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Emerging around the mid-1950s, rock and roll merged country and R&B, eventually evolving into the high-energy, aggressive, and loud-volume style of music known today. Rock and roll is marked by its strong backbeat in 4/4-time, loud, high-pitched vocals, and the "stop time" technique, where instruments play only on the beat once, giving space for vocals or other instruments. Further evolving, many other genres spawned from rock and roll, pushing the boundaries of the genre. Jimi Hendrix, regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, famously experimented with amplifier capabilities as a musical instrument as well.
MUSIC THEORY
Most rock and roll music is written in 4/4 time, though classics have been written in 3/4 or 12/8 and is less commonly found in rock and roll. Tempos vary but popular ranges are typically between 100-140 bpm. Many classic rock and roll songs feature a straight-forward bass line, rhythmically simple.
Rock and roll chord style foundationally uses the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords (I, IV, and V). Musicians rearrange these chords and combine them with others to create new progressions. A common progression is I–V–VI–IV.
Rock n' Roll
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