STYLE CHARACTERISTICS-1

Question 1

Bill Haley and the Comets

Answer 1

-Steady, mechanical meter
-Fast tempos
-Quick and even surface rhythms
-Staccato guitar chords on the backbeat
-A slapped, walking bass line
-A boogie woogie ostinato
-Combines Western Swing string band (lead and background vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, electric lead guitar, steel guitar), with the rhythm and blues band (bass, drums, piano, tenor saxophone)

Question 2

New Orleans Dance rock ‘n’ roll

Answer 2

-An overall bass foundation
-Boogie woogie barrelhouse rhythm
-The basic beat is often subdivided into three quick pulses (triplet feel)
-Rhythms and meters are looser than the stiff, mechanical meters of Bill Haley and the Memphis country rock style
-Surface rhythms vary from a lively, bouncy beat to a slow, intense shuffle beat
-Lead vocalists featured prominently
-Rarely any backup singing
-Rhythm and blues band: lead vocal, piano, acoustic bass, drums, guitar, tenor saxophone

Question 3

Memphis Country Rock (Rockabilly)

Answer 3

-Rhythm and blues elements: emphasis on backbeat, 12-bar blues format
-Country and Western elements: Instrumentation (string bands), strict rhythms, nasal singing style, pronunciation (accent)
-Overall treble dominated sound
-Instrumentation: Lead vocal, lead electric guitar, acoustic rhythm guitar, acoustic bass (slap bass), drums, piano, generally no backup singers
-Lead guitar style: bright tinny character, corresponds with nasal voice
-Vocal characteristics: stuttering, yelps, cracked falsetto, sometimes slur words together, nasal singing

Question 4

Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll

Answer 4

-Generally fast tempo
-Hard-driving beat
-Even beat subdivisions
-Sound: guitar based bands, soloists are guitarist
-Instrumentation like rhythm and blues band
-Guitar style derived from Chicago blues: slide guitar, finger sliding on strings, hard percussive picking style

Question 5

Buddy Holly

Answer 5

-Elements of Memphis and Chicago rock ‘n’ roll
-Background in country and western
-Vocal characteristics: hiccuping, changing vocal tone color mid-song
-Recorded own material almost exclusively
-First group with lineup of electric lead and rhythm guitars, bass, drums, and everyone sings
-Double-tracked vocals and guitar solos
-Popularized use of Fender Stratocaster guitar