It seems that in the old days there was less distinctions than there is now. In addition to the already mentioned Chet Atkins, there was Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jimmy Buffett (in his earlier years) among others. Were they country musicians or rock and roll? Now it’s easy to tell the difference between George Strait and Toby Keith vs. Coldplay or Linkin Park. Back then not so much. If anything, the genres seem to be moving further apart rather than coming closer together.
I honestly didn’t consider the difference. This question first came to mind when I first heard REM in the mid-80’s (soon after meeting a new friend who loved the band), I told her that I was surprised that she liked country music. I was promptly scolded that they are a rock band. I was just a young teen who grew up in an urban area, so was really not exposed to much of these types of music. Now I feel I can distinguish, but still wondered what the actual differences really are. So basically, I waited about 35 years to ask this question here.
In their song I Am Superman, I think that’s a country harmony during the I am…I am part. Plus, aren’t they from Georgia? Probably lots of country influences.
@minor7flat5, what is the vocal harmony that seems to dominate today’s country music?
I found this older thread:
Yes, I eventually watched the documentary about Athens GA, that drove home the point that there is quite a bit of overlap.
Yeah, not all country music has steel guitar, but if your song has some, then I’m assuming country and/or western (we play both kinds here) until proven otherwise. Also, the twang as mentioned.
Also, saxophone. The sax was a dominant instrument in early rock’n’roll, and though it got replaced by the electric guitar as a solo instrument, there are still many rock songs with saxophones. I’ve never heard a country song with a saxophone (or any horns, for that matter). Concerning bass, country tends to have acoustic upright bass whereas in rock today, it’s mostly electric bass guitar.
I forgot the most important difference – Rock as a style is seriously waning, whereas Country is going strong.
But that only applies to the US. Rock is waning everywhere, that’s true, but country always has been a niche market almost anywhere else.
One key difference is that in country songs, the singers (especially women) all sound as though they’re at least in their '40s and have done way too much smoking and boozing.
As far as I can tell, a country song has to be about something. It has to be evident what the subject matter is, and what the songwriter is saying about that subject matter has to be clearly stated.
A rock and roll song can make a clear statement about whatever, but by no means does it have to. It can be some kind of obscure or dense thing, or it can even be complete gibberish if you can make it sound good.
I guess the point is that if you’re an aspiring songwriter and you’re not sure what it is you want to say and/or don’t know how to say it, maybe someone would be doing you a favor to make sure you ply your trade in the rock and roll market rather than country music.
Maybe rarer than in rock or blues, but the country shuffle is a thing.
Yeah, I think you’re right about that. You don’t really shuffle beats in rock anymore, but it’s definitely in blues.
Maybe, but there’s much less of an emphasis on the rhythm section - drums, bass, guitar riffs - in country than there is in rock.
Although there IS also honky-tonk and rockabilly, which are both country and rhythmic, so who knows?
This is definitely true; the two music styles have fairly well defined rules about what they are allowed to be about. Either can be about love or politics, but only rock can be ab out nothing, and country has some clarity of theme rock can’t be about.
But that doesn’t change how they SOUND. You can recognize how country sounds, even if someone altered the song to deliberately garble the words.
You’re right. I just don’t necessarily read the original question as wanting to limit the answer specifically to the instrumental portion. Maybe you (a “generic you”; not you as an individual) could read it that way, but I don’t think you have to.
Is there more to modern Western than the old acoustic guitar stuff? Modern Country has changed a lot, very much overlapping with Rock now. I haven’t heard anything new in the Western style, but admittedly don’t listen to music all that much.
I am squinting, but still have not found the electric guitar in that clip. As mentioned, there are going to be exceptions, but can you point to a recent example of a country instrumental? In the last 20+ years, it seems ALL country is focused on the singer. Don’t get me wrong here, there are plenty of good singers in country, male and female, but today’s country is less about playing well and more about singing well. In rock the music seems more focused on the rhythm and beat and less about the vocals. I mean, I love them, but how does Rush become so successful in any other genre than rock? A musically talented but vocally challenged country band wont get far.
No idea. I was raised on a strict diet of Country and Elvis by my mom.
I distanced myself from both as soon as I could.
ETA: My alternating bass comment really fits best with the “BOOM chicka BOOM chicka” style of a bygone era.
I think there’s room for him in the Chipmunks category, whatever that is. Also, the squirrels on helium genre.