‘Rock’ is a very open and varied genre of music which has spanned several decades, from the 1960s to the current day, and continues to diversify and grow in popularity. In this chapter we will look at some typical examples from this genre, but as they are all quite different we need to understand how individual musicians can bring something new to the table. Much of this style has come from experimentation, especially on the guitar. Jimi Hendrix was a perfect example of this, which is why so many guitarists regard him as the ultimate electric guitar god, I prefer Rory Gallagher myself. Drummers from the same era were also great pioneers in their field and their influence can still be heard in the playing of rock drummers today.

In origin, rock music is an amalgamation of different styles originating from American music: blues, gospel music, country and western and the classic, popular song-­writers and crooners. In the 1950s it was initially called ‘rock and roll’ but as the style developed it came to be known as rock, with ‘rock and roll’ becoming its own style. Amps were turned up and being ‘driven’ (turning the amp up to the extent that the sound becomes ‘gritty’). The familiar straight-eighth note rock ‘n’ roll feel on the drums is often credited to Little Richard’s drummer, Earl Palmer. We can hear his obvious influence on John Bonham in “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin.