5 Pop Music Examples That Will Make You a Better Musician
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We all know that practice makes perfect, but what if you could use pop music to make you a better musician? Check out these five examples!
Introduction
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at five pop music examples that will make you a better musician. Pop music is often seen as being simplistic and easy to play, but there are many aspects of pop music that can be beneficial to your musicianship. By studying pop music, you can learn about melody, harmony, arrangement, and production techniques that can help you to take your own music to the next level. Let’s get started!
The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
One of the most important things that The Beatles were able to do was to take seemingly disparate elements and weave them together into a cohesive whole. In “A Day in the Life,” they took a simple chord progression and wove it together with various sound effects, looped piano lines, and an orchestral crescendo to create a tapestry of sound that was both novel and somehow familiar. As a result, the song has become one of the most iconic and influential pop songs of all time.
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is a musical genius and an excellent example for any musician out there – pop, rock, or otherwise. “Billie Jean” is one of his most popular and well-known hits, and for good reason. The music video for this song was also groundbreaking and iconic.
The song starts with a now-famous bass line, played by session musician Louis Johnson. This line sets the groove for the whole song and provides the foundation that the rest of the instruments build on. The rest of the band comes in after the first verse, with a synth accompaniment that drives the chorus. Jackson’s vocal performance is masterful, hitting all the right notes with power and emotion.
From a musical standpoint, “Billie Jean” is a perfect example of how to craft a pop song that will stand the test of time. The arrangement is tight and well-produced, the instruments are all working together to support the vocals and create a great groove, and Jackson’s performance is simply stellar. If you want to learn how to create a timeless pop hit, this is certainly a good place to start.
Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” is a great example of how to use chromaticism to create suspense and tension in a pop song. The verse starts with a simple chord progression of Em-D-C-B, but the tension starts to build when the pre-chorus introduces a chromatic descending bassline of B-Bb-A-Ab-G. This bassline creates a feeling of unease and anticipation, which is perfectly resolved when the chorus arrives on the tonic chord of Em.
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble”
Kendrick Lamar is one of the most successful rappers of all time. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and has been praised for his lyrical prowess. “Humble” is a great example of Kendrick’s ability to tell a story with his music. The song is about Kendrick’s struggles with ego and pride, and how he has learned to stay humble despite his success.
As a musician, there are a few things you can learn from Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble”:
1. The importance of staying grounded.
2. The power of storytelling in music.
3. The value of perspective in songwriting.
4. How to use wordplay to enhance your lyrics.
5. How to create a catchy hook that will stay stuck in your listener’s head long after the song is over.
Conclusion
To conclude, studying pop music can make you a better musician in a number of ways. It can help improve your understanding of melody, harmony and rhythm, as well as giving you a better understanding of the structure of songs. Additionally, studying pop music can help you develop your own style and taste in music.
