While many musical notes are common to both jazz and rock, the differences between the two genres may surprise you. Let’s have a look at some of the basic concepts you need to know in order to make the most of your time in the studio or on the road.
ROCK VERSUS JAZZ
Most people are familiar with the name jazz and associate it with music by great composers like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. However, jazz is a very broad category of music that covers many different styles and movements. The term rock is also very broad and can refer to many different types of music. For instance, classic rock is often associated with guitar-based music with heavy metal, punk, and ska falling under its umbrella.
The point is that while jazz and rock are often used interchangeably, they are in fact very different genres of music. If you want to make the most of your time in the studio, you need to learn the differences between jazz and rock. In this article, we will discuss some of the basic differences between jazz and rock so that you can use them effectively in your music-making adventures.
JAZZ VERSUS ROCK
Let’s start with the name jazz itself. The word comes from the French term for music, la joie de vivre, or ‘the joy of living’. This type of music was originally inspired by African-American melodies and their use in religious services. However, jazz evolved significantly from its religious roots into a form that could be enjoyed by all music lovers. It could also be characterized as ‘party music’.
The key difference between jazz and rock is that jazz is generally performed and enjoyed by musicians and audiences in small groups. Rock, on the other hand, was originally designed to be enjoyed by large groups of people, and it often features big bands and theatrical performances.
Even in smaller groups, musicians in jazz generally improvise most of the music. This allows them to create something that’s unique to each performance. This is something that can’t be said for most popular rock bands who play many the same songs every night!
THEORETICAL VS PRACTICAL
Another important difference between jazz and rock is in how they’re taught. Jazz is an art form that’s often considered to be more of a ‘hand-me-down’ culture. While most people go through life learning to play an instrument, artists in jazz generally learn by ear and by following the creative directions of a teacher. This can lead to some incredible individual talents, but also a lot of musical variation between students.
On the other hand, most rock musicians study theory in university, and this helps them to understand how the music they’re making actually works. This makes them better improvisers and composers, but also helps them to ‘lock-in’ a musical idea before they move on to the next one.
Theory isn’t completely irrelevant in jazz, but learning how to improvise and compose using theory makes a big difference. If you want to get the most out of your jazz band, ensure that they all study music theory alongside their instrument playing.
On the other hand, in rock, theory isn’t always necessary for a musician to be able to play their instruments correctly. Instead, they may learn some theory to analyze music, but for the most part, they have to learn by ear and through practicing.
INSTRUMENTAL VERSUS VOCAL
In addition to the differences in how jazz and rock are learned, they also have fundamental differences in how they’re performed. Jazz is generally performed by small ensembles using either keyboards or voice (usually the saxophone and trumpet). While horns are important in jazz, the focus is generally on the drums, piano, and saxophone. Vocal jazz, a form that emerged in the 1950s, adds another layer of complexity to the instrumentation.
On the other hand, most rock music is performed by large ensembles using either electric or acoustic guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, and drums. Vocal rock, often referred to as ‘power pop’, was originally inspired by singers like The Beatles, and the genre has consistently featured powerful female vocalists.
While it’s important to have strong female vocalists in your rock band, the focus in rock is generally on the instruments and how they interact rather than the individual voices. Even in the most basic level of rock, each instrument plays an integral role in the overall music composition and performance. This is in contrast to jazz, where the focus is generally on the voice and how the instrumentation enhances or changes what the vocalist is saying. The instruments in a rock band serve as another layer of creativity that can be used to interpret what the song is saying and/or trying to express.
MAJOR VERSUS MINOR
Jazz is usually understood to be a major mode of music, but this is a misconception. While most jazz is played in a major key, the music actually has no set key. This means that if you play in A major, the song won’t sound the same if you play it in E flat major or F minor. The same is true of most songs—they don’t necessarily sound the same whether you play in A minor or E flat major!
This lack of structural integrity in jazz is what makes it such a creative and lively genre. It doesn’t need to fit into a box; it can evolve and change any time it is performed or recorded. While this can add a great deal of creativity and variety to your music-making, it does mean that you have to be somewhat flexible when it comes to the songs you write. You may find that you have to make minor alterations to the lyrics or melody in order to make the song work musically in a different key or time signature. This is one of the reasons why it’s sometimes difficult for someone who isn’t particularly musically inclined to enjoy jazz; they won’t understand the structural elements that make the music so interesting and creative. On the other hand, someone who is musically inclined will find that this lack of structure makes it easier for them to create new music and variations.
CHORAL VS SINGING
Another important distinction between jazz and rock has to do with how they’re composed. Jazz is usually composed using standard chords with relaxed rhythm and a fast pace. This is in contrast to rock, where more complex rhythms and chord progressions are used to create a sense of tension and suspense. The term ‘chord’ in music means any note or collection of notes that can be played on an instrument or sung loudly, such as A, B, C, and D. These are the same notes that are found on a standard chord chart, which is why they’re so important in creating music.
While it’s important to know the basics of music theory, it is also important to learn how to apply it practically. Learning how to write simple, elegant songs using notes from a chord chart can be a helpful tool in your musical journey. This will help you determine what key you should actually be playing in, as well as how high the notes should be compared to each other. If you want to have a successful career as a songwriter, it’s important that you establish yourself as a skilled composer who has a clear understanding of both theory and practice.