Self Quiz Questions
Conventions of Pop
Conventions of Pop - Self Quiz
How many of these questions can you answer on your own? Click on the question to reveal the correct answer. Visit the Conventions of Pop page if you need to do further revision.
What type of bassline is used in Rock n Roll?
Walking bassline
What name is given to the chord sequence commonly used in Rock n Roll?
12 bar blues
What type of rhythm is used in Rock n Roll?
Swung rhythm
Identify the instruments commonly used in Rock n Roll
Drum kit
Bass guitar (or double bass)
Electric guitar
Piano
Vocals
Harmonica (sometimes)
Saxophone (sometimes)
Identify a suitable artist for Rock n Roll
Elvis Presley
TOP TIP: or any other Rock n Roll artist from the 1950s or 1960s.
Identify the correct decade(s) for Rock n Roll.
1950s and 1960s.
TOP TIP: just one of these will be a good enough answer for your exam if you are asked this.
Identify at least three playing techniques used by guitarists in Rock n Roll.
Improvisation
Hammer ons
Pull offs
String bends
Slides (glissando)
Double stops
Identify at least three vocal techniques/qualities used by rock n Roll singers.
Narrow range of notes
Shouting
Rough
Gravely
Falsetto (sometimes - Little Richard used lots of falsetto)
What type of texture is most commonly used in all styles of popular music?
Homophonic (melody and accompaniment)
The electric guitar in Rock Anthems has a unique sound because it uses an effect. What is the name of this effect?
Distortion.
TOP TIP: distortion is a form of music technology. It is an effect used on Electric Guitars.
Identify at least three other effects/music technology used in Rock Anthems (not including distortion).
Reverb
Delay
Multitracking
Amplification
What type of structure is most commonly used in all styles of popular music?
Verse and chorus.
TOP TIP: if you are asked to describe the structure used in a pop song, you should comment on it using a verse and chorus. If the question is worht more than two marks, comment on the use of an introduction, instrumental sections or the fact that the chorus is repeated. Always comment on what you actually hear in the extract (e.g. don't mention an introdiuction or instrumental section if this is not heard in the extract).
TOP TIP: 12 bar blues is also a type of structure when talking about Rock n Roll. However, Rock n Roll still uses a verse and chorus structure.
How does the rhythm differ to rock n roll and the other styles of music in Conventions of Pop?
Rock n Roll uses a swung rhythm. Rock Anthems, Pop Ballads and Solo Artists will usually use a straight rhythm.
Identify the correct decade(s) for Rock Anthems.
1970s and 1980s.
TOP TIP: Just one of these will be a good enough answer if you are asked this in your exam.
Identify a suitable artist for Rock Anthems.
Queen
TOP TIP: or any other Rock band or artist from the 1970s or 1980s.
Describe the difference between broken chords and block chords.
Block chords - playing all the notes of a chord all at the same time.
Broken chords - playing the notes of a chord individually. The chord is broken up.
Describe the difference between a guitar being strummed and a guitar being picked string by string.
Strummed - all the notes of a chord played at the same time (similar to block chords on a Piano).
Picked - individual notes played one at a time (similar to broken chords on a Piano).
What is a riff?
A short, catchy melody (tune) that is repeated at key moments in a song (such as the introduction and the chorus). Riff's are used to help make a song catchy and memorable.
Identify at least three vocal techniques used in Pop Ballads (these can be used in other styles of music as well).
Melisma
Falseto
Glissando
Vibrato
Portamento
Describe what usually happens to the dynamics in a Pop Ballad. Why do composers/artists do this?
The dynamics will usually build throughout the song and the chorus will be louder than the verse. This is done to make the chorus stand out.
TOP TIP: as well as getting louder, the texture of a Pop Ballad will also develop and get thicker throughout the song, with extra layers being added.
Identify at least three identifying features of a Pop Ballad.
Romantic / sentimental lyrics
Slow tempo
4 beats in a bar
Legato notes
Verse and chorus structure
If a piece of music has more than one melody being performed at the same time (interleaving/overlapping) what is the correct word used to describe the texture?
Polyphonic
Identify the correct decade(s) for Pop Ballads.
1970s, 1980s, 1990s
TOP TIP: just one of these will be a good enough answer for your exam if you are asked this.
Identify two suitable artists for Pop Ballads (one male and one female).
Male - Elton John
Female - Whitney Houston
TOP TIP: or any other artist who performed Pop Ballads in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. You must have an answer prepared for both a male and female artist.
Identify the instruments usually used in Pop Ballads.
Drum kit
Bass guitar
Electric guitar
Synthesizer
Piano
Vocals
String and/or brass and/or woodwind sections (sometimes)
In more modern Pop music (e.g. Solo Artists) an electronic instrument is often used that looks similar to a keyboard. This was also used in some Pop Ballads. What is the name of this instrument?
Synthesizer
TOP TIP: this is a type of Music Technology
Identify at least three other ways in which music technology is used by Solo Artists.
Multitracking
Reverb
Delay
Sampling
Autotune
Identify the correct decade(s) for Solo Artists.
1990s to the present day
Identify at least two suitable Solo Artists (one male and one female).
Male - Ed Sheeran
Female - Adele
TOP TIP: or any other modern day Pop artist from in the 1990s to the present day. You must have an answer prepared for both a male and female artist.
What time signature is most commonly used in most styles of Pop music?
4/4
How many of these questions did you get right? Did you need to lookup the answer for any of these questions? If you did, remember to focus your revision on the areas you were unsure of.