American Rock
Rock and Roll
What is it?
American rock is rock music from the United States. It has its roots in 1940's and 1950's rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and country music, and also drew on folk music, jazz, blues music and classical music.
What instruments are commonly used in rock music?
Rock has centered on the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with electric bass guitar and drums. It is song-based music, usually with a 4/4 time signature using a verse-chorus form. Rock places a higher degree of emphasis on musicianship, live performance, and an ideology of authenticity than pop music.
Why is it popular?
Its origins lay in a mixing together of various black musical genres of the time, including rhythm and blues and gospel music; in addition to country and western. In 1951, Cleveland, Ohio disc jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues music for a multi-racial audience, and is credited with first using the phrase "rock and roll" to describe the music.
Elements of rock
Beats/minute
Blues:60 Pop:80 Funk:96 R & B:140 Rock and Roll:175
Almost all famous rock songs have a memorable melody.
Most common chords are triads (three notes).
The dynamics are usually loud or Forte.
Some Famous Bands
The Ventures
The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Guns N Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, in 1985. The classic lineup as signed to Geffen Records in 1986 consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. Guns N' Roses have been credited with reviving the mainstream popularity of rock music, at a time when popular music was dominated by dance music and pop metal.
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. The band rose to international fame with their debut album Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries. Their following studio album Meteora continued the band's success, topping the Billboard 200 album chart in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world. The band has collaborated with several other artists, most notably with rapper Jay-Z in their mashup EP Collision Course, and many others on the remix albums Reanimation and Recharged. Linkin Park has sold over 60 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy Awards.
The Ventures - Wipe Out
Guns N' Roses - Paradise City
Linkin Park - Numb
Conclusion
Overall American Rock and Roll has been capturing the hearts of millions, not just in America but worldwide. That is why it is such an amazing genre of music!