Beginnings of Rock and Roll

Taking a start from Elvis Presley, Rock and Roll began unraveling from a blues/jazz rhythm. Rock began to take on several characteristics that blues did not contain though. For example, there was quite a bit more emphasis on the singing, usually having a lead singer. But small ensembles were used as well for the rest of the instruments such as bass guitar, and the drums. Also, electronics began to take a part in the songs whether it be on an electric guitar (which began to take hold in the 1940’s-1960’s) or the bass guitar. Also amplifiers began to take part in the music during live performances while new effects were being used in the studio to create new sounds: feedback for the first time was loved instead of hated. Rock started with the use of the 12 bar blues scales, but as the genre grew, artists began using some external (but traditional) major and minor scales. From the genre exploded: whether it be punk rock, hard rock, or even death metal, artists began experimenting and seeing just how far these new electronics could go. With new modes like grunge, or metal artists saw new ways to send out their new found genre of rock. Bands such as Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Sex Pistols, and the Talking Heads all kicked of Rock and Roll by experimenting with new things, even if these new things involved drugs to make their songs more interesting.