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Year 10 - Music

The origins of rock: rock 'n' roll

Developing understanding of pop music: rock, blues and rock 'n' roll

Unit Summary

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Lesson Summary

You will learn to identify the key features and can create a simple rock 'n' roll composition.

Key Notes

  • Rock 'n' roll is an energetic style that developed in the 1950s from blues and country music.
  • It incorporates key blues features including the 12-bar blues, walking bass and swing/shuffle rhythms.
  • Driving rhythms and intense 'shouty' vocals help to give rock 'n' roll its distinctive style.
  • Other key features include a fast tempo, vocal melodies with a small range of notes and a verse-chorus structure.
  • Typical instrumentation includes vocals, electric guitar, piano, drum kit and bass guitar or double bass.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Rock 'n' roll: Rock 'n' roll was an energetic style that developed in the 1950s from blues and country music.
  • Walking bass: A walking bass is a moving bass line that 'walks' up and down the notes of a chord.
  • Shuffle: A shuffle is a rhythmic pattern that uses swing quavers.
  • Driving rhythm: A driving rhythm is one that repeats fast notes to create a sense of energy.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Because rock 'n' roll often uses the 12-bar blues, this means it is just a type of blues.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Rock 'n' roll is an energetic style that developed in the 1950s from blues and country music. It incorporates key blues features including the 12-bar blues, walking bass and swing/shuffle rhythms.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Rock 'n' roll'

Rock 'n' roll was an energetic style that developed in the 1950s from blues and country music.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Because rock 'n' roll often uses the 12-bar blues, this means it is just a type of blues. Correction: Many styles use the 12-bar blues, including pop, rock, jazz and other styles. While rock 'n' roll is closely related to blues, its defining features are quite different, and its role as a commerical pop style is far from the origins of blues.

More Lessons In This Unit

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