How do you describe types of music?

[Griff]

I like Indigenous but aren't they more blues?

[wolf]

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.

[DanaC]

I generally describe music badly.

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I generally describe music badly.

Yeah, me too!!

I ought to be able to give a better answer considering that I got a BA in music history and went to grad school for a couple years in music history.

But the bottom line is, music is made up of patterns--different kinds of patterns depending on the kind of music, but still patterns. People who write music put the patterns together in particular ways. If they're hacks, then they're generally copying what other people have done. If they're good, they'll take existing patterns and add something new and different of their own or, in some cases, create completely new patterns.

So if you listen to enough music by a particular person, you get used to those patterns. And even though you may not be able to sit down and diagram it, you think, "Oh, that sounds like the Beatles" or "that sounds like Mozart." It all fits together--what's different depends on what you're comparing. If you're comparing Louis Armstrong and Mozart, it's enough to hear the different instruments. If you're comparing Mozart and Haydn, or Armstrong and Duke Ellington, that's different--they may be using exactly the same instruments and you have to consider other factors like the use of harmony, rhythm, etc.

It's extremely difficult to answer in general, without reference to specific pieces of music.

[elSicomoro]

I think all music should be compared in terms to Black Sabbath.

Classical: This is similar to Black Sabbath in that it can be operatic and intense, but doesn't involve loud distorted guitar.

Jazz: Black Sabbath's drummer drums in a jazz style, but jazz isn't as gloomy or apocalyptic as Sabbath.

Etc.

[Ibby]

Ouch.

I'm wearing a Skynyrd shirt today. On the back, it says "support southern rock".

Some chinese girl asked me today what southern rock was. I was at a loss. I tried to explain in terms of allman brothers, skynyrd, etc - drew a blank. described blues influence, musicianship, lots of guitars... drew a blank.

How would you describe southern rock?

[elSicomoro]

Originally Posted by Ibram

How would you describe southern rock?

Equal parts rock, country, blues, alcohol and pot.

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by sycamore

Equal parts rock, country, blues, alcohol and pot.

Don't forget a healthy dose of "the needle and the spoon and a trip to moon."

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Ibram

Some chinese girl asked me today what southern rock was. I was at a loss. I tried to explain in terms of allman brothers, skynyrd, etc - drew a blank. described blues influence, musicianship, lots of guitars... drew a blank.

How would you describe southern rock?

"Come back to my place and I'll play some examples for you "

Duhhhhhh!


Welcome Ben Smith!
I wouldn't have a clue, but good luck.

[Drax]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

How do you describe types of music?

I don't. I just listen to what I like.

[Undertoad]

Ya, disco starts with a bass beat, right ON the beat. (See f's discussion of syncopation.) And it's funny, you know, before sequencers were used to put things firmly on the beat with unnatural precision, disco attempted to do that through careful recording. The result was that people felt it was too simple.

[Ben Smith]

Hello all! I have been trying to find out who the band is that plays the background music in a video clip from a leadership video series I once attended. I tried the company fiirst, but they had no records and the trail went cold. I am not even sure how to describe the style or Genre of music it is. But it is great music and I would very much like to find out who they are. I can email the clip to anyone who is interested in helping me out here.
Thanks in advance!
Ben Smith

[Clodfobble]

99.9% of the time that sort of music is purchased as part of a set of royalty-free music clips. A "leadership video series" will almost never have the money to license unique songs (and if they had, you can bet they'd keep a record of that kind of investment.) You can find hours and hours of generic feel-good background music, just do a search for "royalty free music."

[Cloud]

I'm with Drax. I don't think it matters how you describe or label music, as long as you enjoy it. Like people.

[Sundae]

When I'm now asked what music I like (less so recently, no-one has tried to chat me up) I say Middle of the Road. I'm tired of my paramours making fun of the music I like so I might as well get it out of the way at the beginning. It's music-snobbery in my opinion. I'd never chat someone up and then start belittling their taste in literature!