Various Music genres and styles. While classical music ruled the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the twentieth century saw the emergence of many more styles of music. Most music styles differ from one another depending on – things like scale, rhythm patterns or instrument used.
Introduction to Music Genres
Music has evolved over the years in several ways, influenced by cultures, availability of more musical instruments, and other factors.
A music genre is a classification system using which music can be categorized into different styles depending on the distinctive elements.
How to Play Classical Piano
How to Play Classical Piano – Learn From The Masters Classical Piano still forms the basis of all music learning, and as far as the music is concerned it still continues to be used as the soundtrack for most of the movies. You may already be having some preconceived notions about classical music, Learn to Play Classical Piano
How to Play Pop Piano
Whenever you refer to pop-music, it would normally mean a song which is in the Top-20 or Top-40 of any TV/Radio channel.
Tune into your favorite radio station and you would most likely be listening to a pop song.
All these songs would normally be sung by your favorite singers like Elton John, Billy Joel, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Adele, (just to name a few) – you can pick up any song of these great singers and that would be a pop song.
You will notice that most of the popular songs are Ballads, which is nothing but slow, sentimental songs.
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How to Play Blues Piano – The 12 Bar Blues
Blues songs were originally written by African slaves to depict their feelings, which obviously had a sad tinge to it. The main musical instrument used at that time was the harmonica.
Over a period of time, the Blues was developed into Rhythm and Blues (R&B), and then formed the basis of other forms of music.
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How to Play Rock Piano – Tips & Tricks
Rock music originated in the 1960s and 1970s (as Rock n Roll) and is today an international style known as rock music. Pioneer rock artists relied heavily on classic blues structures. Since then, rock music has been constantly evolving, inspired by music from all over the world.
In the earliest rock and roll styles, piano or saxophone would often be the lead instrument, but these got replaced with the guitar (around mid-1950s). Classic rock and roll is usually played with electric guitars (one lead, one rhythm), a string bass or (electric bass guitar), and a drum kit.
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How to Play Jazz Piano – Improvisations Galore
Learn How to play Jazz Piano – Get an overview of this musical style, learn to improvise and play jazz on piano! Are you looking for some direction on how to proceed…? Want to know how to improvise… substitute chords…? Don’t worry, help is at hand! Lot of people like Jazz piano because of the Read more here…
This is not really a complete list of all the music genres, but more or less a sample of some of the more popular ones. If you’re an aspiring performer, finding your favorite genre is important and will certainly enhance your experience.
Learn to Play Ragtime Piano
Ragtime, honky tonk, boogie woogie, and stride style of playing, usually involves playing a steady stride or two-step in the left hand, and playing lots of syncopation in the right hand. As far as use of harmony is concerned, you use mostly majors and sevenths.
Ragtime is considered to be “the American equivalent of the minuets of Mozart, the mazurkas of Chopin, or the waltzes of Brahms.” American ragtime piano music includes works by Scott Joplin, Charles Johnson, Felix Arndt, Joseph Lamb, Nathaniel Dett, Zez Confrey and George Gershwin.
Ragtime piano music is characterized by its syncopated rhythm – accent is unexpectedly placed on the off beat, like the 2nd beat and the 4th beat in a 4/4 time rhythm. This style became famous at the turn of the 20th century with songs written by Scott Joplin like “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag”, which influenced many ragtime composers with its harmonic patterns and melody lines.
For aspiring young piano players interested in ragtime piano music, here are some iconic pieces to learn today that will also provide a wonderful introduction to the genre.
“Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin
This song is from a “pianola” roll played by Scott Joplin himself, which was found by chance years ago. With this song everyone stopped what they were doing and a craze for the ragtime piano style was born. Its melody and rhythm are infectious and timeless.
“The Entertainer” – Complete Works of Scott Joplin as played by Richard Zimmerman
Probably, one of the most popular ragtime music, just listen to the first three bars of this song, and you will want to play it on the piano, it’s so inviting.
Honky Tonk is a style of ragtime piano-playing in which you play two-four or four-four bass, and syncopated rhythms. It is usually performed on a piano whose strings have been altered to create a tinny sound.
Stride, on the other hand, is a way or style of playing the jazz piano, where left hand strides up and down the keyboard. Players often improvise while playing stride.
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