Rock n' Roll

• Notable Artists:

  • Elvis Presley
  • Chuck Berry
  • The Beach Boys
• Tempo and time signature:

  • usually 4/4
  • tempo - moderate -> fast
• Instrumentation:

  • guitar
  • vocals
  • drum kit
  • piano
  • bass
  • (harmonica)
  • (saxophone)
• Venue:

  • dance and concert halls
  • radio
• Technology:

  • only amplification
• Time of Rock n' Roll:

  • 1950s - 60s
• Typical Features:

  • based on the 12-bar blues
  • often uses a blues scale
  • lots of guitar riffs
  • vocal melody line with accompaniment
  • narrow vocal range
  • walking bassline
  • 7th chords
  • verse-chorus structure
  • swung rhythm
  • syncopation
  • improvisation
  • homophonic texture
  • major tonality
  • diatonic harmony