A riff is a short, repeated musical idea that forms the basis of a pop or rock song.

A power chord is a two-note chord often used on guitars, which uses the root note and the fifth of a triad chord.

A fifth is a distance of five notes. For example, the distance from C to G is a fifth.

Riff without power chords

Riff using power chords

Task A Q2a

Task A Q2.2

Task A Q2.3

Finding power chords on the keyboard

Creating a riff using power chords

Task B feedback

Power chord riff

Bass line

Changing the rhythms

Creating a simple bass line from your riff

Developing your bass line with rhythm

Task C feedback

Riffs and power chords in grunge

Music

The use of the drum kit in grunge

Fills and variation in grunge drum beats

Writing an instrumental melody

Contrast in grunge

The intro, outro and vocal melodies

This unit introduces pupils to 90s Grunge music, including the context of the style and its other musical influences. Pupils learn about the main musical features and about extended pop song structure, riffs with power chords, harmonic rhythm and phrase structure in melody and lyric writing.

The sound of 90s grunge

The sound of 90s grunge

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