Timbre and Instrumentation
This chapter considers some general approaches to the study of timbre and how they might be applied to rock; it also surveys the major rock instruments and the kinds of sounds they can produce. With regard to instrumentation—the choice of instruments and the ways that they are used—the focus is on how this relates to the structural aspects of rock discussed in other chapters. The chapter examines two guitar solos and discusses their contrasting approaches to the issue of melodic-harmonic coordination. With regard to drums, it considers their crucial role in conveying metrical structure and discusses four important rock drummers and their unique styles. Briefer discussions follow of the bass, piano, orchestral instruments, and sequencers; the final section explores the role of the production process in shaping the sound of a song.