Yr 9 Features of Pop Music

Yr 9 Features of Pop Music

By Cara Kos

Instruments

​The main instruments of pop are...

• ​Voice

• Electric guitar

• Bass guitar

• Drum kit

• Piano/keyboard​

The voice will normally sing the melody.

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There may be backing vocals adding harmonies in places.​

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​Vocals​

​The rhythm guitarist generally plays an electric guitar.

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The rhythm guitar plays the chords.​

​Rhythm Guitar

The lead guitarist also plays an electric guitar.

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They add fancy bits and sometimes play the melody.​

​Lead Guitar

The bass guitar has four strings.

It plays the low notes of the piece.​

Bass Guitar

The drum kit keeps the beat and provides an interesting rhythmic accompaniment.

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​Drum Kit

Learn the parts of the drum kit.

Multiple Choice

What part do the main vocals perform?

• Melody

• Chords

• Bass

• Harmonies

Multiple Choice

What part do the backing vocals perform?

• Melody

• Chords

• Bass

• Harmonies

Multiple Select

What are the main instruments in pop and rock music?

Tick ALL the correct answers.

• Electric Guitar

• Bass Guitar

• Drum kit

• Piano/Keyboard

• Saxophone

Multiple Choice

Which instrument plays the low notes of the piece?

• Rhythm Guitar

• Bass Guitar

• Keyboard

• Drum kit

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the Rhythm Guitar?

• It supports the rhythm by strumming the chords

• It provides the low notes of the piece

• I performs the melody

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the Lead Guitar?

• play the low notes

• play the chords

• add decorations and melodies

• play the beat

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the Bass Guitar?

• It supports the rhythm by strumming the chords

• It provides the low notes of the piece

• I performs the melody

Multiple Select

Choose four parts of the drum kit

• Bass Drum

• Floor Tom

• Uncle Tom

• Snare Drum

• Tom-Tom

Types of Voice

Head voice - used when you sing higher notes. A less powerful part of the voice.

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Chest voice - used to sing the lower notes. A more powerful part of the voice.

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Falsetto - a technique used by men to sing in a higher range than normal.​

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Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

What is the term for: the male vocal technique used to extend their voice into a higher range than normal.

• Falsetto

• Chest Voice

• Head Voice

Multiple Choice

What is the term for: the lower, more powerful part of the voice.

• Falsetto

• Chest Voice

• Head Voice

Multiple Choice

What is the term for: the higher, less powerful part of the voice used to sing the highest notes.

• Falsetto

• Chest Voice

• Head Voice

​Song Structure

The main sections are the Verse and the Chorus

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The verse ​tells the story. The words change on every verse.

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The chorus has the main message. The words are the same every time.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Song Structure 2

The refrain includes the hook - this is often the title of the piece.

A hook is a short, memorable melodic phrase.​

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The bridge is a link section that contrasts (sounds different) to the rest of the piece.

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The intro starts a song and the outro ends it, sometimes with a fade.​

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Subject | Subject

Multiple Select

What are the two MAIN sections of a pop or rock song’s structure?

• Verse

• Chorus

• Coda

• Middle 8

Multiple Choice

Which section of a song contains the main message and is the most memorable?

• Verse

• Chorus

• Bridge

• Intro

• Refrain

Multiple Choice

Which section of a song contains the hook?

• Verse

• Chorus

• Bridge

• Intro

• Refrain

Multiple Choice

Which section of a song has changing lyrics and develops the storyline?

• Verse

• Chorus

• Bridge

• Intro

• Refrain

Multiple Choice

Which section of a song links different sections and contrasts with the rest of the piece?

• Verse

• Chorus

• Bridge

• Intro

• Refrain

Multiple Choice

What is a hook?

• A short, memorable melodic phrase

• A pattern that repeats

• Three notes played at the same time

• Chords that move by step

​Other useful information

A chord is three notes played at the same time.

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A chord sequence is a pattern of chords.

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The first note of the chord is called the root.

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The bass often plays the root.

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A riff is a melodic pattern that repeats.

Subject | Subject

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Multiple Choice

What is a chord?

• A short, memorable melodic phrase

• A pattern that repeats

• Three notes played at the same time

• Chords that move by step

Multiple Choice

What is a riff?

• A short, memorable melodic phrase

• A pattern that repeats

• Three notes played at the same time

• Chords that move by step

Multiple Choice

What is the first note of a chord called?

• Root

• Tree

• Branch

• Leaf

Multiple Choice

How many notes are in a triad chord?

• 1

• 3

• 5

• 7

Multiple Choice

Which note of the chord does the Bass often play?

• Root

• Middle

• Top

• All of them