70s composition techniques

In the 1970s, it was typical to use key changes in music to create excitement through variations and emotions. Pop, rock and disco music is frequently elevated or inserted into the mode. People were kept awake for hours thanks to the "truck driver's gear change tactic.". This approach was widely adopted, but not all. One such song, "Mandy" (1974) by Barry Manilow, did not feature this technique. Progressive rock, featuring artists such as Pink Floyd, Yes, and Steely Dan, utilized intricate key shifts in their music. Such groups often had the advantage of switching between unrelated keys, or using modal modulations to create new harmonic movements. Especially during the 1970s. Jazz musicians in funk and disco often modified instruments to maintain their energy levels and movement, as seen in Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" (1977) and Earth, Wind & Fire' (September) (1978), which were released before the 80s.

Layered harmonics were use to produce rich sounds during the 1970s. Multitrack tape machines were commonly used by artists and producers to create layers that synchronized various instruments or vocal parts in the mix. Queen and Pink Floyd were among the earliest rock/prog bands to surface, distinguished by their complex vocal arrangements and multi layered guitar playing. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (1975) featured layered compositions that blended Mercury Mercury's vocal parts, creating a choir-like quality. This is another example of this style. Funk and disco bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and The Bee Gees employed intricate instrumentation, including brass sections or synths, to produce a more expansive groove that was characterized by tight vocal harmonies. These types of sounds were popular because of their influence on funk and disko. By incorporating elements of reverb and chorus in the studio, as well as double-tracking to blend individual elements, the overall harmonic layering was improved. 

Power ballads were one of the biggest, emotional, hit songs of the 1970s, making extensive use of quiet, emotional verses and bombastic, loud choruses, frequently building over the length of the song. Rock instruments such as drums, electric guitar, and keyboards, along with orchestral support or lavish vocal harmonies, were employed by power ballads for the bombastic, cinematic effect. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and Queen led the way with the power ballad with the likes of "Stairway to Heaven" (1971) and "Dream On" (1973), with slow, quiet starts building to bombastic finales. Pop and soft rock acts were not far behind, with acts like Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, and The Eagles making full use of soaring vocals and deeply personal lyrics in ballads. Power ballads would frequently deal with the theme of love, heartache, yearning, and resolution and rang true with the listeners' hearts. Emotional vocals, bombast, and sing-along hooks turned the songs into radio fare, leading the way for even more melodramatic, over-the-top power ballads of the 1980s.