Rhythm
Melody
Harmony
Dynamics
Tone colour
Texture
Lyrics
They can all be used to support
a song, however, each song will use one of them as the main appeal of the
song. It could be rhythm, (e.g. dance music), it could be melody (catchy
pop jingle); it could be lyrics (rap music); it could be harmony etc...
Admittedly melody; rhyme and lyrics are the most common, but all elements
have potential, and are used in more subtle ways.
These elements should be considered on
their own merits and also considered in relation to one another. For example,
the dynamics should work with the melody to bring out the emotion or emphasise
a climax, or the tone colour the instruments used should suite the style
of the rhythm. However, lets take a brief look at each element.
Rhythm
Rhythm is the most essential element, as very
little music is created without a basic sense of rhythm. The other four
elements can be omitted, but not rhythm. It is the fundamental factor
in dance music, and highly significant in blues, jazz, rock, funk, metal,
etc..., Many great guitar riffs are great because they appeal to our sense
of rhythm. Consider many of Metallica's numbers, on albums like "Kill 'Em
All" and "Ride the Lightening" etc, It is the driving rhythms of the guitar
riff that makes the song powerful. Primas also incorporate driving rhythms
primarily with the bass guitar and drums. Much dance music centres around
a main techno beat, only with minor melodic embellishments or a simple
2 chord progression.
Melody
Rhythm may be the most fundamental
element in Rock, but it is Melody which allows a song to stand out, to hook
onto someone's mind, and potentially be a "no.1 hit". It is the main
factor that contributed to the Beatles making successful album after album.
Coming up with a unique, catchy melody is never easy, and usually cannot
be forced. It often comes spontaneously, and then redefined in the context
of the song.
Harmony
Harmony's key role generally is to support
the melody, and it is a key contributor to determining a 'style' of a song,
i.e. whether it is pop; straight rock; blues; jazz; pop or funk. All these
styles tend to use different harmonies. Rock may incorporate a straight
major harmony, or use a major chord based on the minor third of the root
key. Funk may use major flat7maj/minor 3rd. Pop may user straight major
and minor chords. Jazz may incorporate the whole range of intervals to use
different flavours of dissonance. However, harmony can sometimes be used
in a more than supportive way, and can be an appealing factor of a song
(rather than rhythm or melody)
Dynamics
The primary role of dymanics is to add
contrast to a song. A common exsample is to have a quiet verse
lead into a loud chorus. But dynamics can be used with far more subtlety
aswell. Many good soloist, whether it isguitar or sax etc, will have
periods of quiet and loud to emphasise a climax. However, dynamics do not
just involve volume, but also speed, where a climax may be emphasised by
speeding up. In this sence dynamics areclosely linked with texture and
rhythm.
Tone Colour
Tonecolour focusses on the certain sound each individual instrument produces.
The most distinct tonecolour in asong will no doubt be the voice, and often,
with great singers, the appeal of a song will be with the tonecolour ofthe
vocals (e.g. Aretha Franklin; Jeff Buckley etc). However, each instrument also
needs to pay attention to it'stone colour, and this starts from the basic song
of an instruement, to the amplifier, to the way it is recorded andmixed. This
is element is considerebly significant in modern music with the ability to
filtor; distort; manipulateand enhance sounds. Jimi Hendrix pioneered these
ideas by experimenting with guitar pedals such as "wahwah";
"delay" and "Chorus" (and many more).
Texture
Texture considers how all the sounds fit together, how they fit in and
compliment/contrast with each other. Toooften the mistake is made by musicians
to focus on their own part and sound, and not consider the role they
areplaying in the big picture of the song. The whole sound of a song may be
too cluttered and crowded, becausethe guitar is playing 6 strings when only 2
is needed, and the bass could play every second beat rather than every
beat. Another consideration, is that the texture a song may come accross
different live than in the studio,so adjustment may need to be made.
Lyrics
Finally lyrics contribute signifacantly to a song. Sometimes the music is designed to support the lyrics (eg Bob
Dylan) and sometimes the lyrics will in a sence support the music. Often they intertwine together to
make up a whole musical entity. Lyrics can add meaning to a song where the music never can. This is common
with songs that make a political or cultural statement. Lyrics can create a story line, or setting, emotion or
atmosphere. They can describe a person, character, stereo type, place, event and most commonly a
relationship. Within the lyrics there are many techniques that help them 'hook' the listener, enhance the melody
and even the rhythm.