Types Of Music

Music is no stranger to anyone, but have you ever asked someone as to what music is. If not, then try on but be prepared that you would not receive any definite answer from anyone. The dictionary defines music as ‘the art of arranging tones in an orderly sequence so as to produce a unified and continuous composition’. However, in the larger picture, the definition of music varies with culture, people, place or time. Music is sublime and too varied, leaving each individual with a different set of choice. For some music may be a source of relaxation, while for others it could be the means to let out their internal anguish. Even a person with the least inclination towards melody can recognize a piece of music instantly.  With the diversity in the forms of music, here is a classification of some of the different types of music.

  

Different Kinds of Music

  

Classical Music

Classical music is the main form of music, and refers mainly to the music which prevailed in the world before the 20^th century. Classical music is a complex form of music and requires intensive training and knowledge. Classical music may also refer to the local and folk music of any particular country or region. In the world of Western music, the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven are defined as classical music.

Rock

Rock music came into existence in the rock and roll era of the 1950s. Rock music has its focus mainly on guitars, drums and heavy vocals. However, use of piano, synthesizer, saxophone, flute, mandolin and sitar has also been witnessed in the modern rock era. These instruments are mainly used to create a deeper impact. Elvis Presley and The Beatles are considered to be the pioneers of rock music. Over the years, rock music has diversified into various genres like hard rock, metal rock, progressive rock etc.

Heavy Metal

Heavy metal music, also known as ‘information music’, started off after the Second World War. It includes various sub-genres, such as thrash metal, death metal, black metal and so on. The most important requirement of a heavy metal band is the presence of at least one electronic guitarist. There may be a few soft and subtle pieces, but most of the songs are loud, fast and aggressive with some heavy use of the guitar and drums, and lot of screaming, mostly in death metal. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were some of the famous bands of this genre.

Jazz

Jazz music owes its origin to the African American communities in the Southern United States. Cornet, trumpet, saxophone, piano and violin are the main instruments used in jazz music. Jazz music carries a strong and intricate rhythm and is a lot influenced by the blues in terms of using components like blue notes and phrasing of melodies. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Freddie Hubbard were some of the most famous jazz artists.

Trance

Trance music is characterized by fast beats, short melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that varies up and down throughout a track.. Trance music is mostly played in clubs and discotheques, for listeners to groove and dance. The name trance suggests the hypnotic effect of this type of music, and quite often gets associated with the use of drugs. Trance music is a combination of various forms of music such as industrial, techno, and house.

  

Hip-Hop

Hip-hop music originated among the Black American during the 1970s, with a deep influence from the Jamaican music. Hip-hop employs bass as the main instrument and includes rapping and audio mixing. Bob Marley and Roberts Nesta Marley were the pioneers in popularizing hip-hop music. By 2000, hip-hop made its way to the world music charts, and now with the success of hip-hop artists like Eminem, 50 Cents, Usher and Akon, hip-hop is going places around the globe.

Folk Music

Folk music or traditional music mirrors the needs, desire, likes, dislikes and life of the local people. Folk music mostly depicts the struggle for survival and culture of the people. Country music is a genre that has evolved out of folk music. Bob Dylan’s songs have become anthem for people fighting against social injustice. 

Techno

Techno, also known as fusion, is an electronic dance music influenced from the African American styles like funk, electro and electric jazz. It was developed by a group known as “The Belleville Three”, initiated by Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins in the suburbs of Detroit. Among the various styles of techno that exists today, Detroit Techno is considered to be the base for all others. Techno music is mainly an instrumental genre that uses instruments like synthesizers, drum machines, multi-tracking and hardware sequencers for creating harmony.

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What is a MIDI Keyboard?

A Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) keyboard is a musical instrument like a piano keyboard. The MIDI portion indicates that the instrument has a communication protocol built in that allows it to communicate with a computer or other MIDI-equipped instrument. 

The MIDI interface is now so easy to implement that almost all keyboards sold today are some type of MIDI keyboard. This ranges from a simple 100 US dollar (USD) MIDI keyboard sold at the local department store to a 30,000 USD grand piano with a built-in MIDI keyboard controller. Every type of MIDI keyboard can connect to any other type of musical instrument that sports a MIDI interface. The 30,000 USD instrument will sound much better than the 100 USD instrument, but both can be controlled by the computer or other instrument in the same way. 

It is also possible to purchase a MIDI keyboard with no sound capabilities at all. This device requires the musician to have some other MIDI device that is capable of understanding the MIDI messages and generating the correct sounds. This other instrument may be a computer or a dedicated sound box with a number of different instruments programmed into it. This approach allows one company to concentrate on making the keyboard and another to specialize in recreating instruments electronically. It also allows the musician to upgrade the instrument without losing the familiarity of the keyboard.

When purchasing a MIDI keyboard, there are several things to consider. The two most important are your budget and your level of comfort with the keyboard itself. If you have an unlimited budget, the choice is easier; simply buy the best MIDI keyboard that feels good to you.

If your budget is more constrained, then concentrate on getting the keyboard with the best feel. You can always upgrade the sound quality at a later date. To upgrade the feel, you will need to get a new keyboard and learn to become comfortable with the feel all over again.

MIDI keyboards can have different amounts of keys. Classical musicians and purists will insist on all 88 keys being present. Keyboards with 76 keys are also popular. MIDI keyboards with fewer keys are used when space is at a premium or for amateurs with a very limited budget.

MIDI keyboards come with a range of different feels. Some attempt to recreate the feel and action of a classic piano, while others have more of an electronic feel. Some are velocity sensitive, so that the faster the key is pressed, the louder the note sounds. Some are touch sensitive, so that the note sounds different depending on how hard the key is pressed. An inexpensive MIDI keyboard has neither effect.

Finally, if you are considering a used MIDI keyboard, remember that MIDI keyboards are more like cars than wine with respect to age. A wine improves with age, but a car runs down. An old MIDI keyboard, like an old car, is more likely to fail and more difficult to repair.

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What is R&B Music?

Rhythm and Blues music, or R&B music, was originally termed "race music" and basically included any form of music intended for black audiences. A combination of jazz, gospel, and blues, the term "R&B" was originally coined in the late 1940s in the United States to be used as a less offensive marketing term. While R&B music has evolved over the years to spawn contemporary genres of R&B sounds, the original genre focused on boogie rhythms and included such famous acts as Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. The end of World War II produced a surprising call for race music, and the R&B music genre took off as a result.

Today’s contemporary R&B music has a distinctly different sound than its forebears, focusing on pop beats and culture rather than the blues, gospel and jazz sounds of previous generations (though those elements are still sometimes present). In the late 1940s and into the fifties, R&B groups consisted of brass instruments and woodwinds, as well as drums, piano and vocals. These elements were common in jazz bands, but R&B musicians produced a heavier sound with a steady beat. As the fifties progressed, the genre became notable for its sexually suggestive lyrics and provocative dancing associated with it. 

As the genre progressed throughout the decades, R&B music started becoming known as soul music; it was also no longer exclusively made by black artists. White musicians started composing R&B songs, though the genre was still dominated by black artists like Chubby Checker, Sam Cooke, and bands like The Miracles. R&B lyrics still focused on segregation and racial issues like past musical genres associated with black musicians, but arrangement and musical style was becoming more important than lyrical content. Artists like Muddy Waters descended upon Chicago’s south side, the new center of R&B music.

Electric guitars began to play a part in the instrumentation as a result of Waters’ proficiency, and the genre began to evolve once again. As the genre progressed and caught on in society, it helped dispel the commonly held belief that so-called "black" music was for black people only. The genre transcended race relations and survived through extremely tenuous race relations in the United States, and as a result, R&B music carved its own niche in the U.S. music scene.

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Who is a DJ?

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A DJ, or disc jockey, is a person who plays musical recordings for a living. This may take place in a variety of venues. Therefore, the exact role of the DJ may vary depending on the setting or the purpose of the music.

One career path for a DJ is to work for a radio station. In this capacity, the DJ is responsible for playing musical selections from a playlist that has been provided by the management of the station. This playlist is developed to reach the target audience of the station. Generally, the target audience is determined by the genre of music the station chooses to play, or vice versa.

Common genres of music played by a DJ include heavy metal, classic rock, light rock, adult contemporary, hip hop, gangsta rap, rhythm & blues, jazz, and country western. Most radio stations do not cross over into different genres, though genres that are similar may enjoy some cross over play. For example, the DJ of an adult contemporary station may play some country western songs and light rock songs. In addition to playing music in accordance with the playlist, the DJ for a radio station may also be responsible for answering calls from listeners, conducting interviews with musicians, and announcing commercials as directed by the radio station. Typically, the DJ has little authority over what music is played.

A DJ may also provide music at a wedding reception. In this case, the DJ may receive a playlist form the bride and groom. Alternatively, the bride and groom may select a particular genre and leave it up to the DJ to select the songs to be played. Often, a DJ at a wedding reception also takes requests from those in attendance. The wedding DJ may also be called upon to act as an emcee at the wedding and announce when special events are about to take place, such as the throwing of the bouquet. In addition, the wedding DJ generally interacts with the audience in order to encourage guests to dance and have fun.

Another type of DJ is one that plays music at a bar or a club. A DJ at a club often has duties similar to those of a wedding DJ. A club DJ, however, may not take musical requests. In addition, many club DJs mix tracks beforehand in order to create recognizable songs with fun beats that encourage dancing.

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