STYLE CHARACTERISTICS-2 Flashcards
Vocal Group Rock ‘n’ Roll
Sound: Lead vocalist supported by 3-4 backing vocalists, tight close harmony singing (“barbershop style”), backup sings nonsense syllables, instrumentalists deep in background (except for solos)
Band: guitar, drums, bass, piano, saxophone (soloist)
Form: Many songs in standard form, AABA
Harmony: Many songs use the “doo wop” progression: tonic-submediant-subdominant-dominant
Rhythm: Underlying triple pulse beneath basic duple meter
Other: Many “one or two hit wonders”, many bird groups (Orioles, Ravens, Penguins, Larks, etc), many car groups (Fleetwoods, El Dorados, Impalas)
Instrumental Surf Rock
-Guitar based bands
- Guitar sounds has tinny, trebly quality
- Lots of reverb on lead guitar
- Fast, double-picking style (“staccato, machine gun picking”)
-Often include an electric keyboard in the band (piano or organ)
- Drummer often doubles beat two the backbeat rhythm
- Drummer often fills with rapid snare drum beats
- If vocals are used its usually “oohs” and “ahs”
- Tune titles often associated with surfing
Dick Dale
- Guitar sound has heavy reverb
- Rapid double-picking style
- Double-picked, descending slide on bass strings influenced by roar of pet lions
- Double-picked, descending slide on treble strings influenced by sound of ocean waves while surfing
- Melodically influenced by Middle Eastern scales and melodies, also spanish guitar tunes
- Rhythmically influenced by drums of jazz
The Beach Boys
- The epitome of vocal surf rock
- Tightly arranged vocal harmony accompanied by surf rock band
- Twangy guitar sound with slight reverb
- High lead vocals (Mike Love, Brian Wilson)
Soul(intro)
Elements from Gospel Music: freedom of performance, gospel vocal inflections, religious fervor, call and response performance
Elements from Rhythm and Blues: hard-driving rhythm, fast tempos, aggressive electrifying performances
James Brown
-Raspy full-throated vocals
-Percussive backing band
-Gospel oriented chord progression
-Triplet figure in background (New Orleans)
-Gospel/Vocal group r&r backing singers
-Strophic, repetitive
-Intense, dramatic performance
-Hard biting punchy horn sound
Aretha Franklin
-Most strongly influenced by Gospel technique
-Wide range of vocal colors
-Wide vocal melodic range
-Frequent use of melisma
-Electrifying “in your face” performance
Pop Soul: Motown
-A lead singer supported by backup singers
-Close vocal harmonies
-Voices predominant over instruments
-Band is very much in the background
-More polished sound than soul
-Bass guitar recorded predominantly
-Not many instrumental riffs or vamps
-Strong beat generally emphasizing all four beats in a measure equally
-Some emphasis of backbeat, often with handclaps
-Very often uses a string orchestra in the background
-In performances usually very visual oriented with choreographed moves by backup singers
Pop soul: Philadelphia
-Lyrical melodies over a driving rhythm
-Punchy rhythm and blues horn section
-Clean guitar sound
-Drums have full, clear sound quality
-Simple but sophisticated string arrangements
-Band develops strong, dance oriented, rhythmic groove, which later defines disco sound
Funk
-Syncopated bass line
-Bass provides rhythmic direction
-Heavily pronounced backbeat drums
-Gospel-influenced Soul singing
-Rhythm instruments often used to create melodies
-Melody instruments often used to create rhythms
-No focus on any one singer/player
Rhythm guitar: choked style
Folk music
Voices: Good vocal control, generally sing on pitch, do not shout
Lyrics: carry a message, serious topics of social or political importance, music to listen to/ think about
Harmony: Simple but avoids 12-bar blues and doo-wop progressions
Rhythm: deep in background, no backbeat, surface rhythms based on lyrics
Sound: Exclusively acoustic instruments, avoid elaborate recording tricks, no double tracking, no overdubbing, no echo or reverb, “honest studio sound”, generally appeals to college age, older
Folk-rock
Blends rock elements (electric instruments, drums, use of backbeat) with folk elements (message lyrics, tuneful melodies, clear vocals, singing in key)
Country Rock
-Incorporation of the basic country string band with the electric band of rock
-Prominent use of country-style pedal steel guitar
-Bass often plays two-beat bass lines, though they must be decorated with runs and bounced notes
-Twangy lead guitar sound
-Nasally vocals with southern or country accents
-Close vocal harmonies
-Stiff country rhythms
Alternative country
-Basic guitar band line up: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums
-Augmented by country string band instruments: banjo, mandolin, fiddle, steel guitar
-Often electric bands with acoustic rhythm guitar
-A strong use of distortion on guitars, and sometimes vocals
-Lyrics typically of social or political concerns, though some are love songs as well
Southern rock
-Has traits that are found in blues, memphis-based rock and roll, and country music
-Favor two and sometimes three lead guitarists
-All lead guitarists have virtuosic abilities (rock characteristic)
-Lead guitarists favor playing syncopated licks in unison or harmony at extremely fast tempos
-Prominent southern accent on vocals
-Vocal harmonies are in tight or close harmony in thirds (country and rockabilly trait)
-Many songs are narratives, ballads (country and blues trait)
-Often displays attitudes of strong southern pride and patriotism
