How to Evaluate a Style

[DunmerBoy]

Style is everything. Be it in clothes, cars, speech, or even music, style is the first impression of someone you get. So learning how to look at a musical style critically the first time is something that anyone can benefit from.
The word style gets thrown around a lot, especially in music, being used to describe any given part, such as instruments or distortion or effect, of the sound of any given genre or band or musician. A common misconception is that one player’s style is just a specific type of sound, always the same in every song, but that is not the case. Otherwise every song written would sound the same and would be very boring. A musical style can have very many faces and themes, just as long as the same emotion and feeling is there. But what are some ways one can identify them? Here are a few techniques that can be used to do so.
1.) What instruments are used? Are they electric or acoustic? Are other instruments besides traditional guitars and bass and piano and drums used? Bluegrass and country will usually be acoustic or a non-distorted electric and often use instruments like banjos and mandolins. A rock or metal will often use distorted guitars and feature keyboards for added effects.
2.) Look at what tone or attitude or emotion is being brought into the piece. How does it sound? Does the music lend itself to a specific anger? The angrier a song, the more likely the style came from a form of rock or metal, but happy sounds can be anywhere, including rock. This will often occur more in a pop rock genre.
3.) Listen to the piece as a whole. Are there a lot of changes in the tempo or the emotion? How long is it? Long flowing pieces are found in a lot metal and other genre. Especially genres like bluegrass and southern rock.
4.) Now listen to the lyrics and singing. What style of vocals is used? What is the emotion of the singer? What do the lyrics talk about? The style of singing can range anywhere from the yelling and screaming of punk and metal to operatic singing in some metals. A higher, less mature voice is often used for popular music be them electronic or rock and roll.
If one is able to fallow all of these steps when looking at music, it will be no time until you can impress anyone with your musical description powers. Being able to take the sound of a song or band give it a name and characteristics of a style will make you seem more worldly, more cultured, and just plain impress. It can help you meet girls, make friends and just plain enjoy listening more.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by DunmerBoy

Style is everything. Be it in clothes, cars, speech, or even music, style is the first impression of someone you get. So learning how to look at a musical style critically the first time is something that anyone can benefit from.

Well, when one starts from a high questionable assertion like that, the responses are hardly likely to be enthusiastic affirmations.

REALLY?? The first post from a new member, and that member decides to become the world's foremost authority and inform us as to the most important element of performance?

Well, let the good times roll!

A good troll is a terrible thing to waste.....

[Metalbasshippy]

Originally Posted by DunmerBoy

Style is everything. Be it in clothes, cars, speech, or even music, style is the first impression of someone you get. So learning how to look at a musical style critically the first time is something that anyone can benefit from.
The word style gets thrown around a lot, especially in music, being used to describe any given part, such as instruments or distortion or effect, of the sound of any given genre or band or musician. A common misconception is that one player’s style is just a specific type of sound, always the same in every song, but that is not the case. Otherwise every song written would sound the same and would be very boring. A musical style can have very many faces and themes, just as long as the same emotion and feeling is there. But what are some ways one can identify them? Here are a few techniques that can be used to do so.
1.) What instruments are used? Are they electric or acoustic? Are other instruments besides traditional guitars and bass and piano and drums used? Bluegrass and country will usually be acoustic or a non-distorted electric and often use instruments like banjos and mandolins. A rock or metal will often use distorted guitars and feature keyboards for added effects.
2.) Look at what tone or attitude or emotion is being brought into the piece. How does it sound? Does the music lend itself to a specific anger? The angrier a song, the more likely the style came from a form of rock or metal, but happy sounds can be anywhere, including rock. This will often occur more in a pop rock genre.
3.) Listen to the piece as a whole. Are there a lot of changes in the tempo or the emotion? How long is it? Long flowing pieces are found in a lot metal and other genre. Especially genres like bluegrass and southern rock.
4.) Now listen to the lyrics and singing. What style of vocals is used? What is the emotion of the singer? What do the lyrics talk about? The style of singing can range anywhere from the yelling and screaming of punk and metal to operatic singing in some metals. A higher, less mature voice is often used for popular music be them electronic or rock and roll.
If one is able to fallow all of these steps when looking at music, it will be no time until you can impress anyone with your musical description powers. Being able to take the sound of a song or band give it a name and characteristics of a style will make you seem more worldly, more cultured, and just plain impress. It can help you meet girls, make friends and just plain enjoy listening more.

That's nice

[5StringBlues]

What's the question again?

[pocketgroove]

Um, I have a question...?

[FreshTrooperXBL]

I don't think its even that easy to define / pick out things to look for. I'm getting the feeling that I get when I talk cultural anthropology with my professor ...and that its all relative. Sweeping statements work horribly when you try to compare (or differentiate) cultures ...the way it seems these "styles" are certainly like cultures.

Maybe I'm wrong in that line of thinking but I guess you just opened up a debate ...so yeah trolls abound!

[JohnMCA72]

(OP forgot link to his blog/website)