Rock’n’roll

• Rock'n'roll


  • 1950s-1960s
• Rock'n'roll

  • Rhythmic drive and energy
  • Swing or boogie-woogie rhythm
  • Emphasis on primary chords
  • Often 12-bar blues chord structure
  • Walking bass line (played by bass guitar or pizzicato double bass)
  • Instrumental solo section
  • Beats 2 and 4 emphasised by the snare drum (backbeat)
  • Intense, 'shouty' vocals
• Instruments used in rock 'n' roll

  • Electric and/or acoustic guitar
  • Double bass (or bass guitar)
  • Drum kit
  • Piano
  • Saxophones
  • Lead vocals, sometimes accompanied by backing vocalists singing in close harmony
• Use of technology in rock music


  • Reverb and overdrive (a more subtle type of distortion) has been added to the electric guitar
  • Lead and backing vocals are double-tracked
• Rhythm and Blues brought an edgy sound (drums + electric guitars) to popular music
• Rock’n’roll artists

  The Beach Boys

  Elvis Presley

  Little Richard
• Rock is heavily influenced by

  Blues music
• Crooning


  Hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner
• Artists popular post-WW2


  • Bing Crosby
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Perry Como
  • Nat King Cole
• Ballads and sentimental songs helped to transport American and European families traumatised by war to a safe, familiar place
• When rock 'n' roll appeared in the mid-1950s, young people embraced the rebellious nature of the music and dance moves
• Rock 'n' roll was heavily influenced by black rhythm and blues music, which made it even more exciting and rebellious for white teenagers
• Rock 'n' roll targeted the teenage generation who were trying to distinguish themselves from their parents
• Instruments often used in rock 'n' roll

  • Electric and/or acoustic guitar
  • Double bass (or bass guitar)
  • Drum kit
  • Piano
  • Saxophones, though they were less popular after the 1950s
  • Lead vocals, sometimes accompanied by backing vocalists singing in close harmony
• Musical features of rock 'n' roll

  • Rhythmic drive and energy
  • Swing or boogie-woogie rhythm
  • Emphasis on primary chords (I, IV, V)
  • Often 12 - bar blues chord structure
  • Walking bass line (played by bass guitar or pizzicato double bass)
  • Instrumental solo section
  • Beats 2 and 4 emphasised by the snare drum (backbeat)
  • Intense, 'shouty' vocals (e.g. The Beatles' 'Twist And Shout')