Western Rock Music

Western rock music is a popular music form. It features vocals often with vocal harmony and accompanied with instruments- electric guitars, a bass guitar, keyboard instruments- electric piano, organ and synthesizer and drum sets. Other musical instruments like saxophone, trumpet and trombone are also included. Earlier horns were also used which are not being used since the 90s. The central piece of instrument in western rock music is of course the electric guitar. The microphone used by the singers itself functions as a musical instrument. Many singers depend upon the amplification and various effects like echo obtained by electronically transforming the sound obtained through the microphone.

The characteristic musical style categorized as rock music and music of its related styles has dominated the musical scene of the west since about 1955. Western rock music has its origins in the Unites States. However, it has been influenced and shaped by a broad field of cultures and musical traditions over the years. There has been the influence of gospel music, the blues, western country music, western classical music, folk music etc. Some elements of popular music of Asia, Africa and Latin America have also been incorporated in western rock music.

Western rock music styles have evolved into its complete form around 1959 with predominant influence of the white musicians. A major western rock music style is rock and roll or rock ‘n’ roll. Rhythm-and-blues music is a popular western rock music style influenced primarily by black American musicians. Now, these major genres of western rock music encompass several sub styles like heavy metal, punk, alternative and grunge. The harmonies and other complex technical aspects of the western music are shared by the western rock music too- the chords known as tonic, subdominant and dominant are to be especially mentioned in this regard.

By: → Soal Brown

Tags: , , , ,

Tags:

A History Of Country Music

Musicians have long been playing fiddle music in the Appalachians for years, but it wasn’t until 1927 in Bristol, Tennessee that the first recording country music recording deal was signed. In this year, Victor Records signed Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.

Jimmie Rodgers was born in Meridian Mississippi, in 1897. Originally he worked on the railroads until his ill health got the better of him and it was only during this time that he followed his earlier love of entertaining. In 1927 he followed word that Victor Records were setting up a portable recording studio and made his way there. He was immediately signed and continued recording and playing music until he died in 1933.

In 1965 he was one of the very first musicians to be added to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 along with Hank Williams and Fred Rose. On the same day as Jimmie Rodgers signed with Victor Records, so did the Carter Family, who would become one of the most famous country music bands of all time. They remained with Victor Records until 1936. Not even divorce could separate the band though and they continued to record with Decca until 1939. Things started to hit a rough patch at this stage and despite signing for Universal and eventually Victor Records again, the band split in 1941.

It is widely acknowledged that that big day in 1927 was the introduction of country music to the rest of the country. Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family were met with huge critical acclaim and became incredibly popular helping to sell a great many records. Country music singers and bands of today will often talk about the Carter Family or Jimmie Rodgers as being their major influence and with very good reason.

By: → John Rivers

Tags: , , , ,

Tags:

What Makes Relaxing Music??

Music is the key to a thousand emotions. We associate music with the places we have been, the times we have experienced and the people in our lives. Music is all around us. There is no denying the effectiveness of music, so why not use it to affect our own emotions and enhance our personal environment? Relaxing music, relaxation music, meditation music… call it what you will. There is no question that it can help us to shape our environment effectively and can be changed to suit or influence our mood.

In todays society, wherever there is radio, television, cinema or the internet, we will be exposed to music. Music is all around us and is a commodity so important that is used by virtually every company on the planet to sell us their products and services. Very often we are completely oblivious to the sounds drifting out of those in-store speakers or the impact and drama of an action-movie soundtrack placed in a car advert. Music is a complex language that can convey any emotion or conjure a response from any audience. At the same time music is simple and universally understandable.

We are used to others using music to influence our emotions and therefore decisions. However, we rarely use music’s benefits to help ourselves. Relaxing music or relaxation music (also marketted as meditation music or yoga music) can be used to relieve stress, unwind after a hard day at work, promote good sleep or as a focus of concentration during yoga or meditation. As a composer of music for relaxation, for a long time have researched the benefits of music for health and wellbeing. Music is just a part of relaxation, but can be the key to calm and relax your mind and body. A good habit can be built; find a quite room, put work worries to one side and allow yourself time to unwind – dim the lights, light some candles or incense or whatever you find calming. Close your eyes and focus on the sound of your breath. Take in the same amount of air and breathe longer breaths but less often. Relaxing music is a great focus for an exercise like this or any relaxation technique. Listen to relaxation music at a volume level that is high enough to mask any background noise but not so high as to be overbearing. In a busy workplace or home, headphones are useful.

The music should not be too distracting and should be carefully composed to be easy to listen to. Music should be upbeat but also interesting and different enough to capture the imagination and become a suitable focus for relief. Nature sounds enhance the experience as this helps you to imagine a place of peace, calm, tranquility and serenity. It is best to use music written specifically for relaxation, although you could use any music that you find particularly relaxing. This technique is most useful if it can be practiced for a significant amount of time – more than half an hour. However, it can be effective if used for no more than just a few minutes at break times.

By: → Martin Mayer

Tags: , , , ,

Tags:

Piano Chords And New Age Music

There are basically two ways you can compose a piece of music. The first and most traditional way is to write out the melody and then harmonize it. Some call this working from the top (as opposed to the chords on the bottom.) The second approach is where you create some kind of rhythmic harmonic pattern and improvise (or compose) the melody on top. Now, which one is best for New Age music?

The answer is neither approach. Each has its own merits and own special benefits. For example, if you start with a pattern in your left hand and improvise a melody with your right, you are doing what most new age composers/improvisers do. This is what George Winston does most of the time. He has chords he sets to a certain rhythm and does his thing with that amazing right hand of his.

This is the style that I have been playing, but I’ve recently lost interest in it. Not because it isn’t good but because I don’t feel like playing that way anymore. Currently I’m leaning towards a softer sound that comes from leading with the melody first. What I do is get the first 2-bars down and then improvise the rest till I fill up 8 measures. This way I can vary the chords and patterns without it sounding very repetitive (minimalism). It’s actually another style. You can call it melodic while the other one (Harmony approach) is more textural. IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR MOOD!

Don’t let one style freeze you into something where you can’t maneuver artistically! Remember that your feeling must come first. Everything else is secondary. Let your feeling lead you and your creation will be truly inspired, however, if you try to mold what you have to say into a specific style, the result may be less than satisfactory.

By: → Edward Weiss

Tags: , , , ,

Tags:

How Pop Music Originated

Pop music or mainstream music is a genre that has always been close to the heart of music loving audience. The type of music that is considered pop today is not the same type that was considered popular a few decades ago.

Popular music started from the type that we now consider as classical music. Sometime later after that, there was a considerable development in the field of pop music. At one point the music that was under the genre “pop” are sentimental ballads. This included gospel and praise songs. Jazz and country songs also became popular and were considered mainstream. Another type was hip hop and was seen as music for the masses as well as for teens and young adults. Dance and electronic music also had their share of fame.

As music can be viewed as an item that can help fuel their own industry, they needed to connect closer to the masses and the most people of the world. This is how pop music came into being. From the poor masses, the middle class individuals and to the elites, this type of music became interesting to them. As there is great interest that is given to it, pop music was able to create more jobs for recording artists, composers, publishers and a lot more.

The invention of the microphone, the improvement in its design and the capability of 45 rpm changed the way music has been transmitted through radios and records. And a few decades after, the television became the most popular technological advancement in terms of media. Not only are the pop artists heard, they are also seen on TV. Their talents were taken to another level. After the television’s invention, multi track records and digital versions of music took the scene. This even upped the way people listen to music and the degree by which they can access it.

In the mid 20th century, popular music was mostly the field of American recording artists. The two most famous artists at that time were Michael Jackson and Madonna and were dubbed as the King of Pop and the Queen of Pop, respectively. There were also British artists or artists with British influences who made it in the mainstream music scene.

Later on, different artists from different regions in the world emerged and were known internationally. This is where pop music started to create a monoculture of sorts for all of us. Also, for each of these regions, there are certain influences that are considered pop. They might be different from one region to another but the worldwide trends converge into the same definition.

Another situation was seen that the most parts of the world’s music were influenced by Western pop. From America and Europe, the trend spread to other parts of the world. It can also be that the specific regions gave their own music their own flavor and cultivated it. Today, pop music has grown and is still the most loved music style by a lot of people.

By: → Robert D. Crandell

Tags: , , , ,

Tags: