Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 10
- AQA
The rhythm section and bass lines in pop songs
I can compose an idiomatic bass line for a pop song.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 10
- AQA
The rhythm section and bass lines in pop songs
I can compose an idiomatic bass line for a pop song.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
These resources were made for remote use during the pandemic, not classroom teaching.
Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The rhythm section is the name given to the group of accompanying instruments in a pop ensemble.
- They support the singer with rhythm and harmony.
- The guitar/keyboard plays chords and the drummer plays a steady drum groove.
- The bass player supports the harmony by playing the root notes of each chord.
- Interest is created in the bass line by using passing notes and octave leaps, and syncopated rhythms.
Keywords
Rhythm section - the group of instruments supporting the singer in a band and includes the guitar/piano, bass and drum kit
Passing note - a non-chord note that provides a melodic link between two chord notes
Octave - the interval of 8 notes; middle C to the next C on a keyboard is an octave
Common misconception
The rhythm section 'plays the rhythm'. Rhythm sections are a fixed group of instruments.
Highlight the roles of the band and how they 'support' the singer and don't just provide rhythm for the song. There is some flexibility in the rhythm section. Not all the instruments have to be present in the music all of the time.
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: The rhythm section and bass lines in pop songs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 music lesson on: The rhythm section and bass lines in pop songs, 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.
Explore more key stage 4 music lessons from the Introduction to pop music unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Keyboard, DAW or other suitable instrument as a composing tool.
Licence
Sign in to continue
Our content remains 100% free, but to access certain copyrighted materials, you'll need to sign in. This ensures we’re both staying within the rules.
P.S. Signing in also gives you more ways to make the most of Oak like unit downloads!
