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Year 9

How can drum patterns communicate different musical styles?

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Year 9

How can drum patterns communicate different musical styles?

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will understand how drum patterns can communicate different song styles - from hip hop to jazz to pop.

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This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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Starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which section is not common in the standard pop song form?
Correct answer: Call and response
Chorus
Intro
Verse
Q2.
What does through composed mean?
A song without an intro or outro section
Correct answer: Non-repetitive, non sectional piece (different all the way through)
Where the lyrics don't rhyme in the song
Q3.
What is the difference between the role of a rhythm guitarist and lead guitarist?
The lead guitar is made out of different wood
The lead guitarist mainly plays chords and the rhythm guitarist mainly plays the melodic riff
Correct answer: The rhythm guitarist mainly plays chords and the lead guitarist mainly plays the melodic riff
Q4.
What is one similarity between Imagine by John Lennon and Black by Dave?
They are both in major keys
Correct answer: They are both mainly homophonic
They both contain a rap section and sung section
Q5.
When you compose a song in strophic / song form, it must follow:
Intro Chorus Verse Chorus Verse Bridge Chorus Outro
Intro Verse Chorus Verse Chorus Outro
Correct answer: It doesn't have to follow any specific structure

Exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What is the lowest pitched drum in the drum kit?
Floor tom
Hi-hat
Correct answer: Kick drum
Q2.
How many different sounds can you create on the snare drum?
1 - Hit the snare drum in different places.
2 - Hit the snare drum (snare on) - Hit the snare drum (snare off).
Correct answer: 3 - Hit the snare drum (snare on) - Hit the snare drum (snare off) and rim shot.
Option 4
Q3.
How is it possible to identify the style just by hearing the drum beat?
Correct answer: Each style has distinct drum patterns, e.g. Reggae = offbeat drum patterns.
It is impossible to identify the style from the drums as all songs drum patterns are so different.
You can tell the style from the tempo of the drum beat alone.
Q4.
How can you create a drum pattern without a drum kit?
You can notate your drum pattern and play it on your instrument.
You can sing your drum pattern and record it.
Correct answer: You can use a drum machine, body percussion, DAW.
Q5.
Drum patterns are important because ...
The audience know when to tap their feet.
Correct answer: The drum beat can help the listener tell what genre / mood the song is.
The drum beat can tell the listener what key the song is in.