HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC
Identifying Elements of Music Listening Examples
Source/Instrumentation
Texture:
Alleluia – Gregorian Chant: Example of Monophony
All My Loving – The Beatles: Example of Homophony
I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker – Sandi Thom: Example of Monophony & Homophony
Long Distance Runaround – Yes: Example of Polyphony
Volume:
Shout – Leo Night and the Moonlighters: Example of Dynamic Volume
Practicing Listening for Sound Examples:
A Touch of Gray – The Grateful Dead
Bass Guitar, Drums, Keyboard Synthesizer, Organ, Tambourine, Cowbell, Aux
Percussion, Lead Vocal, Back-up Vocals (On Chorus) Electric Guitar (Solo),
Rhythm Guitar
Me and the Devil Blues – Eric Clapton (example of acoustic instrumentation)
Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Bass, Drums (brushes), Harmonica, Lead Vocal
Soul with a Capital “S” – Tower of Power (Live)
Drums, Bass, Electric Guitar, Horn Section (Trumpet, Saxophones *Note Bari),
Keyboard/Organ, Lead Vocal, Background Vocals, “Live” Audience
Highway to Hell – AC/DC
Electric Guitar (lead & rhythm), Drums, Electric Bass, Lead Vocal, Background
Vocals (On Chorus)
Harmony
Twist & Shout – The Beatles: Example of I-IV-V-I Progression
La Bamba – Ritchie Valens/Los Lobos: Example of I-IV-V-I Progression
Louie, Louie – Paul Revere & the Raiders: Example of I-IV-V-I Progression
Wild Thing – The Troggs: Example of I-IV-V-I Progression
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry: Example of 12-Bar Blues Progression
Rock ‘n’ Roll – Led Zeppelin: Example of 12-Bar Blues Progression
Birthday – The Beatles: Example of 12-Bar Blues Progression
Sunshine of Your Love – Cream: Example of 12-Bar Blues Progression (minor)
Stand by Me – Ben E. King: Example of Doo-Wop Progression
Earth Angel – The Penguins: Example of Doo-Wop Progression
Little Darling – The Diamonds: Example of D00-Wop Progression
Duke of Earl – Gene Chandler: Example of Doo-Wop Progression
Crocodile Rock – Elton John: Example of Doo-Wop Progression
Every Breath You Take – The Police: Example of Doo-Wop Progression
D’yer Maker – Led Zeppelin: Example of Doo-Wop Progression
Happiness is a Warm Gun - The Beatles (ending section): Example of Doo-Wop Progression
Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles: Example of Descending Minor Progression
Stray Cat Strut – The Stray Cats: Example of Descending Minor Progression
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin: Example of Descending Minor Progression
25 or 6 to 4 – Chicago: Example of Descending Minor Progression
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane: Example of Phrygian Modal Progression
Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix Experience: Example of Phrygian Modal Progression
In the Evening- Led Zeppelin: Example of Mixolydian Modal Progression
Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones: Example of Mixolydian Modal Progression
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles: Example of Dorian Modal Progression
Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple: Example of Dorian Modal Progression
Melody
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys: Example of Wide Melodic Range
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley: Example of Narrow Melodic Range
In My Room – The Beach Boys: Example of Conjunct Motion
Where Did Our Love Go? – The Supremes: Example of Disjunct Motion
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones: Example of Ascending Melodic Shape
(You Make Me Feel Like)Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin: Example of Descending
Melodic Shape
Soul Man – Sam & Dave: Example of Static Melodic Shape
Come Together – The Beatles: Example of Static Melodic Shape
Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan: Example of Static Melodic Shape
Rhythm/Meter
Strut – Sheena Easton: Example of Background/Middle Ground Time
Ain’t It a Shame – Fats Domino: Example of Triple Foreground Meter
Money – Pink Floyd: Example of 7/4 meter in verses and 4/4 in solo sections
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds – The Beatles: Example of ¾ - 4/4 Meter – abrupt shift
in tempo
Happiness is a Warm Gun – The Beatles: Example of shift between ¾ and 4/4 meter
Form
When A Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge: Example of Standard Song Form
Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino: Example of Standard Song Form
Move It On Over – Hank Williams: Example of Strophic Song Form
Rock and Roll Music – Chuck Berry: Example of Strophic Song Form
Eclipse – Pink Floyd: Example of Through-Composed Song Form
Examples for Basic Listening Inventory Practice
School Day – Chuck Berry
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – The Beatles