Musicological analysis of guitar solos from the roots of rock through modern heavy metal

General Music Discussion
#1

Musicological analysis of guitar solos from the roots of rock through modern heavy metal

The general techniques of guitar soloing have changed very little since the beginnings of the rock era in the 1950s, even though the style of playing has seen dramatic changes. Using the methods of analysis from the fields of statistics and musicology, we have looked into how soloing techniques have changed from 1950s’ rock to modern heavy metal. This not only helps in discerning the differences in playing between eras but is an addition to the toolbox of musicology. Pitch distributions were calculated and then analysed using cluster and tree methods. Speed and technique were analysed using the Generalized Estimating Equations. We found no distinct delineation between the decades for pitch distributions. There was an increasing, though non-significant, trend in the use of special techniques, which became significant when comparing the later decades grouped against the earlier decades. Most notably, there was a significant difference in speed between the decades, with an increase in the later decades.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/article?option1=tka&value1=heavy+metal+solos&pageSize=10&index=1

Metal Music Studies is the journal of the International Society for Metal Music Studies.

The aims of the journal are:
• To provide an intellectual hub for the International Society of Metal Music Studies and a vehicle to promote the development of metal music studies;
• To be the focus for research and theory in metal music studies – a multidisciplinary (and interdisciplinary) subject field that engages with a range of parent disciplines, including (but not limited to) sociology, musicology, humanities, cultural studies, geography, philosophy, psychology, history, natural sciences;
• To publish high-quality, world-class research, theory and shorter articles that cross over from the industry and the scene;
• To be a world leader in interdisciplinary studies and be a unique resource for metal music studies.

#2

Cool find! I’m totally interested in these kinds of things, but I would ask that you not just copy and paste the text of a journal articles and/or web sites into the forum. Instead, provide some color as to why you went looking for this. Meaning, why this article in particular, what jumped out at you, why are you’re posting it here, e.g. is there some specific aspect of this you want to talk about, and so on… Then sure include the link.

#3

Do you agree that the trend in the use of special techniques increases in later decades when compared to earlier decades and which decade do you think it might have decreased again? Most notably, there was a significant difference in speed between the decades, with an increase in the later decades. Did speed decrease in which decade the 90’s the 2000s? Is there a reference list of articles and publications on this website to refer to such as a list of DVDs or live footage or articles to study from?