How Many Kinds Of Rock Music Are There?
Posted by Mike Schumacher
We’ve discussed some types of music, but there are so many more! There are several categories that describe different styles of rock music. These include genre, era, vocal style, instrumentation, and others.
Rock is a very diverse genre. It is impossible to define exactly what it is, but you can identify it by its parts. Part of defining any genre is understanding where it comes from, which makes exploring other genres fun!
This article will go over how to describe some of the most important components of rock music. Some of these components come together to make one song or album, while others are separate pieces in their own right. But no matter what part you look at, they all contribute beautifully to the overall feel of rock music.
We will also discuss why certain elements are important when describing rock songs. When talking about musical instruments, for example, we will cover which ones are typically found in rock as well as how each one contributes to the song.
To close out this section, we will talk about two terms that use those instrumental notes again: chord and scale. Chords are always made up of intervals, and scales have a pattern of repeated notes. Both apply here as our songs contain both chords and melodies!
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General rules apply when using either term, but knowing what they mean for rock music helps nail down the definition! So, keep reading to learn more about them.
Thanks for reading! Let’s get into it.
Modern rock
Recent songs that are typically considered as “rock” music are sometimes referred to as modern or alternative rock, but there is no formal definition for what makes something qualify as rock. What defines a song as being rock depends on when it was written!
Rock has always been a genre of music with a lot of internal diversity. Some people consider Elton John, Taylor Swift, and Adele to be classic rock, while other people include Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Imagine Dragons in this category. This show how hard it can be to pin down exactly what constitutes rock.
This article will talk about some types of rock music that can help you define the term correctly. These different styles of rock music all contain similar elements, such as lyrics, melodies, rhythms, and instrumental parts.
Hip hop
While some consider rock to be totally genre-less, there are actually several sub-genres within it. One such branch is called “rock” or sometimes referred to as “hard rock.” This includes artists like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, etc.
Another category is called “alternative music,” which is characterized by using unconventional instruments and exploring new sounds. Artists that fit into this category include Radiohead, Nirvana, and Muse, among many others!
Yet another type of rock is called “jam band music” due to their extended instrumental songs with frequent jam breaks.

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