Hard rock

Hard rock is a form of rock and roll music that finds its closest roots in early 1960s garage rock. Budgie, AC/DC, The Stooges, MC5, Living Colour, Prong, Skid Row, Guns N' Roses, Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple are easy to find examples of hard rock. Van Halen (up to 1984) perhaps typify the energy of this genre. The genre achieved maximum popularity between 1969 and 1985.

Hard Rock is often loosely defined, and is primarily of use in describing radio statio formats. There is often signifigant crossover with heavy metal music, but a few distinctions are worth noting: Hard Rock typically features major key song construction, as opposed to heavy metal, which is often minor key oriented. There is a heavy reliance on the pentatonic scale for most elements of song construction, and fifths (power chords) are often substituted for traditional chords. Chord progressions are commonly associated to 1-4-5 degrees of the scale, as in rock and roll.

Hard Rock lyrics and songs are typically not as "dark" as heavy metal lyrics.

Hard is typified by a bright, trebly overdrive distortion effect on the guitars, lending to its overall sound. Drums can range from 100-150 Beats Per Minute, with 120 BPM being typical. Bass is usually round and warm sounding.

The guitar solo is very important part of a hard rock song, and leads to the credibility of the song just as much as the lyrics and vocal melodies do. Songs are generally hook laden, and consist of:

1. an intro
2. verse
3. chorus
4. verse
5. chorus
6. solo
7. chorus
8. an ending

There is much room for variation, and repetition of verses and choruses.

Jazz, Blues, and rock & roll were the roots of this style, as with heavy metal.

Punk rock, Gothic rock, Industrial music, funk, and fusion also claim these roots, but branch off at different points, eliminating elements that are considered unnecessary, and adding elements to typify their genre. Interestingly, death metal and industrial music also incorporate a march rhythm.

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