Introduction
• People generally see the rhythm section as the drummer as he/she is not playing an instrument that adds melody to the piece therefore his aim must be for the rhythm.
• However it can be a whole variety of instruments that can be placed in the rhythm section. Therefore it can be said that the instrumentation and characteristics of the rhythm section is strongly related to the genre.
• Our main aim is to study 4 different genres of music (Classical, Heavy Metal, Jazz / Funk & Flamenco) and portray the role which the rhythm section plays within each one.
Areas of Study.
• Is the rhythm section the prominent “pulse maker” of the piece?
• What are the rhythmic characteristics with the different genres?
• Can it display different kinds of emotion/timbres?
• Is it used effectively in providing a rhythmic structure, i.e. when the other instruments are soloing etc.
• Is it the section which triggers different changes within music i.e. Crescendos, Accelerandos, Key Changes, Mood Changes etc.
The Importance Of Rhythm Within Classical Music.
What is rhythm?
• No specific rhythm/percussion section, more focused on scoring.
• First known use of timpani: Thésée (Lully, 1675)
• Often limited to tonic-dominant.
• Piano only became prominent in 18th century
• First ever piano recital – Bach in 1768 (Thatched House, London).
• Percussive instruments only become prominent from 19th century onwards.
How was it used throughout classical music?
• Renaissance Music
• Church music (Thomas Tallis – If Ye Love Me)
• Secular music
• Baroque Music
- Move to homophonic textures
- Opera (Monteverdi – Orfeo)
• Classical Music
- Piano music (Mozart K545)
- Concerto (Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3 K447)
• 19th Century Music
- Thematic transformation (Wagner/Liszt)
Does it clearly define the tempo of the piece?
• Doesn’t define tempo/emotion by itself.
• Longer/shorter note values, rhythmic figurations.
• Compliments compositional tempo markings.
Does it create a rigid structure for the other performers?
• Classical music all fairly rigid.
Figured bass: a form of improvisation?
• Nothing wrong with rigidity.
If performers are rhythmically ‘together’ there is musical coherence.
The Importance Of The Rhythm Section In Jazz / Funk.
Characteristics Of Rhythm Sections in Jazz / Funk.
• Jazz is quite open in the form of instrumentation i.e. any instrument can be placed within the rhythm section. (Drums, Bass, Brass, Guitar, the left hand of the Piano to name just a few).
• In funk it would generally take the form of Bass, Drums and perhaps a cheesy Synth line.
• However in funk there are some examples were rhythmic instruments are used as the main focal point. Hence writing compositions using just instruments from the rhythm section. For example, Victor Wooten & Carter Beauford – Victa.
Does It Clearly Define The Tempo Of The Piece.
• In jazz music it is common for the tempo to be defined by the rhythm section.
• Within jazz/blues the relationship between drum and bass is so important as it is generally the heartbeat of the song.
Does it Create a Rhythmic Structure?
• Within jazz it is important to mention the style of jazz before studying.
• In Free Form Jazz it is difficult to hear any kind of rhythmic structure created by any of the instruments.
• On the other hand in swing the rhythms are clearly defined.
• In funk there are many rhythmic fingerprints which can be heard in many different funk songs
Can Rhythm Trigger Changes?
• Accelerandos, Crescendos, Ritardandos, Key Changes, Mood Changes etc can all be triggered by the rhythm section.
• Bass guitar playing a high pitched harmonic tells the rest of the band to move to a different cell.
• In a more conventional scenario it could be as simple as the rhythm section beginning to slow down indicating to the rest of the band that this is the end of the piece
The Importance Of The Rhythm Section in Flamenco.
Flamenco – Brief Introduction
• Originates from the Andalusian Region of Spain, and has influences as far back as the 14th Century. Wasn’t until the late 18th Century when it adopted its own characteristics.
• Comprises of four main elements: Singing, Dancing, Guitar and Percussion.
• Has over 50 various styles of song, known as Palo’s. Varying rhythmic patterns, chord progressions and moods.
• A very upbeat genre of music, generally fast, upbeat tempos and styles of playing.
Flamenco – Rhythmic Patterns
• 2/4 and 4/4. Used for pieces such as tango’s and rumba’s. Farruca -
• 3 / 4. E.g. Fandango’s and sevillinas. Fandangos -
• 12 Beat Rhythms. E.g. Aelgrias, Soleá and Burias.
• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
• Seguiriyas
Flamenco – Percussion
• Clapping -
• Striking objects with hands.
• Golpes (Striking the guitar soundboard)
• Mostly Improvised
Flamenco – Use of Rhythm
• Emotion set by style of song; i.e. a Soleá would have a sorrowful mood, while a Bulerias is upbeat and cheerful. Alegrias used for dancing etc.
• Different Palo’s mainly identified by their Rhythmic Structure. Set structure for each piece.
• Improvisation is a key feature of Flamenco.
The Importance of the Rhythm Section in Heavy Metal
As with the vast majority of music, the primary focus of the rhythm section is to establish the rhythmic pulse of a song as well as to operate the chordal structure of a piece.
Heavy Metal music (generally) incorporates the standard instruments associated with a rhythm section, namely, Bass guitar, Drums and Rhythm Guitar.
Heavy Metal is primarily a guitar-orientated genre, emphasising highly amplified distortion,rapid solos and coarse, screaming vocals.
One of the most defining characteristics of this genre is the complex structural arrangements frequently used in songs, which often involve stark tempo changes, unusual time signatures
and irregular patterns, breaks and stops.
The instruments in the rhythm section occupy their own niches, each with it’s own set of unique characteristics, in order to provide an appropriate backing to these defining characteristics.
The complicated nature of this type of music opens up a myriad of possibilities to the rhythm section, allowing it to flourish behind this complex framework, proving it’s worth, and extending the genre’s capability to the maximum level.
Bass Guitar
Heavy Metal bass is a role, though prominent, that holds two polar opposite approaches. One form is that of holding “pedal points”, or root notes, to provide a solid low-end foundation that adds to the music’s “heaviness”.
This low-frequency aspect is also extended by frequent use of 5 or 6 string Basses, or detuned instruments.
Rhythmic Instruments Used as Lead Instruments.
Alternatively, the approach often called “Lead Bass”, popularised by Cliff Burton in the 1980s, is also widely used in Metal. This approach calls for an intricate harmonising interplay between guitar and bass, often in a higher register.
Both approaches compliment the complex arrangements of metal music, as the pedal approach allows for guitar-driven harmonies, while lead bass playing extends the role of the bass, bringing it to the forefront of the band and complimenting the harmonies of the guitars with its own.
Drums
Like Bass, Drumming in metal music holds an extremely important position. Due to the often highly technical nature of the music, metal drumming requires a high level of speed, stamina, dexterity, precision and an IQ of over 40, in order to provide the intense, powerhouse backbone to the music.
There are a number of specific techniques often applied in metal drumming that contributes to the notion of heaviness and power. Such techniques include double-bass and cymbal chokes. These techniques are applied to metal in order to provide
bursts of power and to maintain the often breakneck speed at which the music is played.
