Music

Music is something that all people have in common. No matter where you live or what your status, music will almost always be a part of your life. It can create trends and idols. It is a part of history and can even change the course of events. There is no doubt that when it comes to this subject, everyone has their own opinion on who is the best and what defines any given genre, but there are a few undeniable definitions when it comes to music. Here is a quick look at a few of the most popular genres.

Rock

This musical genre is largely thought to have developed in the 1960s. It is a combination of several different genres including its predecessor rock n’ roll, R&B, and even has folk and classical influences. Generally speaking, it can be defined by a sound that revolves around the guitar. It also has a strong backbeat, which is contributed by a rhythm section containing a bass guitar, drums and a piano. Of course, the use of other instruments such as synthesizers, harmonicas and horns are common as well.

Artists such as Bob Dylan and the Beatles are largely credited for creating rock in the 60s, but since they laid down the groundwork, many have expanded on the genre, creating quite a few sub genres. These include folk rock (The Byrds), glam rock (David Bowie), punk rock (Ramones), and heavy metal (Black Sabbath) to name a few.

Pop

Pop music developed in the 1950s as an alternative to rock n’ roll and rock music. It was created to appeal to a large market, usually younger people, by using simple, catchy songs. It is often defined by a few characteristics, including a focus on singles, appealing to a general audience, and often reflecting current trends. This type of music also features a simple structure with a strong rhythmic element. Simply put, the ultimate goal of pop is fun and not the achievement of a higher form of art.

In its early days, there was an emphasis on girl groups (The Supremes) or boy groups (The Box Tops). This idea was revisited in the 1990s with such groups as the Spice Girls and N’Sync. Other pop stars include Britney Spears, Madonna, and Michael Jackson.

Blues

Blues originated in the late 19th century in the African American communities in the southern United States. Its first forms included shouts, chants, work songs and spirituals. The first published blues sheet music was that of “Dallas Blues” by Hart Wand in 1912. The genre is now defined by very specific forms such as twelve-bar blues, 8-bar blues, and 16-bar blues that feature simple narrative ballads. It became extremely popular and went on to influence other genres such as rock n’ roll and jazz.

Some forms of blues include standard blues (Muddy Waters), Delta blues (Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday), country blues (Blind Blake and John Lee Hooker), Memphis blues (Memphis Minnie and Sleepy John Estes), Boogie-woogie (Albert Ammons) and electric blues (Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Willie McTell).

Folk

Folk music is perhaps one of the oldest musical genres, originating with the folklore of tribal traditions and regional culture. Though it has such a rich history, it is modern folk music that continues to be popular. Modern folk music was revived in the 1930s – 50s with artists such as Woodie Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez further popularized the genre in the 1960s. It is seen as the opposite of pop music, and can often be defined by narrative ballads and topical songs.

It has also inspired many sub genres, including country music (Hank Williams), Bluegrass (Earl Scruggs), electric folk (Steeleye Span), and folk rock (The Byrds).

Country

This musical genre developed the most throughout the 1920s with roots in traditional folk music, old-time music, and gospel music. It was originally discovered in the southern United States and Appalachian Mountains, consisting of music created by fiddle, guitar, and banjo. The first commercial recording that could be considered country music was that of AC (Eck) Robertson with a song called “Sallie Gooden” in 1922. From then on, the music took off.

As with all music, several sub genres have sprung up from country music. These include honky tonk (Hank Williams), jug band (Cannon’s Jug Stompers), rockabilly (Carl Perkins), country rock (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and The Flying Burrito Brothers), and southern soul (Al Green).