The 1960s was the era of rebellion, free love and psychedelic drugs. The music scene reflected this with a wave of new sounds that challenged the rigid traditions of previous decades. New genres emerged, combining traditional roots with new influences. From blues to jazz, every musical style was distorted and expanded in the sixties; each one taking on a much more experimental viewpoint. There are many different types of music from the sixties, but some stand out as being more influential than others. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular subgenres of the era and what makes them so special.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a subgenre that blends rock with psychedelic music. It was a fusion of Western music and various Eastern musical traditions like Indian ragas, East Asian music, and African music. Early psychedelic music is a mix of folk and rock, with a strong presence of Indian musical artifacts. It is often characterized by a strong presence of exotic, extremely reverb-heavy guitar sounds and a strong, groovy bass sound. Notable artists: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Pink Floyd, and The Grateful Dead.
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Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a subgenre that’s been around for a long time. It’s the fusion of various musical styles like rhythm and blues, gospel, country and western, and jazz, with rock and roll being the main thread that holds it all together. Rock and roll is characterized by aggressive tempos, strong and/or distorted guitar sounds, and a strong backbeat. Notable artists: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys.
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Folk rock
Folk rock is a subgenre that fuses folk and rock music to create something new. Instead of sounding like rock music with a few folk instruments added in, the entire band plays a mix of the two. It was a subgenre that became very popular as it was a way for people to express themselves by using every aspect of their lives, including politics and war. Folk rock is usually marked by simple and acoustic instrumentation, often with a heavy use of string instruments. Notable artists: The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Mamas & The Papas.
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Rockabilly
Rockabilly is a subgenre that’s a mix of western swing, country, and rock and roll music. A rockabilly song is often a fast-paced tune with driving rhythms, strong guitar riffs, and fast moving lyrics. Rockabilly is characterized by strong vocal styles, loud instrumentation, and quick lyrics that can be both serious and light-hearted. Notable artists: Bill Haley & His Comets, Elvis Presley, Wanda Jackson, and Gene Vincent.
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Blues-rock
Blues-rock is a subgenre that’s a fusion of blues and rock music. It’s an offshoot of both genres that has a few characteristics of both. It’s usually marked by strong guitar riffs, often using distortion, strong vocal styles, and a heavy use of reverb on all musical instruments. Notable artists: Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, and The Rolling Stones.
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Heavy metal
Heavy metal is a subgenre that fuses rock music with a variety of different genres, including blues, jazz, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and folk rock. It’s a very loud and aggressive music style with a strong emphasis on guitar riffs and drum beats. Heavy metal is often characterized by an abrasive, distorted sound, strong vocals, and a simple use of melody. Notable artists: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Deep Purple, and AC/DC.
Iron Maiden, ,Metallica, Helloween, BlackSabbath - Heavy Metal Hard Rock Music 2021
Conclusion
There are many different types of music from the sixties, but some stand out as being more influential than others. Psychedelic rock is a subgenre that blends rock with psychedelic music. It was a fusion of Western music and various Eastern musical traditions like Indian ragas, East Asian music, and African music. Rock and roll is a subgenre that’s a fusion of various musical styles like rhythm and blues, gospel, country and western, and jazz, with rock and roll being the main thread that holds it all together. Folk rock is a subgenre that fuses folk and rock music to create something new. It was a subgenre that became very popular as it was a way for people to express themselves by using every aspect of their lives, including politics and war. Blues-rock is a subgenre that’s a fusion of blues and rock music. It’s an offshoot of both genres that has a few characteristics of both. Heavy metal is a subgenre that fuses rock music with a variety of different genres, including blues, jazz, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and folk rock. It’s a very loud and aggressive music style with a strong emphasis on guitar riffs and drum beats.
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