What counts as rock and what doesn’t can come into question. For instance, the Beatles are generally regarded as the world’s most famous rock band, but they’re more often referred to as a pop group.
Pop rock uses rock instrumentation (like guitars) with pop songwriting. Bands include The Beatles and Coldplay. Listen to this if you want something light and catchy. Progressive rock fuses rock instrumentation with ambitious classical songwriting and experimental song structures. Bands include Van der Graaf Generator, Yes and King Crimson. Listen to this if you want something intellectual. Hard rock is an edgier, more distorted version of rock. Bands include Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Listen to this if you want something that’s heavy, but still perfectly accessible. Psychedelic rock makes use of lots of guitar effects to mimic the use of hallucinogenic drugs. Bands include Ozric Tentacles and Pink Floyd. Listen to this if you want something weird and atmospheric. Heavy metal pushes the heaviness of rock to the point where it counts as another genre. Metal has its own diverse range of sub-genres, including black metal, power metal and doom metal. Bands from the original period of heavy metal include Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. Listen to this if you want something angry and theatrical.
If you’re going to use a computer primarily for your music, you’ll need a working media player installed in order to play music. Windows Media Player and iTunes are the most popular. [3] X Research source However, it’s recommended you use WinAmp if you’re looking for a digital media player. [4] X Research source It is more customizable than the typical players, and takes up less memory than iTunes.
Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Queen and Yes are all some of the most important groups you should start with. Their music is widespread and is likely familiar to you already if you listen to the radio. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” is commonly referred to as the greatest rock song of all time. [7] X Research source This has ironically caused backlash of people who are sick from the song’s overplay. If you haven’t heard the song before however, it’s a perfect way to get into the genre.
Satellite and digital radio stations are also available, and can offer a much more specialized (and ad-free) alternative to standard FM.
After listening to a few songs, you should start to get an idea of the kind of rock that will most appeal to you. If you’re trying to cover a lot of ground quickly, it’s recommended you hear songs from different subgenres. Hard rock, pop rock, prog, punk and black metal all fit under the rock umbrella and have very different sounds to them.
The Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon Led Zeppelin’s IV Yes’ Close to the Edge David Bowie’s Hunky Dory Queen’s “A Night at the Opera”
Some of rock’s best-ever artists have emerged from the modern era. Radiohead, Porcupine Tree and the Mars Volta are a few of the most inventive groups to have come out of the last 25 years.
If you like other genres of music already, you should look for bands that combine it with rock. Some artists might make a gimmick of it, while others will break brave new territory in doing so. Although rock is arguably less popular in pop culture than it used to, the culture for metal fandom is extremely vivid. [11] X Research source
Knowing a bit about the artists behind music can help improve your appreciation of their music, especially if their lyrics are inspired by their life experiences.
Hearing loss is a potential risk at concerts. If you go to enough shows, this hearing loss can add up and become significant. It’s recommended you take some precautions at live shows to avoid this. Bring a set of earplugs with you, and make a point of staying at least 10 feet (3 m) away from loudspeakers. [13] X Research source
Wearing band merch can be the starting point for a friendship with a stranger who may approach you based on their mutual love for the band. Don’t wear merch for bands you don’t like. This is not looked well upon in the subculture.
Websites like RateYourMusic are a perfect way to stay up to date on the best (and worst) of new music. [16] X Research source
