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Characteristics of Pop Music (WA2) - Coggle Diagram
Characteristics of Pop Music (WA2)
1960s Pop Rock
Core Instrumentation
4/4 dominance, occasional usage of odd meter.
Time Signature/Meter
Diatonic/mostly major keys
Harmony
Piano, electric guitar, electric bass, acoustic drums
Rhythm
Minimal syncopation; bass usually complements drums
Example: "Example: "All You Need Is Love"
Time Signature
Main verse pattern 7/4 + 7/4 +8/4 + 7/4
4/4 steady beat, except last bar 6/4
Chorus
Inspiration
Instruments
Harpsichord
Electric Guitar
Double Bass, Drums
Strings
Brass
R&B/Soul
Harmony
Mostly diatonic with blues/jazz influence
Occasional use of non-diatonic chord
Time Signature/Meter
3/4, 4/4, 12/8
Core Instrumentation
Piano
Horns
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Drums
Rhythm
Ad lib syncopation carries through in vocal/instrumental interpretation
Example "Living For The City"
Groove
Tonic pedal chords used in Verses
Major/Minor ambiguity
Driving rhythm of Fender Rhodes electric piano
Repetitive drum pattern
Vocal Interpretation
Stylistic melismatic runs scattered throughout melody
Several words almost "half-spoken" for effect
Instrumental Idioms
Electric Piano (close-voicing block chords)
Voice leading using inversions
Synth Bass
Supports kick drum in rhythm
Plays mostly crotchets
Drums
Verses 1: kick drum, crotchets on every beat
Verse 2: continuation of kick drum, snare on 2 & 4.
Musical Highlights
Harmonic Choices
Major 7th
Minor 7th
Passing diminished 7ths
Dominant 7th
Jazz-Inspired Elements
Syncopation
Instrumentatino
Melismas
Piano sequences
Synth Pop
Rhythm
Core Instrumentation
Synthesizer (Lead/Pad/Bass)
Electric/Acoustic Guitar
Drum Machine
Time Signature/Meter
4/4 (accommodative for dancing)
Harmony
Repeated chord progressions featuring ostinatos
Syncopation and dominance of quavers/semiquavers
Example: "Take On Me"
Rhythm
Half/Double Time Usage
Half time, feel in second half of chorus
Double/Regular Time for vocal climax
Highlights
Pedal point usage, hybrid chords (F/C, Bb/C)
Modal interchange. Unusual chord Dm appears in Refrains. Origin: C Dorian chord scale.
Lead vocal range: Singer Morton Harket performs vocal range of over 2.5 octaves in the song
Lowest A2 and Highest E5
Instrumental Idioms
Synth Lead (Provides song's main hook)
Synth Pad (Long, sustained notes)
Synth Bass (Root notes in octaves alternated with diatonic passing note)
Drums (Kick drum on 1 & 3: snare on 2 & 4. Incessant closed hi-hat quavers)
What IS Pop Music?
Used in 1926 to describe 'a piece of music having popular appeal'
Commercial-friendly and marketable
Memorable and catchy elements impress on listener's memory (vocal/groove/hook)
"Cover" culture
WHY? :
Music recorded and released commercially, relatively short n simple songs centered around themes of love.
Live concerts appealing to wide audience
Events/venues in which the music induced a dancing spirit
Cultural/political reasons