Simple Breakdown of various Genres

jazz
pop
funk
rock
soul
hiphop
what makes a rock song a rock song is it just the drums and tempo ?

 

Distorted guitars, maybe?

 

Well aside from the tempo, it's how you use the instruments, particularly how the notes are played. Consider Jazz, and Metal; these two practically have the same instruments, except the brass instruments that are in used in Jazz as your sustained-lead sounds instead of the electric guitars. Additionally, like @No Avenger said, you have the distorted guitars in Rock/metal music that gives it its distinctive character. Alternatively, in a Hardstyle music, you have the distorted kick that give that genre its distinctive character.

So to experiment, get a Metal Pack with midis and such, and put everything in your daw, and instead of going with a distorted guitar as lead, go with a Sax, and see how it transforms the music; to further alienate the track and lower the tempo by 10-20%.

I believe that in addition to the tempo and theme, it's the choice of sounds and most importantly, the way the notes are played that determines the genre of music.

 

If you could list some great metal sample packs I'd appreciate it, they are so hard to come by. Would be a great addition to my arsenal to have sounds of that nature!

Edit: If possible I'm just looking for drum one shots, guitars and bass I have a plenty

 

Last edited: Jun 9, 2019

My simple breakdown:
I don't think we shoud over worry about these things and just keep making the noises that we like.
Afterall, everything is just pop music... except when it's not.
and, of course, Pachelbel's Canon is probably gonna make it's way into damn near everything sooner or later...

 

JAZZ
Sonically: Natural sounds and traditional instruments, on recordings little to no processing.
Musicality and musicianship, the ability to improvise, being able to play and hear and hear music proficiently, the ability play off of other spontaneous musical ideals, are the main tenants of jazz. One of the most high level, technically demanding, but creatively freeing genres. If Classical was one side of the coin, Jazz would be the other side of the coin. Both require high levels of musical competence, but are opposites in terms of creative philosophy.

**Think real musicians, real instruments, piano, upright bass, drums, percussion, etc. and high levels of musicianship and improvisational playing.

POP
Short for "Popular". Whatever is the predominant sound being promoted to, and or accepted by the masses, whether good or bad. The sounds and trends change from year to year, from generation to generation.

**Think of whatever has been on the billboard charts given any era. Example: in the early 90's contemporary R&B (Mariah Carey, boyz ii men, Whitney Houston was considered pop, HipHop was still in its infancy and was not considered yet pop).

FUNK
A sub genre of Urban pop music which is a mix of classic era (Motown) R&B with 70's Soul, and Rock, with an emphasis on creativity. The "feeling" and groove is more important that technicality in this genre. Funk is an aggressive music style that puts an emphasis on rhythm and percussive accents. This genre is stylistically characterized by aggressive,and elaborate bass melodies, rhyme guitar, and exaggerated, high energy vocal performances. Generally funk bands use primary traditional instruments with, experimental fx, and electronic instruments.

**Think a bass player slapping his guitar, or a rhythm guitar with a wah pedal fx. Bootsey Collins, Funkadelic, Rick james.

ROCK
A genre that has many iterations and sub genres, but originally derived from original R&B, Gospel, big band music mixed a new type of high energy sound that was being pioneered in the 1940's into the late 50's by black urban artist like little Richard. As the genre was popularized, bands like the Beatles became synonymous with Rock. With the advent of their (and other artists') success and popularity rock and roll would officially became recognized as a "Pop" genre. Modern rock is the progression of this popular music style over the last 50 years, and is vastly expansive in terms of style and how different it was from its initial conception. Most modern rock relies heavily on aggressive use of distorted guitars, bass and drums. Attitude and grit is more important than perfection or musicianship in this genre, although there are many highly skilled rock musicians throughout history.

**Think bands with guitars, lots of them... A LOT of people have varying opinions of what is considered "rock proper" and what is not... to many different styles and sub genres, so google would be a good start a digging further.

SOUL
A sub genre of R&B, heavily influence by Jazz, gospel, and funk. A predominantly vocal and musically driven genre. More characterized by the deep emphasis on artistic authenticity and conveying emotion and feeling through music and vocal performances. Given its gospel-esque roots, Highly skilled or unique vocalist, and creative musicianship are a focal point of this genre. Harmony, Melody, riffs/melisma, the ability to emote and improvise are main tenants in this genre. Expressiveness is the most fundamental aspect in soul music.

**Think Jazzy sounding R&B, with a little sprinkle of funk... D'angelo, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, or if you want to go further back 'Earth Wind and Fire'.

HIPHOP
A genre that developed out of urban musical influence which started as an amalgamation of what happens when you mix funk, electronic instruments/samplers and spoken word. hiphop like rock has gone through many changes and has many sub genres. Due to HipHop's effect on global pop culture it would be challenging to find a unified definition of what is considered hiphop, as many disagree about what is considered "hiphop proper"

**Think rapping, sampling, a mix of synthesized sounds and or traditional instruments, loud electronic drums (aka 'beats') and after that almost anything goes. Again like rock, this genre has too many variations and examples that already super widespread... google it.

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2019

True, but this is only aesthetic. Most important ingredient is missing: THE VIBE

The vibe is the magic inside the sound, that metaphysical “something” that determine if you are in or out of a specific culture, something that when you play, the listener has to think: “this guy feel the universe as I feel it” and the audience has to say “he is one of us, he is our spokesman”
The music must generate a sense of belonging to be accepted in a genre
Example: I know various funky music groups, composed only of white people, who despite being good musicians, are culturally not credible: they don't have "the vibe". I can't find an explanation for this, surely it's a cultural issue, or lack of (in this case Afroamerican culture).

 

+1

Although, it's true that "vibe" and "theme" are synonyms in reality of music composition; i.e. "This song has a happy, and mellow vibe" vs. "this song has a happy, and mellow theme." These two sentences refer to the feeling or as we call it, theme or vibe that's associated with the song.

 

It's really not my genre of production, but sure. I'll keep you in mind mate.

 

I didn't repeat your words in the quote. I think this task is like trying to nail a rice pudding to a wall, and I think your answer is one of the best attempts I've seen in a while. Cheers.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I agree with your analogy. Underneath it all any true artist or skilled musician in ANY of these genres knows how much of a single thread runs through all popular western music styles, but on the surface everyone has varying or contrasting opinions about what defines various genres.

I figured I'd try to sum of the basic differences that I felt most people may be able to identify with. Also I know a lot of guys on this board tend to give non-helpful 'sarcastic elitist', dismissive, or philosophical answers (usually ignoring the question) when all the OP wanted was some basic information on the subject, its almost like a crime to ask specific or technical questions in regards to pop or urban music on audio related forums. I'm all for the philosophy of creativity and music, but there's nothing wrong with discussing basic or general information about creative things as well.

I was just trying to answer the OP's specific question rather than tell him to "just feel it" or dismiss his questions as frivolous.

 

Last edited: Jun 11, 2019

No problem, thanks for getting back at me

 

@alfred, Rock songs don't need to be fast.
Ori and two cover versions

Spoiler: ori, Pop

Spoiler: slower, Rock

Spoiler: faster, Dance