Gothic rock

:This article is about notable bands within the goth scene. For the goth scene in general, see Goth.

Musical arrangements

Early English Goth rock follows a standard hard rock lineup, but often adds synthesizers, or at least guitar effects that sound like synths. The front person strategy varies, because the music is more introspective than high energy hard rock:

Related Topics:
English Goth rock - Hard rock - Synthesizer - Guitar effects - Synths

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• Singer/front-person
• Guitar player
• Bass player
• Drummer
• Synth player

Goth rock is at its most basic level a combination of punk rock and New Wave music. Between 1979-1985 it was variously known as post-punk, alternative and New Wave.

Related Topics:
Goth rock - Punk rock - New Wave music - Post-punk - Alternative

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Contemporary Goth music is generally sequenced, making heavy use of FM & digital synthesizers. It is characterized by a crisp snare drum sample and a heavy bass drum sample. The auto-arpeggiate feature of modern synthesizers is used in often complex sounding multiple simultaneous arpeggiations. Vocals tend to be either spooky or lovelorn.

Related Topics:
Synthesizer - Snare drum - Sample - Bass drum - Auto-arpeggiate - Synthesizers - Arpeggiations

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Lyrics are generally very poetic in nature, and follow melodies in the instrumentation of the song.

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Guitar settings are the most notable influence to the overall musical style. Single coil pickups are important to achieve the correct sound, Fender Jazzmasters, Jaguars, & Mustangs fit the bill nicely. The guitar sound before processing ranges from clean, to warm overdrive with gain settings at approx 50%. Dynamics to this can include just turning all amp knobs to the right for chaotic amp-driven sounds found in some Bauhaus & Siouxsie material. For the most part, the combination of the following effects will give you this sound:

Related Topics:
Single coil pickups - Fender Jazzmasters - Bauhaus

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• Chorus
• Flange
• Analog Delay, occasional usage of tape delay, as well.
• Reverb from 0-75%

Bass is very warm and round sounding, and often uses chorus and/or flange effects.

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Drums tend to be played by a human with an electronic kit, BPM ranges are from 80-150.

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Synths usually have the above listed guitar attributes, and are generally based on a 'Strings' type of synth patch with a 25% attack rate. Invariably the synths are analog.

Related Topics:
Synth patch - Analog

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• Song composition utilizes the 1-4-5 scalular progressions that typify rock & roll music, but are often augmented or diminished.
• Minor key themes are prevalent, but major keys are not shunned.
• Composition is usually guitar oriented, and follows surf music-like vertical scales, rather than blues-like horizontal scales.
• Focal points are often on the two semitonal increments of the particular scale.
• Various octave fingerings are often substituted for chords.
• Playing style is generally all downstrokes, to create the 'sound'.

This type of gothic rock requires a fairly capable musician, as it will often include modal scales in song construction. Additionally, finger picking & up/down arpeggiation of chords will be found in many verse parts.

Related Topics:
Gothic rock - Modal scales - Finger picking - Arpeggiation - Chords

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Overall song construction is similar to Hard rock

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• 1. an intro
• 2. verse
• 3. chorus
• 4. solo
• 5. chorus
• 6. verse
• 7. chorus
• 8. an ending

There is much room for variation, and repetition of verses & choruses.

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Equipment

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• Music technology
• Music theory
• Drums
• Bass guitar
• Electric guitar
• Singer
• Synthesizer
• Musical keyboard