Download VINUZAN RATNASINGAM 11JMO MEDIA HOMEWORK

VINUZAN RATNASINGAM
11JMO
MEDIA HOMEWORK - 2
Monday 17th September 2012
List of different styles & genres of music
2-Step Garage
2-step garage, or simply 2-step, is a typically English style of modern electronic dance music,
and a relatively popular subgenre of UK garage. It has characteristics of such a general rubric
for all kinds of jittery, irregular rhythms that don't conform to garage's traditional four-onthe-floor pulse" –- is that the rhythm lacks the kick drum pattern found in many other styles
of electronic music with a regular four-on-the-floor beat. A typical 2-step drum pattern
features a kick on the first and third beat, with a shuffled rhythm or the use of triplets
applied to other elements of the percussion, creating a "lurching, falter-funk feel", and
resulting in a beat distinctly different from that present in other house or techno.
Acid House
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trancelike style, often with samples or spoken lines instead of lyrics.
4 Beats
Typical characteristics for 4-beat are for compositions to be around a tempo of 150 to 170
BPM (beats per minute). At the core of these compositions would be a fast looped,
sometimes complex rolling sampled break-beat, along with a combined bass drum every
four beats to the bar - hence the name of 4-beat. If any vocals are used, they are often
female and likely be just short samples from other records. In most cases these would not
be performed by a paid vocalist. High pitched samples due to the fast tempo of tracks could
be found in this music but not in every release. It's deemed more of a stereotype associated
to this style.
Gaana
Gaana is a type of Tamil song, often accompanied by the percussion of Dappan koothu
(Indian dance style). It is characterised as a fast-beat song, with less emphasis on meaning. It
should not have more than 4–5 words per line. The words at the end of lines should be
rhythmic. It must be sung at more than normal pace, so that words are not clear. This is
mandatory for the lines containing some words.
Rock
Some characteristics include Strong rhythm, sing-able melodies, simple accompaniment and
guitar riffs/ostinatos. There are some main instruments which are commonly used in rock
music such as 3 guitars - lead, rhythm and bass, vocals, keyboard and drum kit
Pop
Pop rock is a genre that mixes catchy pop lyrics with rock based instrumentation. The
characteristics are: They appeal to a general audience, rather than to a sub-culture. They
emphasise craftsmanship, recording, production, technology and live performances. They
reflect existing trends rather than develop. It is based on dancing and uses dance-orientated
beats and rhythms. Pop rock songs usually have a noticeable rhythmic element and the
structure is very traditional.
Calypso
Calypso music features distinctive rhythms derived from its African heritage.
Its lyrics were originally about the struggle to freedom (calypso originated among slaves
who used the music as a form of communication). Many calypso songs deal essentially with
life and how it is lived. The main instruments used include trumpet, flute, bass, glass
instruments, conga, bongos, and steel-pan drums.
Soul
Soul music has a definitive rhythm. Soul music borrows heavily from the 12 bar, 3 line lyric
style used in blues of the 40's and 50's. Repetition plays a major role in soul music. In the
soul music genre, it’s not uncommon to hear the same musical notes, phrases and rhythms
throughout a song. Soul music infuses a wide variety of instruments together, such as the
piano, drums, and the guitar. The use of horns, like the trumpet and saxophone, plays a
huge role in distinguishing soul music from other music genres.
Funk
Funk music is groove-based and syncopated, emphasizing the downbeat where the beat is
based on the one and three counts in four-four time. The instruments most often used in
funk music are electric bass, electric guitar, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer and an
assortment of horns. The lyrics in funk music are usually fairly whimsical and are geared
toward feeding into the groove. They are often self-referential regarding both the style and
the band's name with Parliament songs like "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucka)"
and "P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)."
Crunk
Musically, Crunk borrows heavily from bass music and 1980s era call and response hip hop.
Heavy use of synthesized instruments and sparse, truncated 808 drums are staples of the
Crunk sound. The drum machines are usually accompanied by simple, repeated synthesizer
melodies in the form of ostinato, to create a hypnotic effect, and heavy bass stabs. The
tempo of the music is somewhat slower than hip hop, around the speed of Reggaeton.
Rap
Rap songs always have a rhythmic beat, usually in a 4/4 time signature. The beat is
particularly strong on the bass line, which can sometimes dominate the other
instrumentation. Although a strong, steady beat is the anchor for a rap song, the true source
of originality is the lyrics. Two rap songs can have virtually the same pre-recorded track, but
with different lyrical interpretation. Rap lyrics tend to follow a set of themes, such as
boasting raps, insult raps, nonsense raps and party raps. The way a rapper uses the beat to
emphasize words and phrases, also known as a rapper’s “flow,” are what distinguish a
talented rapper from others.
R&B
A common feature of all R&B songs is that they have to be melodic with a steady, semipredictable beat that uses a bass track that stands out from the other instruments. Uptempo R&B songs must have a melody that is fast enough to be considered high energy and
danceable, but not so fast that specific dances cannot be constructed to the beat. Slower
R&B ballads usually have a melody with a groove that allows slow two people dancing.
Lyrically, most R&B songs have to do with love or relationships in general both positive and
negative. Some R&B songs involve the telling of an elaborate story.
Heavy Metal
Heavy metal is traditionally characterized by loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms,
dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals. Metal subgenres variously emphasize,
alter, or omit one or more of these attributes. The typical band line-up includes a drummer,
a bassist, a rhythm guitarist, a lead guitarist, and a singer, who may or may not be an
instrumentalist. Keyboard instruments are sometimes used to enhance the fullness of the
sound.
Reggae
Reggae almost always comes in one speed; it is a moderate tempo that sometimes feels
lackadaisical or lay back. Congas are a predominant instrument, and guitars that are not
modified much, strum out a repetitive rhythm.
Punk
Most punk songs use simple chords and song structure. You may have a 3 or 4 chord
progression and the song be made up of something like Intro - Verse - Chorus - Verse Chorus - Bridge - Chorus. Often times, the Chorus uses the same chords as the Verse, just
played in a different order or at a different speed. The main characteristic of punk music is
the message behind the lyrics. The music is really secondary.