Popular music styles
Popular music is music with wide appeal. These styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.
The term originated in the 1880s in the United States. Popular music is a generic term for a wide variety of genres of music that appeal to the tastes of a large segment of the population.
Popular music songs typically have easily singable melodies.
The song structure of popular music commonly involves repetition of sections, with the verse and chorus repeating throughout the song.
National 3
Styles
Styles introduced at National 3 are Blues, Jazz, Latin American, Pop, Rock and Rock 'n' roll.
Instruments
Instruments introduced at National 3 are Acoustic guitar, Drum kit and Electric guitar.
Melody/Harmony
Melody/Harmony concepts introduced at National 3 are Answer, Ascending, Descending, Improvisation and Question.
Texture/Structure/Form
Texture/Structure/Form concepts introduced at National 3 are Ostinato, Repetition, Riff and Round.
National 4
Styles
Styles introduced at National 4 are Ragtime, Rapping, Reggae and Swing.
Instruments
Instruments introduced at National 4 are Backing vocals and Bass guitar.
Melody/Harmony
Melody/Harmony concepts introduced at National 4 are Change of key, Chord progressions, Scat singing and Vamp.
Rhythm/Tempo
Rhythm/Tempo concept introduced at National 4 is Syncopation.
Texture/Structure/Form
Texture/Structure/Form concepts introduced at National 4 are ABA, Middle eight, Ternary and Verse and chorus.
National 5
Styles
Styles introduced at National 5 are Celtic rock, Gospel, Indian and Minimalist.
Melody/Harmony
Melody/Harmony concepts introduced at National 5 are Chord progressions, Modulation and Pitch bend.
Texture/Structure/Form
Texture/Structure/Form concepts introduced at National 5 are AB, Alberti bass, Binary, Rondo, Strophic and Walking bass.
Timbre/Dynamics
Timbre/Dynamics concept introduced at National 5 is Reverb.