por He Rock It is a musical genre that has its origins in the United States at the beginning of the 50’s. This musical style emerged as a variant of Rock n’ Roll, achieving great popularity in the following decades in different countries around the world.
This musical genre was not only influenced by Rock n’ Roll, but also used elements of other rhythms such as blues, classical music, R & B and jazz. These styles strongly influenced rock, managing to give it a unique identity.
One of the most important characteristics of rock is that from the beginning it was identified by the use of instruments such as the guitar, the bass, the drums and the vocalist. This structure was the basis for the first groups that played rock, but over time many other instruments were introduced, diversifying this musical style.
Another of the important characteristics of Rock is that its musical structure is made up of verses and choruses (choruses). This composition is preserved to this day and is the basis of their songs, making this genre a unique rhythm that has influenced many other styles.
Rock Types
Due to the great popularity that the Rock genre acquired not only in the United States, but around the world, several subgenres arose. Each of these has particular elements, but they are based on the original concepts of Rock.
Some of these subgenres are more popular than others depending on the country where they have been most popular. However, all these styles derived from Rock have been an important part of music throughout history, making different artists, groups and songs known.
There is a large number of subgenres based on Rock, however, among the most important, are the following:
Beat Rock:
It is characterized because they are groups made up of four or five members where there may be one or two guitars, a bass, a drums and a lead vocalist.
It has its origins in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 1960s, so a great influence on this subgenre by British culture can be seen both in the way they dress, as well as in their lyrics and voices.
It is a type of subgenre with soft, harmonic rhythms and less strong than other subgenres.
As an example for this subgenre, you can find bands like:
the Beatles
The Monkees
Gerry and the Pacemakers
Zombies
easybeats
Blues Rock:
It is a subgenre strongly marked by the blues, which mainly has its origins in blues artists from the United States and the United Kingdom of the early 1970s.
Its central axis is the electric guitar, thus giving a unique style to its rhythms and a greater prominence to the sounds of this instrument.
It is characterized by being a musical style with fast and energetic rhythms played mainly by the electric guitar.
Some famous Blues Rock artists and groups are:
B.B. King
Butterfield Blues Band
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton and Cream
deep purple
CountryRock:
It is a very marked style and influenced by North American culture, especially rural and country areas with their country style.
One of its main characteristics is that it is very popular among the middle classes in rural areas of the United States.
It can involve instruments other than those normally used in rock, such as saxophones, pianos, and violins.
Within this genre, you can find groups and artists such as:
Alabama
mac davis
Bob Dylan
The Eagles
Neil Young
Garage Rock:
It is known as garage rock because it arose in the garages of houses in the United States where young people gathered there to imitate famous bands.
It uses fast and strong rhythms, supported mainly by distorted guitars and drums.
It is a subgenre characterized by rebellious lyrics and improvisation.
As an example are:
The Plagues
Evil
Syndicate of Sound
Henry Flynt & The Insurrections
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glam rock:
It is characterized by giving importance not only to the musical, but to the image of its artists and the scenery.
It emerges as a musical style where its performers use colorful costumes, makeup and eccentric hairstyles.
This subgenre is characterized by fast rhythms, high-pitched voices, and harmonic melodies.
Some known groups are:
poison
motley crue
KISS
def leppard
Guns N’ Roses
Hard Rock:
It is identified by aggressive, strong and fast sounds, supported by instruments modified by elements such as amplifiers or synthesizers.
The voices of their singers are deep and powerful, which were accompanied by louder sounds from other instruments.
They are known bands in this subgenre:
AC DC
Black Sabbath
scorpions
Motorhead
Iron Maiden
Heavy Metal:
He uses heavy rhythms, fast rhythms, powerful vocals, and his instruments are often played at high volumes.
He usually uses colorful lights and fireworks on his stages to enhance his sounds.
Some bands are:
slayer
Panther
Anthrax
halloween
Grave
Alternative Rock and Grunge:
It is characterized by giving more importance to the lyrics of their songs than to the sounds of their instruments.
It seeks to break away from the strong and powerful sounds of other rock subgenres, making it less harmonious and melodic, and more melancholic.
Some famous bands are:
REM
The Cure
Nirvana
The Doors
Weezer
Psychedelic Rock and Progressive Rock:
Its players were looking for distorted sounds, using distorted guitars and synthesizers to create rhythms other than the classic ones.
Many of the progressive rock artists started out in psychedelic rock, so they took this genre and fused it with jazz or classical music.
Some well-known interpreters are:
Pink Floyd
Spirit
Jim Morrison
Jerry Garcia
Punk rock:
Their sounds are very aggressive and their lyrics express rebellion and social criticism. His songs are short, fast and not very elaborate.
It arose in England in popular neighborhoods as a protest and rejection of many social and cultural elements.
Its main exponents are:
Sex Pistols
The Ramones
NOFX
The Clash
indie rock
It means independent Rock, where its artists seek to express their own music and rhythms.
It can be said that it is a much freer genre than the previous ones, where there are no limitations in its sounds and its style is much more autonomous.
Some of its best known artists are:
The Strokes
Arctic Monkeys
The Killers
Franz Ferdinand
References
CHARACTERISTICS OF MUSIC: ROCK AND ROLL. (2021). Retrieved from themusicstudio.ca
Characteristics Of Rock Music And Rock N Roll. (2018). Retrieved from ****://mmusic-zone.blogspot.com/
History of Rock Music. (2018). Retrieved from englishclub.com
Intro to Rock Music. (2018). Retrieved from musical-u.com
Russell, R. (2017). Characteristics of Rock ‘n’ Roll Music. Retrieved from ourpastimes.com