AOS 3 Disco
* Disco first appeared in the early 1970’s in New Yorknight clubs.
* Discotheques played vinyl records on improved powerful sound systems with powerful amplifiers, turntables and loudspeakers for non-stop dancing.
* DJ’s took over from live band leaders – and were cheaper than live bands!
* Elaborate strobe disco lighting systems were used, flashing in time to the beat of the music and to encourage dancing!
* Disco has its musical roots in Jazz, Funk and Soul and was influenced by the Groove (a long section with the same rhythm parts repeated for dancing) based drum rhythms and energetic guitar parts of funk and the orchestral arrangements of soul music.
* Sometimes disco songs were remixes of existing popular songs, giving the song a “fresh” feel.
* Disco songs were released on 7 inch vinyl singles, later 12 inch singles allowed even more music to be stored on a record.
* Disco music has a time signature of 4/4, a fast tempo (around 120 beats per minute – easy to dance to and allows DJs to mix easily!)
* Disco features four-to-the-floor rhythms (bass drum plays on all four beats of the 4/4 bar and the hi-hat cymbal plays on the offbeats).
*Guitar rhythms have driven energy often with syncopated bass lines
* Melodies are simple and easy to dance to with catchy, memorable tunes with a hook (a short stab of a tune often using a word or a phrase that sticks in people’s minds and helps them remember the song)
* Disco music often uses simple chord progressions with use of I and V chords interspersed with 7th and 9th chords for effects.
* Disco often uses samples taken from other music which are “cut up” and used to “fit” into a song.
* Vocals often have reverb effect added and backing vocals often sing in harmony with the lead vocalist during the chorus.
* Disco uses acoustic and electric instruments.
* Guitar parts (lead solos and rhythm chords) often syncopated and energy-driven and using a wah-wah pedal for effects.
* The bass guitar plays short riffs, frequently in octaves to provide a strong bass line.
* Disco has a full orchestrated sound– using strings and brass sounds to thicken the homophonic texture.
* Brass often plays offbeat stabs while strings often play scalic features and sweeping sounds (to fill in the gaps).
* Brass and Strings are often used as synthesizer sounds.
* Electric drum kit or drum machines in 1980s Disco used loops and sequencers (using quantising to ensure music is exactly “on the beat”).
* Hand claps became popular in disco music later in the 1970’s.
* Disco dancing often saw people dancing on their own, rather than with partners, to show off their own moves. Disco dances are usually made up of successions of several simple moves often improvised to the music.
* Disco structure: Intro- (gains attention and sets the mood) often introduces a hook or a riff from the rest of the song. Verse and chorus structure – all verses have the same tune but the lyrics change. Sometimes a pre-chorus is included.
* Often structured around regular 4-bar phrases - 8 bars per verse and 8 bars per chorus.
* Sometimes a middle 8 or bridge section and an outro/coda which usually fades so the DJ can mix in the next song.
* Lyrics are usually sung by a powerful singer with an American accent such as Gloria Gaynor in the 1970s. Words are about partying, dancing or more dramatic meanings such 'I will survive'.
Listening examples:
YMCA - The Village People 1970s
I will survive - Gloria Gaynor 1970s
Celebration - Cool and The Gang 1980s
So Macho - Sinita 1980s