STUDY SUPPORT
This page is an overview of the question types that appear in the National 5 written paper.
PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE FEATURES
Hip Hop
• Use of rap/spoken word poetry
• Double tracking/stressing certain words for emphasis
• Repeated drum loops/loops/hooks
• Drums and Bass heavy mixes
• Melodic chorus section
• Call and response with backing vocals
• Electronic beats/drum kit
• Use of samplers and synthesisers
Synth Pop
Drum Machine
Ostinato or riff
Repeated loops
Sampler or sampling
Bass synth
Synthesiser
Sequencer
MIDI Instruments
Jazz
Use of instruments e.g. piano, muted trumpet, double bass, saxophone
Walking bass
Syncopation
Improvisation
Swing rhythms
Live sounding recordings with little post-production
Musical
prominent vocals in the mix
use of orchestral instruments with band
few effects if any (only reverb)
use of radio mics
use of shot gun mics
use of overhead mics
use of boundary mics
use of close mic technique for band instruments
use of direct injection for band instruments
live recording
Electronica / EDM / Dance Music
Use of computers
Use of drum machines
Use of sequencers
Use of synthesisers
Use of loops
Sampling
Emphasised/Accented beats
Use of LFO
Virtual Instruments
Significant use of effects and processes
No acoustic/live instruments
Punk
Use of distorted electric guitar
Unrefined vocals
Studio recordings made to sound live with little post-production
Simple chord structure
Blues
Use of Blues scale
12 bar Blues structure
Glissando
Slide Guitar
7th chords
Blues notes
Pitch bend
Walking bass
Syncopation
Harmonica
Improvisation
Disco
use of reverb
rhythmic electric guitar
a style of popular music for dancing
recorded (not live)
amplified or electronic instrumentation
simple repetitive lyrics
prominent bass (groove or riff)
octave leaps on bass
drum machine
horn or string section
16th disco beat