The 1970s

The 1970s

Rock
1. Broad term for sub-genres that evolved since 1950s.
2. Typically in 4/4
3. Verse-chorus structure
4. Vocalisation - wordless singing
5. Bass, drums, guitar lineup
6. Formation was influenced by 50s rock 'n' roll and syncopated rhythms of blues and country music.
  Attachments:
  - Rock 'n' Roll
Folk rock
1. Populated by artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Simon.
2. When Bob Dylan first brought out his electric guitar at a folk festival it could be said to have kickstarted this genre.
3. Mostly centred on melodies of acoustic guitar.
4. Accompanied by typical rock band lineup: electric guitar, bass and drums; or sometimes bluegrass instruments.
Prog. rock
1. Experimented with complex structures, time signatures and rhythms.
2. Experimented with unusual harmonies.
3. Musically virtuoso
4. Popularised by Pink Floyd and followed by artists Yes and Genesis.
5. Followed on from psychedelic rock
6. Often used reverbs alongside other layered effects that were combined with guitar sounds.
7. Synthesisers were important.
Glam rock
1. David Bowie, Slade
2. Glitzy, full make-up, colourful costume performances.
3. Typical rock band instrumental set up with predominantly male vocals plus keyboards, sometimes with horns.
4. Distorted guitar riffs, melodic hooks and driving rock beats
Disco
1. 4/4 beat around 120bpm
2. Originated in the USA for the youth club scene.
3. Uses synthesisers (you'll often hear strings and brass)
4. Samplers - piece may start with sound clip from a film
5. Drum machines - kick playing 4 to the floor, snare on beat 2 and 4, high hats playing fast quaver/semi-quaver patterns.
6. Catchy melodic hook and syncopated bass line.
7. BeeGees, Gloria Gaynor
Punk
1. The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones
2. Typical rock band set up plus keyboards for some bands.
3. Raw, hard-edged music
4. Shouted or chanted vocals
5. Little complex harmony as players were often unskilled in their knowledge of chords. It was more about the DIY ethic.
6. Fast tempo, slightly syncopated, lots of cymbal crashes
7. DIY production ethic - no production tricks.
8. Used effects such as distortion but to a lesser extent.
9. Rebellion against previous highly polished pieces.
ABBA
1. Swedish pop band
2. Breakthrough with song "Waterloo" which won the 1974 Eurovision song contest.
3. "Ring Ring" came third in the Eurovision song contest the year before.
4. Used the Wall of Sound approach to many songs.
5. Known for cheerful melodies and strong, interpretative vocalists

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	Created by Hazel Meades about 10 years ago