MUS 15 – Rock Music History and Appreciation
Study Guide for the First Exam
Know the definition of each of the following terms as it relates to music:
A cappella Amateur Backbeat
Bass Beat subdivisions (even and uneven)
Blue notes Blues harp Bottlenecks
Call-and-response Congo Square Cover
Front line Griots Improvisation
Melisma Payola Ragtime
Riff Rhythm section Slapping bass
Spiritual String bending Tremolo
Twelve-bar blues Two-beat bass Vibrato
The people listed below have all greatly impacted the history and/or development of
particular styles of rock music. Know the style of music each person performed and/or
recorded/produced and the principal contribution each had on the history of rock or popular
music:
Alan Freed Phil and Leonard Chess Willie Dixon
Dick Dale Robert Johnson B. B. King
Bessie Smith Muddy Waters The Ventures
Pat Boone Sam Cooke Bo Diddley
Duane Eddy Louis Jordan Hank Williams, Sr.
Chuck Berry Dick Clark Fats Domino
Bill Haley Buddy Holly Jerry Lee Lewis
Little Richard Roy Orbison Carl Perkins
Sam Phillips Elvis Presley Joe Turner
Phil Spector The Beach Boys Brian Wilson
Know both the real and stage name of each of the following people
Muddy Waters Little Richard Bo Diddley
Know who recorded the original and who recorded the cover version of each of the following
songs:
“Crying in the Chapel” “Sh-Boom” “Hound Dog”
“Shake, Rattle and Roll” “Tutti Frutti” “The Twist”
Be prepared to identify and discuss (1) the basic musical characteristics of; (2) the types of
lyric themes common in; and (3) instruments commonly used in the performance of each of
the following styles. For instruments, name those that are particularly representative of the
style, not just “guitar, bass, and drums.” It is also important to say whether the instruments
are electric or acoustic. Also be prepared to name at least two writers, solo performers,
and/or groups whose music serves as an example of each style:
Chicago & Delta Blues Teen-Idol Pop Rockabilly
Surf music
Copyright 2005, Katherine Charlton Calkins
