Punk Rock

Question 1

Punk rock features?

Answer 1

Loud/aggressive
Distortion in guitar and bass guitar (gain + pedal controlled)
3 chords, badly played
Song in regional accents
Often shouted - or on one note
Largely based on anti-society ideas.
energetic
Fast paced drumming, loud/crashing symbols

Question 2

Instrumentation of punk rock?

Answer 2

Lead guitar
Lead vocals (predominantly male)
Bass guitar
Drum kit

Question 3

Punk rock form and structure?

Answer 3

Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Drum fills
Guitar solos

Question 4

Punk frock rhythm?

Answer 4

Simple 4/4 time signature
Simple rhythms
Some use of syncopation (off beat rhythms) in vocals

Question 5

Melody?

Answer 5

loud guitar riffs [e.g. The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go (1982)],
repetitive melodies/phrases often shouted rather than sung,
small range of notes

Question 6

Harmony

Answer 6

diatonic,
major chords, power chords [e.g. Black Flag – Rise Above (1981)], generally simple chord progressions,
backing vocals often sing in unison rather than in harmony

Question 7

Rhythm

Answer 7

simple 4/4 time signature,
simple rhythms,
some use of syncopation in vocals

Question 8

Timbre?

Answer 8

distorted guitars,
loud/shouting vocals,
heavy, energetic and fast paced drumming,
loud/crashing cymbals

Question 9

New terminology:

What is
Power chords
Drum fill
Distortion?

Answer 9

these are very common in punk rock music and involve the guitar using the same fingering and moving the hand up and down the frets to create different chords
this is a more elaborate drum pattern that is used to highlight the end of a section or phrase (normally only one or two bars in length)
this is an effect that is often used with guitar playing that creates a ‘fuzzy’ or ‘distorted’ sound. This can be created by increasing the gain on an amplifier but can also be created by using a distortion pedal