Rock 'n' Roll

Rock 'n' Roll

Technology and production
1. One overhead mic to record drums.
2. Instrument capture is often compromised by poor frequency reproduction.
3. Live recordings direct to tape led to mixing on the fly.
4. Loud guitars/drums = louder recording levels which led to altered sounds via tape saturation and driving pre-amps hard.
5. Vocals were often overdubbed to make them clearer.
6. Some early 3 track recorders were used.
7. Music was released on vinyl which had a wider frequency production and dynamic range than prior 78rpm records.
8. Slap back delay was developed for vocals and guitar,
9. Use of echo chambers and overdriven valve amplifiers creating distortion was vital for later rock sounds.
Origins
1. Southern states of America
2. 1950s
Instrumentation
1. Typically small ensembles
2. Mostly male vocals
3. Harmonica
4. Backing vocals - simple, often in unison
5. Double bass/electric bass
6. Electric guitar - rhythm and lead
7. Saxophone
8. Piano
9. Drums
10. Other brass
Performance and arrangement
1. 140bpm or faster.
2. Energetic vocals
3. Slightly swung quavers = a shuffle beat
4. Walking bass line often doubled by electric guitar.
5. Guitar solos
6. Piano often mimics guitar via comping and left hand playing the bass line.
7. Often based around the 12 bar blues.
8. Strong backbeat on 2 and 4.
9. Uses major keys but blues scales for lead parts.
10. Stops where instruments play on just beat 1 and allow other instruments/vocals to take over.
11. Call and response between the vocals and guitar or other instrument.
Artists
1. Elvis Presley
2. Chuck Berry
3. Cliff Richard
4. Little Richard
5. Bill Haley and his Comets

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	Created by Hazel Meades about 10 years ago