How do you describe types of music?

Spexxvet · 08-25-2007, 09:25 AM

I can identify different types of music, when I hear them. I can tell when I hear disco vs reggae, classical vs blue grass. But how do you tell someone "I can tell it's reggae because..."? I don't read music, play an instrument, or know music theory (obviously). Any insights?

Undertoad · 08-25-2007, 09:32 AM

I can tell it's reggae because there is a lazy and usually slow beat on 2 and 4, the guitar is played as a percussion instrument along with 2 or more actual percussion instruments, and the singer is a Marley or has a legitimate Jamaican accent.

If the singer does not have a Jamaican accent, it's modern ska.

If the beat is 2-4 but not lazy, enforced at 120 beats per minute plus or minus 5, and incredibly rigid and heavily reinforced, it's disco.

Griff · 08-25-2007, 09:41 AM

Pick a band that describes the general universe of the movement and try to fit the unlabeled band into that sound.

Undertoad · 08-25-2007, 09:42 AM

Add: I keep thinking what Flint will say. In reggae, the snare drum is thin and metallic sounding... probably because it's thin and made of metal. It sounds more like a percussion instrument than a thick, wooden sounding rock snare drum, which sounds more meaty and resonant, like firing big guns.

I also think that in reggae, the meat of the song is produced by cheap keyboards and women backup singers.

lumberjim · 08-25-2007, 10:49 AM

as a guitarist, reggae highlights the upstroke across the strings instead of the down. if you listen to The Police, you can hear this.

HungLikeJesus · 08-25-2007, 11:15 AM

My wife is predisposed against country music. A song will come on and she'll say, See this is what I don't like about country music. And I'll say, That's not country music, that's the Allman Brothers (or CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc.).

lumberjim · 08-25-2007, 11:21 AM

Country music uses more Major scales and chords. the notes sound 'brighter'

blues is primarily Minor, so the sound a bit down or mournful.

Cicero · 08-25-2007, 11:21 AM

I think that traditionally genres were identified by both the instruments and method and style of playing the instruements that defines the genre. We are also including vocals in the instrument category.
Ok now lets talk about experimental reggae. Ok let's not.

Spexxvet · 08-25-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

as a guitarist, reggae highlights the upstroke across the strings instead of the down. if you listen to The Police, you can hear this.

The closest I've come to describing reggae is that the drum rythm is on beats 1 & 3, and the guitar rythm is on beats 2 & 4. Or something. Is that what I'm hearing you describe as the "upstroke"?

When I discuss music with musicians, this always runs through my mind

Quote:

This is just the sort of blinkered philistine pig-ignorance I've come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome spotty behinds squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist. You excrement, you whining hypocritical toadies with your colour TV sets and your Tony Jacklin golf clubs and your bleeding masonic secret handshakes. You wouldn't let me join, would you, you blackballing bastards. Well I wouldn't become a Freemason now if you went down on your lousy stinking knees and begged me.

How do you describe "rock".

piercehawkeye45 · 08-25-2007, 12:24 PM

Which type of rock?

lumberjim · 08-25-2007, 12:35 PM

igneous

elSicomoro · 08-25-2007, 01:37 PM

I like sedimentary rock myself.

zippyt · 08-25-2007, 05:09 PM

igneous work for me

Griff · 08-25-2007, 07:32 PM

I like Indigenous but aren't they more blues?

wolf · 08-26-2007, 03:21 PM

I describe types of music sometimes by reference other types of music, and then saying why type of music X is or is not like type of music Y.

It can get quite involved, and sometimes involves broad hand gestures.

08-25-2007, 09:25 AM	#1
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	How do you describe types of music? I can identify different types of music, when I hear them. I can tell when I hear disco vs reggae, classical vs blue grass. But how do you tell someone "I can tell it's reggae because..."? I don't read music, play an instrument, or know music theory (obviously). Any insights? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

08-25-2007, 09:41 AM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Pick a band that describes the general universe of the movement and try to fit the unlabeled band into that sound. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-25-2007, 10:49 AM	#5
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	as a guitarist, reggae highlights the upstroke across the strings instead of the down. if you listen to The Police, you can hear this. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-25-2007, 11:15 AM	#6
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	My wife is predisposed against country music. A song will come on and she'll say, See this is what I don't like about country music. And I'll say, That's not country music, that's the Allman Brothers (or CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc.). __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker. Last edited by HungLikeJesus; 08-25-2007 at 11:27 AM. Reason: Typo

08-25-2007, 11:21 AM	#7
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Country music uses more Major scales and chords. the notes sound 'brighter' blues is primarily Minor, so the sound a bit down or mournful. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-25-2007, 09:32 AM	#2
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I can tell it's reggae because there is a lazy and usually slow beat on 2 and 4, the guitar is played as a percussion instrument along with 2 or more actual percussion instruments, and the singer is a Marley or has a legitimate Jamaican accent. If the singer does not have a Jamaican accent, it's modern ska. If the beat is 2-4 but not lazy, enforced at 120 beats per minute plus or minus 5, and incredibly rigid and heavily reinforced, it's disco.

08-25-2007, 09:42 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Add: I keep thinking what Flint will say. In reggae, the snare drum is thin and metallic sounding... probably because it's thin and made of metal. It sounds more like a percussion instrument than a thick, wooden sounding rock snare drum, which sounds more meaty and resonant, like firing big guns. I also think that in reggae, the meat of the song is produced by cheap keyboards and women backup singers.

08-25-2007, 11:21 AM	#8
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	I think that traditionally genres were identified by both the instruments and method and style of playing the instruements that defines the genre. We are also including vocals in the instrument category. Ok now lets talk about experimental reggae. Ok let's not. __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

08-25-2007, 12:24 PM	#10
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	Which type of rock?

08-25-2007, 12:35 PM	#11
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	igneous __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-25-2007, 01:37 PM	#12
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I like sedimentary rock myself.

08-25-2007, 05:09 PM	#13
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	igneous work for me __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

08-25-2007, 07:32 PM	#14
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I like Indigenous but aren't they more blues? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-26-2007, 03:21 PM	#15
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I describe types of music sometimes by reference other types of music, and then saying why type of music X is or is not like type of music Y. It can get quite involved, and sometimes involves broad hand gestures. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

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