Rock music
Popular music descended from rock and roll, built on electric guitar, electric bass and drums.
What it means
Rock music is a broad umbrella term for popular music that has developed out of rock and roll since the 1960s. Its core line-up is usually electric guitar, electric bass and drums, often joined by vocals and keyboard.
Musical use
From the simpler rock and roll, bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones helped generate a wide range of rock styles, from hard rock and progressive rock to punk and alternative rock. Rock music is distinct from the narrower term rock and roll, which refers specifically to the early style of the 1950s rooted in rhythm and blues and country, whereas rock music covers the entire, stylistically diverse field that followed.
Performance practice
When playing rock music, aim for a tight rhythmic partnership between bass and drums as the foundation, over which guitar and vocals can unfold more freely.