1. Introduction
This research paper provides a comparative analysis of Rhythm and Blues versus Rockand Roll music.In the 1940s,the rhythm and blues music was recorded by the African-American musicians and it was sold to the African-Americanpeople. Rock and roll music and (RNB) Rhythm and Blues are very popular in the world.The comparative analysis aims at increasing the understanding of (RNB) Rhythm andBlues music and rock and roll music. TheRock and Roll music refers to the genre of music that originated from USA in the early 1940s and developed into the rock music in subsequent years.In the early 1940s and 1950s the Rock and Roll music was recorded by white musicians and the sold to the whites only(Litle and Marvin 577).The two genres of music have similarities and differences. The genres of music are similar in terms of rhythm, cultural impact and cultural origins. The two genres differ in terms of stylistic origin cultural origins, typical instruments, derivative forms and styles. The similarities of Rock and Roll Music are in the first part of the report. The differences of the music genres are in the second part of the report.
2. Similarities
2.1 Rhythm
According to North and David (76), therhythms used in theRock and Roll musicand the Rhythm andblues are the same.Rock and roll music uses simple instruments such as drums, bass instruments, ensembles and chord progressions.The Rhythm and Blues music uses jazz chords, large ensembles woodwinds, keyboard, string orchestra and mid-tempo pieces.The instruments used in both genres of music produce the same rhythm (Kotarba 397).
2.2 Cultural origins
The Rock and Roll music originated from USA in the late 1940s and early 1950s.The Rock and roll originated as a result of combing Africa genres of music and American genres of music. The initial music that was combined to form the Roll and Rock music includes gospel music, jazz, blues, country music and Western swing. The Rock and roll music obtained its name in the early 1950s(Pachet and Daniel 66). The cultural collision between the Africans and Americans led to the birth of Rock and Roll music. Similarly, the rhythm and blues originated in USA between 1940 s and 1950s.Rhythm and Blues music was popular among the African-Americans and it was commonly known as race music (North and David 75).
2.3 Cultural impact
According to Kotarba (398), both Rock and Roll music and Rhythm and Blues have a significant impact on culture in terms of lifestyles, language, fashion and attitude. The two genres of music focus on issues that are related to love, clothing, school, marriage, dating, and lifestyle (Grossberg 225).The genres influence the dancing styles and the teen culture because they identify with the issues facing the teenagers. The two genres are instrumental in the way the youth of today identify themselves (North and David 80).
3 Differences
3.1Stylistic Origins
Pachet and Daniel (76) explain that the stylistic origins of Rock and Roll include blues, gospel, jazz, electric blues, country, boogie-woogie, folk, jump blues, Western swing, Chicago blues and folk. On the other hand, the stylistic origins of rhythm and blues include gospel, blues and Jazz. The Rhythm andBlues were formed as a result of combining jazz, blues and gospel music. The main fusion genre in Rhythm and Blues is rockability (North and David 77).
3.2 Typical instruments
North and David (78) explain that during the 1940s, the leadinstruments in the Rock and Roll music were the piano and the saxophone.In the 1950s, the guitar replaced the saxophone and the piano. The electric guitar is used in classic rock and roll(Pachet and Daniel 73). Otherinstruments that are used in the Rock and Roll music include a string bass, drums, double bass and bass guitar. On the other hand, the typical instruments in Rhythm and Blues include bass guitar, background vocals, drum kit, saxophone, piano, electric guitar and vocals. The typical instruments used in Rhythm and Blues offer a gospel-esque backbeat (Kotarba 399).
3.4 Derivative forms
According to North and David (90), the derivate forms of Rock and Roll music include garage rock, rocability, surf music and pop music. Rockabilly was common in the 1950s and it was recorded by white musicians such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Persley.Rockabilly combined the jazz music with gospel and influences of Appalachian folk music(Pachet and Daniel 72).The Doo wop was popular in the 1950s and it emphasized on backing lyrics and multi-vocal harmonies. The sub-genres of rock includepoprock, jazz rock, garage rock, folk rock, hard rock, Christian rock, punk rock, heartland rock, blues rock, soft rock and psychedelic rock (North and David 78).
On the other hand, the derivative forms of Rhythm and Blues include funk, mod revival, ska, pub rock, soul, power pop, disco, rock and roll and psychedelic rock. The modern Rhythm and Blues use psychedelic rock and funk in its music. The subgenres of Rhythm and Blues include slow jam, contemporary music, hip hop soul, smooth rhythm and blues and neo soul(Pachet and Daniel 66).
5.5 Styles
According to Litle and Marvin (576), Rock and Roll derived its melodies from musical melodies such as Mixolydian and Dorian. The harmonies in Rock and Roll music include dissonant progressions. Rock and Roll music deals with many themes such as love, sex, lifestyle and rebellion among others ( Grossberg226) .The Rock and Roll music follows thetraditional dance rhythm and syncopated beats. The singing style in rock and roll music is straightforward and in the form of narrative. Malesingers are dominant in the Rock and roll music.Hip-hop music has little influence on the Rock and Roll music. Rock and roll music leans towards slow-tempo pieces(North and David 80).
On the other hand, pain, joy freedom, sex, aspirationsand freedom are the central themes in RNBs. The Rhythm and Blues explained the experience of African-Americans in theirquest for freedom. The lyrics in rhythm and blues elicit strong emotions in the listeners. Rhythm and Blues use florid melisma and embellishments(Litle and Marvin 577).Female singers dominate the rhythm and bluesmusic. Hip hop music has a lotof influence of the Rhythmand Blues music. The Rhythmand Blues have a repetitive mesh that creates momentum and rhythmicinterplay. The Rhythm and Blues produce mellow, hypotonic and lilting textures without calling attention to a particular sound.The lyrics in rhythm and blues are fatalistic and have predictable structures and chords. Rhythm and Blues tend to lean towards mid-tempo paces (Grossberg 228).
5.6 Racial barriers
Litle and Marvin (578) assert that Rhythm and Blues are racially marked and they inclinetowardsthewhites. Examplesof contemporary Rhythm and Blues musiciansinclude Alicia Keys, Toni Braxton Beyoncé and Mariah Carey among others.On the other hand, The Rock and Roll music cannot be viewed as a contribution of a particular race or ethnic group. The Rock and Roll music issungby all races and the music arose as a consequence of the relations between various races (Kotarba 399).
6. Conclusion
Works Cited
Grossberg, Lawrence. "Another boring day in paradise: Rock and roll and the empowerment of everyday life." Popular Music 4 (2012): 225-258.Print
Kotarba, Joseph A. " Rock and roll music as a timepiece." Symbolic interaction25.3 (2012): 397-404.Print
Litle, Patrick, and Marvin Zuckerman."Sensation seeking and music preferences." Personality and individual differences 7.4 (2011): 575-578.Print
North, Adrian C., and David J. Hargreaves."Music and adolescent identity."Music education research 1.1 (2009): 75-92.Print
Pachet, François, and Daniel Cazaly."A taxonomy of musical genres." RIAO. 2010.Print
