (Heavy Metal)
David Bowie, Queen, KISS (Glam Rock)
Yes, Pink Floyd (Progressive Rock)
Sex Pistols, Blondie (Punk Rock)

Question 25

what was the basis of a rock band?

Answer 25

a Lead Singer, Drum Kit and Trio of Guitars: Lead Electric Guitar, Rhythm Guitar and Bass Guitar.

Question 26

what does the sound of rock music centre upon instruments wise?

Answer 26

Electric Guitar.
Sometimes a Piano, Hammond Organ, Electric Keyboard/Synthesiser or Strings may be added or other (often strange!) timbres and effects!

Question 27

what is the harmony and tonality like?

Answer 27

1) Early Rock uses mainly Primary Chords (I, IV
& V) but later Rock uses Auxiliary Chords,
Chromatic Chords, Added Sixth Chords, First
and Second Inversion Chords and Altered
Note Chords and repeated chord patterns

2) Power Chords (chords which
don’t contain the 3rd e.g. C5) are a key
feature of Rock Music, these are chords played on the guitar which do not
contain the middle note – the third.

3) Modulations (in
the Bridge section) became more common

Question 28

what are modulations?

Answer 28

changing key