Rock Band 101

Basic band terms, stage setup, instruments, cables, DOs and DO NOTs.

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​INSTRUMENTS

• Drums

• Bass

• Rhythm Guitar

• LEAD Guitar

• Keyboard

• Vocals

RHYTHM VS. LEAD GUTIAR

Guitar: Jimi Hendrix

BASS GUITAR

DRUMS

DRUMS

​Best at 0:47

DRUMS

BAND TECH:

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• XLR Cable: Usually for microphones only

• 1/4" or Instrument Cable: the chord that connects instruments to amps or to the master sound board.

• Amp: short for amplifier, an electronic device for increasing the amplitude of an instrument.

• Sound Board: takes multiple input signals—such as microphones, instruments, iPods, DJ turntables, etc. —and merges them together so they can be sent to speakers as one signal

DOs AND DON'Ts

​Do NOT...

​Do...

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• Unplug ANY cables without turning off the amp or muting FIRST.

• Touch the tuning pegs on any bass or guitar unless instructed to do so.

• Change the volume nobs on amps or the instrument itself without asking Ms. Pearce first.

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• Have Fun

• Improvise! (Make it up, play what comes to mind)

• Try every part in the band

• Step back and listen to the music sometime.

• Explore new genres

​ROCK SONG STRUCTURE VOCABULARY

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• Intro: The opening section of a song that sets the tone and captures the listener's attention, often featuring distinctive musical motifs.

• Verse: The main section of a song where the lyrics and melody progress the narrative or message of the song.

• Chorus: The catchy and memorable part of a song that typically repeats throughout, often featuring a melodic and lyrical hook.

• Pre-Chorus: A transitional section between the verse and chorus, building anticipation and leading into the main chorus.

• Bridge: A contrasting section that provides a break from the main song structure, often featuring different chords, melodies, or lyrics.

• Outro: The concluding section of a song, often fading out or featuring a distinctive ending that provides closure to the musical arrangement.

• Interlude: A brief musical passage that connects different sections of a song, serving as a transition or providing variation within the composition.

• Breakdown: A section where the song's intensity decreases, often featuring sparse instrumentation and creating tension before building back up.

MORE VOCAB

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• Distortion: A guitar effect that alters the sound by adding a gritty, distorted tone, often achieved through the use of pedals or amplifier settings.

• Feedback: The high-pitched squealing or howling sound created when a guitar's amplified sound is picked up by the instrument's own pickups or microphones.

• Crowd Surfing: A practice where a person is passed overhead by the crowd at a concert, often done by enthusiastic fans or performers.

• Stage Dive: When a performer jumps off the stage and is caught by the crowd, typically resulting in a moment of shared excitement between the artist and the audience.

• Encore: An additional performance requested by the audience at the end of a concert, often accompanied by cheers and applause.

• Stage Presence: The ability of a performer to command attention and engage with the audience through their charisma, energy, and enthusiasm while on stage.

• Count Off: s a verbal, instrumental or visual cue used in musical performances and recordings to ensure a uniform entrance to the performance by the musicians

MORE VOCAB - EXAMPLES

​Crowd Surfing

Stage Presence