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Western rock music is a popular music form. It features
vocals often with vocal harmony and accompanied with
instruments- electric guitars, a bass guitar, keyboard
instruments- electric piano, organ and synthesizer and
drum sets. Other musical instruments like saxophone,
trumpet and trombone are also included. Earlier horns
were also used which are not being used since the 90s.
The central piece of instrument in western rock music
is of course the electric guitar. The microphone used
by the singers itself functions as a musical instrument.
Many singers depend upon the amplification and various
effects like echo obtained by electronically transforming
the sound obtained through the microphone.
The characteristic musical style categorized as rock
music and music of its related styles has dominated the
musical scene of the west since about 1955. Western rock
music has its origins in the Unites States. However, it
has been influenced and shaped by a broad field of cultures
and musical traditions over the years. There has been the
influence of gospel music, the blues, western country music,
western classical music, folk music etc. Some elements of
popular music of Asia, Africa and Latin America have also
been incorporated in western rock music.
Western rock music styles have evolved into its complete
form around 1959 with predominant influence of the white
musicians. A major western rock music style is rock and roll
or rock ‘n’ roll. Rhythm-and-blues music is a popular
western rock music style influenced primarily by black
American musicians. Now, these major genres of western rock
music encompass several sub styles like heavy metal, punk,
alternative and grunge. The harmonies and other complex
technical aspects of the western music are shared by the
western rock music too- the chords known as tonic,
subdominant and dominant are to be especially mentioned in
this regard.
Western rock music has taken the world by storm and it is
now a popular musical form all over the world with a huge fan
following.
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