Rock (1950–2026)

In the early 1950s Black American rhythm and blues, with its blues progressions, strong backbeat and saxophones, met the country music of white Southerners. Radio and 45 rpm singles reached a new generation of young people with pocket money. Rock and roll exploded around 1954–1956 with Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, whose guitar riffs became models.

The solid-body electric guitar (Fender, then the Gibson Les Paul) and the amplifier made a loud, distorted sound possible. In the 1960s British bands (the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who) and then Jimi Hendrix reinvented rock from American blues; rock became a language of albums and studios.

Rock then split into many styles: hard rock and metal (heavier), progressive rock (inspired by classical music), punk (short, fast, three chords), new wave, grunge, indie… The piano has its place too, from the boogie of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis to Elton John’s ballads.

For students, rock starts with a few simple moves: power chords (root and fifth), a repeated riff, drums hitting beats 2 and 4 (the backbeat), and the blues progression found in hundreds of songs.