Disco & Funk

• What were disco music and funk evolutions of?


  Soul music combined with elements of early electronic music and rock
• How did funk music evolve in the mid-60s?


  It emphasized the bass line and drum part over melody and harmony
• Who was a key early exponent of funk music?

  James Brown
• What rhythmic innovation did James Brown introduce in his songs?


  He emphasized the first beat of the bar
• How did the Average White Band contribute to funk music?


  They combined rhythm patterns and emphasized beats for danceability
• When did disco first become popular?

  In the mid 70s and early 80s
• How was disco perceived in relation to heavy rock music?


  It was seen as an alternative to heavy rock
• Which early disco singers had a similar history to soul singers?

  Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer
• How did disco evolve from soul music?


  By speeding up the music and adding funkier backing
• What drumming style is characteristic of disco music?

  Four-on-the-floor style drums with quaver or semiquaver hi-hat patterns
• What role did production houses play in disco music?


  They wrote and produced music for various artists to create a certain sound
• Who were two important writers in disco music?

  Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards
• What was a significant technological advancement in disco music during this time?

  Synthesisers became more commercially available
• How did the Bee Gees utilize technology in their song "Stayin' Alive"?


  They used tape loops instead of a drummer
• What was the impact of early drum machines on disco music?


  They created an even more solid beat for artists
• How did disco music's reliance on technology change in the 1980s?


  It became less reliant on traditional instruments
• What are the key characteristics of funk music?


  • Emphasis on bass line and drum part
  • Less focus on melody and harmony
  • Prominent use of rhythm patterns
  • Danceable music
• What are the key characteristics of disco music?


  • Faster tempo than soul music
  • Four-on-the-floor drum pattern
  • Funky backing with syncopated rhythms
  • Heavy reliance on technology (synthesisers, tape loops, drum machines)