Musical Idioms Associated with a Variety of Popular Music

Understanding Musical Idioms

  • Musical idioms are styles or conventions associated with a particular form of music.
  • They can relate to a number of musical elements, including melody, rhythm, harmony, instrumentation and performance style.
  • Mastery of these idioms is a fundamental part of expressing the characteristic sound of a specific style of popular music.

Idioms in Rock Music

  • Rock music is characterised by a strong, driving rhythm, featuring predominantly electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit instrumentation.
  • Melodically, rock often uses vocal lines that fit comfortably within a major or minor pentatonic scale, with powerful, projecting vocal techniques.
  • Harmonically, rock tends to use power chords, which are two-note chords that can be played in any inversion without changing the characteristic sound.

Idioms in R&B Music

  • R&B (Rhythm and Blues) is characterised by with a focus on groove and rhythm, often featuring complex syncopated rhythms.
  • Typical instrumentation includes synthesizers, drums, bass, and sometimes brass or woodwind sections.
  • Melodies often use blue notes, which are notes sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than in standard major or minor scales for expressive and emotive effect.

Idioms in Pop Music

  • Pop music is often characterised by catchy, repeated choruses and hooks, and memorable melodies.
  • The melody often includes short phrases and is designed to be singable, and harmonic progressions are usually simple and diatonic.
  • Instrumentation can vary significantly, but often includes drums, bass, guitar, and keyboard instruments, as well as a wide range of digital sound samples.

Idioms in Country Music

  • Country music features a strong narrative and emotive lyrics often dealing with themes of love, loss, and rural life.
  • It typically employs straightforward rhythms and fairly simple harmonies, often using major scale chord progressions.
  • Instrumentation often includes acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, harmonica, and more recently, drum kits and electric instruments.

Idioms in Reggae Music

  • Reggae music is characterised by its off-beat rhythms, staccato chords, and heavy bass lines.
  • It usually includes Rastafarian and political themes in its lyrics.
  • Typical instruments used include drums, bass guitar, electric guitar, and keyboard, and the production often includes a strong use of reverb.