Types of music genres and their characteristics

Rock- a form of popular music which evolved from rock and roll and pop music during the mid and late 1960s.
Characteristics of the Rock genre
- Electric Guitars: Usually with the use of effects such as distortion
- Bass guitar
- Drum kit: The fusion of drums and cymbals, used as the spine of a song.
- Standard 4/4 time signature.
- Wide variety of lyrical themes.
- repetitive hooks and riffs.
Examples: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Kinks.


R&B- Rhythm and blues, is a genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s.
Characteristics of the R&B genre
- steady melody
- uptempo
- high energy and danceable 
Examples: Rihanna, Akon, Jessie J, Spice Girls
  



Heavy Metal- is a genre of rock music, that developed in the late 1960s

 Characteristics of the Heavy Metal genre
- driving power that the guitar, bass and drums produce through an amplifier. The “heavy” part is the distortion of the bass and lead guitar.

- loud distorted guitars
-emphatic rhythms
-dense bass-and-drum sound
-vigorous vocals
Examples: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath
 

Classical-is art music rooted in the traditions of Western music 

Characteristics of the Classical genre-
-often has two separate melodies
-gradual dynamic change 
- orchestra
Examples: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven

Pop- meaning popular music

Characteristics of the pop genre-

-Focus on melodies and catchy hooks
-Dance orientated rhythms
-Recording and production is considered more important than live performance
Examples: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber