Different Styles of Music:The Rhythms, Tempos, and Instruments Used

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Visual & Performing Arts
Jazz music was developed from a combination of many cultures, such as American, African, and European. It was developed in the 20th century in the southern part of the United States by the African American communities (Clarisse 3). It was mostly played during occasions such as mourning, entertainment, plantation, and mega celebrations. The music was played using different instruments such as guitars, trumpets, double bass, drum kit, saxophone, and clarinet. Moreover, the music uses various rhythms, including a blue note that is sung at the lowest pitch, swung note which lops sides both long and short beats, and regular spaced strong and weak beats. Jazz music is hard to understand and requires attention (Jay 3). However, it is known to have soul-searching and expressive emotion characteristics.

Blue music was also developed in the 19th century in the southern part of the United States. The music was developed from mixed work songs, African American folk music, and spiritual songs (Jay 1) and played with many instruments, including guitars, trombone, saxophone, drums — harmonica, piano, vocals, and sometimes fiddle. Solo guitarist and vocalist often performed the music, and its storyline mainly was about poverty, woes of life, lost love, and mistreatment. The music used melancholic, slow, and sharp tones, which increased its widespread in the early 20th century (Clarisse 5).

Moreover, the musical genre was mainly formed on blue notes, set chord patterns, and passionate lyrics. Jazz and blues music go hand in hand since they were both developed at the end of the 19th century in the southern part of the United States (Clarisse 6). Furthermore, they are characterized by syncopated rhythms, swung notes, and blue notes.

On the other hand, rock music was developed from blues music in the 1950s. It is easy to understand since it is made up of a standard three-chord sequence. The music was played with bass, drums, and electric guitars (Jay 2). Moreover, the lyrics were sung by the vocalist. The music produced a hard rock genre as compared to jazz music since the ear-piercing noise from different playing instruments such as drums created heavy metal. Rock music is also known for its rude attitude, which involves mad singing and hopping. Rocks are mostly accessible in poetic nature, and their progressive melody makes them unique in the music industry (Clarisse 3).

Additionally, rock incorporates single themes and mind-blowing elements that illustrate sexual freedom (Clarisse 4). However, in today's generation, people view music as an exciting art. Rock and blues music closely relate to each other since they use almost the same instruments and rhythm (Jay 3). Most people believe that blue music, known as folk music, led to rock, electric blues, and rolls. Thus, it can be stated that blue music led to the development of work and spiritual music, African American folk music, and eventually rock.

The guitar is one of the musical instruments which is extremely popular for its melodious voice. When it is played, it makes the song to be instrumental (James 4). Guitars ha...