N5 Pop Music

               Popular Music- National 5

Find definitions and examples for concepts introduced at National 5 level for Popular Music. 

Instrumental Music- Drum-kit(Hi Hat)

These belong to the percussion family. Used as part of a drum kit, they consist of two cymbals (one upside-down) that are hit with a stick or brush, and opened/closed with a foot pedal.

---

Instrumental Music- Walking Bass

A bass line (low notes) often featured in a variety of jazz styles. It goes for a walk, up and down a pattern of notes, and is often played on a double bass.

---

This is Thomas Lang.He is one of the best
drummers in the world. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory of Music. Listen to how he plays the hi hat.

Have a listen to this walking bass tutorial and try out a walking bass yourself!!

Vocal Music- Gospel

Music written with religious lyrics, often in praise or thanksgiving to God. Gospel has its origins in Afro-American culture.

---

Methods of Playing- Rolls

A very fast repetition of a note on a percussion instrument, eg on a snare drum or timpani.










Here is an example of a Roll below...

---

Gospel Music (Cont)

Methods of Playing- Pitch Bend

Changing the pitch of a note, for example by pushing a guitar string upwards. Here is an example below.

---

Methods of Playing- Reverb

An electronic effect which can give the impression of different hall acoustics. For example, reverb can make a piece of music sound as if the performance is taking place in a cathedral.

---

Methods Of Playing- Riff

A repeated phrase usually found in jazz and popular music.
This illustration shows the guitar riff for a song by The Kinks called 'You Really Got Me'. 










         Have a look at the slideshow below for examples of Riffs!

---

Listen to the Youtube video above. This is Mike Blow playing the electric guitar, through a classic Marshall amp, in one of the most reverberant spaces in Europe. We're in the reverberation chamber of the National Physical Laboratory. And this video is playing backwards. Mike is the only musician playing. The sound and video aren't out of synch - but you can hear a strong reverberance that anticipates the note that Mike has just played.

                                               


                     Check out 'The Kinks' to the right playing a RIFF!

Tempo

Rubato

Translates as 'robbed time' which means the music will speed up and slow down in order to allow for expression, therefore there will not be a strict tempo maintained.

Listen to this Rubato example. It is performed by Queen.

Rhythms

Cross Rhythms

1. Term used to describe the effect of two notes being played against three (eg in piano music it might be groups of two quavers in the right hand and groups of triplets in the left).



2. The term is also used to describe the effect that occurs when the accents in a piece of music are different from those suggested by the time signature (eg the division of 4/4 time into 3+3+2 quavers).

Definition 1 Example.

Definition 2 Example.

Dotted Rhythms

A long note followed by a shorter one or a short note followed by a longer one, as in a Scotch snap. Often used in a Strathspey.


Dotted Rhythm Example

Dynamics

Below are examples of the various dynamic ranges.

Notes

Tone

The distance between two notes, equivalent to two semitones (for example, two frets on a guitar).

Example 1 shows the note G rising by a tone to an A.

Semitone

Half a tone, eg G to Ab on a keyboard. From one fret to another on a guitar.

Accidentals

A sign added to a note to change the pitch.

A sharp (to raise the note by a semitone).

A flat (to lower the note by a semitone).

A natural (to take the note back to its original pitch).

National 5 Popular Music Quiz

Now that you have learned all of the concepts at N5 level, see how well you know them by taking the online test! 

---