Jazz / Rock

Jazz is different than most traditional or classical music. The three elements that set Jazz apart from all the rest are Syncopation, Complex Harmonies, and Improvisation.

1. Syncopation - the practice of changing the normal pattern of accents to emphasize the weaker upbeats. 

2. Complex Harmonies - Most traditional music rarely ventures beyond common triads and seventh chords. Jazz uses 9th, 11th, and 13th chords as standard harmonies. Dominant 7th and 9th chords may even have altered intervals within the chords.

3. Improvisation - making up a melody on the spot for the first time while the band is still playing. Many popular rock songs will include an instrumental solo, which may have originated from a spontaneous rehearsal or jam session. Once recorded, however, listeners tend to expect the same riffs or patterns every time they hear it, even at a live concert.