Riffs and power chords in grunge
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a grunge-style riff using power chords and a bass line based on the riff.
Key learning points
- A key feature of grunge (and most rock styles) is the use of riffs.
- Grunge riffs often use power chords, consisting of the root note and fifth.
- To play a power chord on the piano, we remove the middle note from a triad chord, or find the fifth note in the scale.
- Distortion is often added to electric guitar sounds, creating a fuzzy effect which distorts the sound.
- Bass lines in grunge are often based around the riff, using the root note of each chord.
Keywords
Riff - A riff is a short, repeated musical idea that forms the basis of a pop or rock song.
Power chord - A power chord is a two-note chord often used on guitars, which uses the root note and the fifth of a triad chord.
Fifth - A fifth is a distance of five notes. For example, the distance from C to G is a fifth.
Common misconception
Power chords are any two notes of the chord triad.
For a chord to be a power chord it has to be the root and the fifth, not the root and the third. It also needs to be a perfect fifth. If pupils are working out their own power chords on the keyboard, some chords would use the black notes.
Teacher tip
Extend pupil learning by incorporating other, unlisted power chords. Pupils may want to work these out using a guitar. They could also add the octave. Simple riffs can be effective when played as power chords ie. Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple or Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes.
Equipment
A DAW or other suitable compositional tool or instrument.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these are typical features of grunge?
Q2.Which of these are common features of most rock music?
Q3.What is a chord?
Q4.A short repeating pattern in rock and pop music is called a ...
Q5.Which of these is the normal structure of verse-chorus form?
Q6.In grunge, guitarists often add a fuzzy effect to their sound. This is called ...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The common type of guitar chord that uses two notes is called a chord.
Q2.Which two notes do power chords use?
Q3.Why is a fifth called a fifth?
Q4.Which note or notes would you remove from a triad chord to create a power chord?
Q5.Which two words best describe the effect of a power chord?
Q6.If you were to create a bass line from a power chord riff, which note or notes would you mostly use?
To help you plan your 9 music lesson on: Riffs and power chords in grunge, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 music lesson on: Riffs and power chords in grunge, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the The sound of 90s grunge unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.