What genre of music you like is dependent on where your musical roots are. If you’re not sure where those roots lie, don’t worry! There are lots of great songs that were written years ago that still have powerful messages to convey.

Many musicians find inspiration for new songs in old tunes. By studying the lyrics of older songs, you can learn some things about life and leadership.

This article will talk about five common sources of rock music to help you create your own hit songs. Check them out and see what you can take away from each one!

Reader discretion advised as some content may be considered inappropriate for children or those who do not want to feel uncomfortable while listening.

Stick with this article until the end before reading any further. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂 ______________________

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Sources of Inspiration For New Songs

5 Sources Of Inspiration For New Songs You Must Know About

1) Literature/Storytelling- This includes anything from novels to short stories to blogs to speeches to songs. The story goes beyond just telling an anecdote, but also has underlying lessons that go much deeper.

2) Life Experiences – Whether you’re talking about personal experiences or observations of the world around you, there’s always something we could apply what we know to other people or situations.

Origins of rock music

Many consider rock to be an ever-evolving genre, but some say it’s already in its sunset phase. Others refer to it as a totally different type of music that just so happens to include lots of catchy melodies and lyrics about love and life.

Either way, one thing is for sure – most people credit early musicians like Mozart, Beethoven, or Bach with laying the groundwork for what we now call “rock.”

But while those composers are definitely known for their use of rhythm and melody, there was actually no such thing as true rock at the time!

It wasn’t until the 1920’s when bands started playing songs with strong rhythmic patterns and elaborate instrumental features, including frequent modulations (or changes in key) and extended improvisation sections.

These types of songs were characterized by their use of guitar, bass, drums, and other instruments which would slowly meld into each other creating a seamless whole. All of these elements have become integral parts of what we know today as rock music.

The 1960s rock music scene

During the 1950s, popular music was mostly characterized by sounds that have been categorized as “American” or “Dixie” – big band swing, blues, rhythm and blues (R&B), and country music.

This is what most people refer to when they talk about songs like Elvis Presley’s version of “(If I Could) Give You All My Love,” Taylor Swift’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep,” and so forth.

These are all examples of songs with lyrics that emphasize romantic love, and use metaphors and references to convey this feeling. They also feature catchy melodies and rhythms made using some form of percussive instrumentation, such as drums, guitar, bass, etc.

However, during the late 1950s and early 1960s, an emerging genre of music began to emerge. It abandoned the use of percussion for creating rhythmic patterns and instead used instruments more commonly associated with classical music, such as pianos, violins, and guitars.

The 1970s rock music scene

During the 70’s, there was an explosion of creativity in music. Artists experimented with new styles and genres, creating something new that people still enjoy to this day.

This is what made it so interesting to listen to music from the time period. You had new parts being explored in songs and musical structures that have since been adapted and incorporated into other genres.

There were also artists who did not fit into any specific genre or style, but instead created their own unique one! These musicians are referred to as outliers.

Their style does not resemble anything else out there, which makes them stand out more.

The 1980s rock music scene

During the eighties, there was a large amount of crowd participation in how songs were made. Artists such as Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) have spoken about this being due to technology making it possible for anyone with an idea or a knack for music to produce their own material.

This is not to say that professional musicians did not contribute much towards creating a song. But many artists today seem to be focused more on who can pay them the most money than they are on allowing others to express themselves through their work.

If you listen to some of the tracks by these artists, you will find that none of them really match together well. This does not make sense because all of these different writers, producers, and recording engineers must have left their individual touches within the songs.

In the early stages of music production, professionals had access to very expensive studio time and equipment. With technology becoming increasingly affordable, independent artists started using software programs and gadgets to create music.

These tools allowed people without formal training in music to experiment and add their personal touch to songs. A lot of these individuals now have their own style and credit themselves as instrumentalists, composers, or lyricists.

The 1990s rock music scene

During the 1980s, there was an explosion of new genres and styles of music. These included grunge, hip-hop, alternative, electronica, jazz, and many others!

In fact, some say that the term ‘alternative’ did not even exist before the early to mid-1990s. All music was categorized as either pop or rock, with no in between. But during this time period, artists began exploring other areas of music, introducing new elements into what is now considered classic rock.

These newer trends spread like wildfire through word of mouth and media coverage. People were listening and experimenting more than ever before, allowing for greater diversity in style and genre.

A large part of this shift happened because musicians wanted to explore different sounds and concepts. Artists such as Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) and Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters) said they would listen to anything and everything – it was their studio diet.

And while some people may consider all of these songs outside of the realm of rock, I think you can put them in the same category really. They are all rhythmically driven pieces with lyrics and melodies, they just happen to be within another genre.

The 2000s rock music scene

Recent developments in popular music have been characterized as the death of rock. With artists such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, and Drake incorporating more acoustic and folk styles into their songs, it seems that there is no longer an adequate source of inspiration for musicians to use.

Many believe that this shift away from pure rock is due to the influence that rock has over society. People claim that rock acts like Adele or Justin Bieber are corrupting youth by using excessive amounts of profanity or alcohol during concerts, which encourages other fans to do the same.

Furthermore, some say that modern music lacks uniqueness because almost every song sounds the same. Artists seem to be copying each other’s style instead of developing their own, so nothing truly stands out anymore.

However, these theories ignore the fact that most people were not listening to very many albums back when rock was at its peak. Only a small percentage of the population had iPods and CD players, and most people listened to radio music rather than individual album tracks.

In addition, many of today’s popular artists include lyrics about things that happened in their lives, making their songs relatable to people who may not share their experiences.

The history of rock music

As we know, rock is more than just songs with heavy bass lines! It’s got lyrics, melodies, rhythms, and sounds. All of these components make up what people refer to as rock music.

The term “rock music” was first used in the 1930s when radio stations started playing mostly instrumental music they called rhythm and blues or R&B. These artists incorporated many styles into their music, including jazz, folk, classical, and even some soft music.

However, it was the combination of those stylistic elements that made this type of music become associated with the word “rock.” For example, listeners would describe the music as having a strong beat, an energetic tone, and features such as guitar riffs, vocal parts, and overall energy.

After World War II, musicians began incorporating other genres like funk, soul, hip hop, and disco into their sound. A lot of these new musical styles were influenced by earlier forms of rhythmic music, especially African drums.

In the early 1980s, MTV premiered its video program which featured music videos from various genre bands. Artists such as Motley Crue, Poison, and Van Halen played short clips that clearly showcased their talent before moving onto another song. This helped create interest in the band for both casual and hard core fans.

Since then, rock has remained very popular due to the influence of media and marketing.

Popular rock bands

As we already know, music can come in many forms- from Mozart to Jay Z. But where did all popular rock songs come from?

The first people to write what would become known as “rock music” were not musicians themselves but poets and storytellers who used rhythm, rhyme, and melodic structure to convey emotion.

These early writers of poetry included lyrics that incorporated themes such as love, death, hope, and faith. Some even wrote about politics or current events!

But it was the Romans, the Greeks, the Middle Easterners, and others to put these elements together into something more unified than just an essay or poem with a catchy melody.

This is us, modern day rock singers! We are inspired by the poets and storytellers of past generations, and add our own musical touches to make the song his/her own.

So, let’s take a closer look at some classic rock genres and get some theory for how they made their name.