Archive for March 18th, 2010
The time before the 60’s saw the big band eras. Big bands consisted of 10 to 25 pieces, with the earlier bands have an orchestral section consisting of violins and other string instruments.
The bands had musicians playing saxophones, trombones, singers as the focal point, and a rhythm section that carried the chords and the melody of the songs as back-up instruments. Rhythm sections were that of a drummer, bass player, and a piano or guitar or both.
The 60’s is when things changed, up-right basses were replaced by bass guitars, and electric guitars and drums became the main instruments with some bands used horns strictly as back-up instruments.
The biggest difference to me is the music itself, while the swing and jazz music before was terrific for dance and to listen to, the creativity started in the 60’s. Music was no longer structured with an anything goes attitude, which is why rock is still strong to this day.
The guitar is the symbol of rock. Since the 60’s it has been the turning point in music as the world knew it, and mixed with the electronics of today there is no limit to where rock will go in the future