Rock.

The evolution of American rock and roll music from the blues in the 1950's was theoretically a rather simple process. The first of the rock songs were directly descended from the 12 bar / three chord blues form. A listen to one of the first "hits" of rock, Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock", illuminates the basic 12 bar blues form, a bit of stop time in the arrangement and a bass line that became a defining sound of the emerging genre of American rock and roll. Later in the decade a guy from Memphis came along and again using the 12 bar blues form with a backbeat on 2 and 4, simply talked about a "Hound Dog" and things just have not been the same since. Elvis Presley was this hound dog and went on to become the first mega star icon of American rock and roll music.

Here is a rendition of this early 12 bar rockin blues. Emerging artists just might want to learn this for the fun of it for it's an doorway into lots of cool tunes. Example 1.

So, how close is this to the One / Four / Five blues? It is a One / Four / Five blues isn't it?

The earthy beat and primal rhythms of classic rock music encourages folks to get up and dance, it is a very powerful music. As the decades passed between 1950 and the new millenium, all of Americas popular styles of music developed their own rock "version", blues rock, jazz rock, country rock etc., each a further testimony to rocks acceptance into pop culture as well as the economic survival tactics in the music business of the last 50 years. The level of theoretical complexity of the various styles of American rock is usually rather basic and pretty straightforward, the music rarely modulates and oftentimes is pentatonic based, so the music is often created with just a few pitches and chords, it's 4 / 4 rhythm so much like the blues from whence it comes. Improvisation within rock music is a key element, the guitar emerging as the new "voice" as the instrument becomes electrified. And as it's tones are gradually altered by new electronic technologies it evolves over the decades, these evolving electrical sounds oftentimes become the defining and driving elements behind the new genres of rock music. Where rock music would be if we removed the modern electric techno gear is hard to say, but too many great songs of love, understanding and acceptance of one another have been written in the rock styles to worry about that right? And this gear has allowed for massive groups of people to gather and share the goodness of the message, i.e., the rock concert right?

50's. Most of the 50's rock tunes are theoretically pretty straightforward. We find a lot of blues based songs over the new rock beat and many of the newer "do wop" love songs based on a common chord progressions with gorgeous multi part harmonies. The 50's style of everything is just about a classic today, from clothes to cars, from music to the new way of modern convenience, the 50's reshaped American culture and the emerging rock and roll music was an integral part of it, at least for the younger generation.

Blues rock. As the name implies, blues rock is theoretically deeply steeped in the American blues traditions. Initially adapting many of the blues "hits", blues rock players simply "electrified" their sounds over the drum beats of rock with oftentimes massive levels of amplification, creating a new level of testimony, one done very loud, generating a new level of power for the players. Check out the Allman Brothers "Live At The Fillmore East" to get a sense of what's possible in this genre of rock.

Country / folk rock. Basically taking folk / country songs into the electric rock environment of instruments and sounds. Theoretically mostly diatonic, often based on the major scale and rarely modulating, country rock often tells tales of love in a traditionally American way. Early on Patsy Cline was the queen and set the standard.

Hard rock. Here we see the electronic sounds begin to distort, a sound phenomena based on overdriving the electronic signal, i.e., just trying to jam too much signal into too little speaker. Early proponents of this sound were groups such as Led Zepplin, who wrote many of the rock anthems we still enjoy today. Theoretically still mostly blues based, especially in the melodic line, the writing becomes more complex with the expansion into adding elements of diatonic harmony into the music. Led Zepplin's "Stairway To Heaven" is a good example of this increasing complexity from the blues roots. How much influence does this music have on later generations and styles of music? Just find and read the bios of your favorite hard rock players.

Heavy metal. An evolution from hard rock, heavy metal is a step back theoretically from most of the rock genres in that the "industrial" sounds of the genre often require the chords of the music to be reduced to just the root and 5th, no 3rd, as it muddy's the overdriven sound. Oftentimes these ancient chords are just moved around the pitches of the blues scale. The lead guitar players of this genre need some serious technique as the lines are often of a blistering velocity. The vocals tend to be shouted, almost unintelligible, the words being included with the record.

Pop rock. Often termed "bubble gum" for it's appeal to pre and early teens, pop rock is a beautiful mix of everything available. Rarely blues based, pop rock is almost always in a major key, diatonic, danceable and fun, telling stories of endearments for the younger generation. The Beatles were probably the first of the pop rockers, who wrote some very beautiful music.

Punk rock / techno / rap. Punk rock originated in N.Y.C. in the 80's, this music theoretically very basic and usually devoted to staying that way. For the most part, a very energetic dance music taking satirical pokes at various aspects of American society. Ever hear of the New York Dolls? Lou Reed? The techno / rap thing is very similar to each other, although rap music does as the name implies, i.e., to rap, meaning lots of words, poetry, lyrics that tell a story. The grooves of both thechno and rap are often very basic, very danceable with lots of cool, unique sounds blended together. There is little harmony or chords, usually just a vamp. The bass is often of a ostinato variety while the melodic line is minor pentatonic and laced with blue notes and very often just one pitch. Jim Morrison of the Doors was doing this thing years ago. Here are a few links to influential artists of these genres.

Soft rock. As the name implies, soft rock is a kind of easy listening, good dance music for folks. So often telling stories of love, we get away from the blues here and more into pop music with a rock beat. So theoretically potentially very complex in melodic line and harmony, in arrangements with the mixing in of strings, and in the expertise of the players on their chosen instruments. The wailing guitars give way to tasty lines, the vocal often the featured voice. Vocalist Karen Carpenter is a major influence in this genre.

Southern rock. Based on an evolution of blues rock, southern rock is a genre of it's own based on the locale from which it comes, namely the southern United States. Part country, part bluegrass, part blues and often a lot of high volume guitar, southern rock tunes often tell the tales of the pace of life in the south. Legendary southern rocker Charlie Daniels leads the way in both the writing and the playing of this genre of rock.

List of tunes. Here is a historical listing of songs that the emerging rock star should perhaps be acquainted with, learn how to play, as they are often requested by listeners.

And on and on and on...Got any favorites that belong on this list? Let me know.

Curriculum

What is your favorite rock band? Can you identify what style they are playing?

What is your instrument? How will it fir into the rock sounds? Who is your favorite rock player on this instrument?

What songs do you know? What songs are you learning? Have a list of songs you want to learn? Start one now perhaps?

Do you have the pentatonic colors under your fingers? Major? Minor? If your a guitar player, do you have any pentatonic scale shapes to work with?

Are you cool with the blues scale?

What open chords for guitar do you have under your fingers?

What moveable bar chords for guitar are under your fingers?

Are you writing any songs?

Comments / questions?

I've always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music. Aretha Franklin