Arts >> Music >> Music Genres

What were some characteristics of the new type music that swept country in 1930s?

* Use of electric instruments: The electric guitar, electric bass, and pedal steel guitar all became popular in country music in the 1930s. These instruments allowed for a louder, more amplified sound that could be heard over the noise of a crowd.

* Western swing: A subgenre of country music that originated in Texas in the 1930s, Western swing blended elements of jazz, big band, and country music. Western swing bands typically featured a fiddle, steel guitar, guitar, bass, and drums.

* Honky-tonk: A subgenre of country music that originated in the dance halls of Texas and Oklahoma in the 1930s, honky-tonk music was characterized by its fast tempo, simple lyrics, and themes of drinking, gambling, and heartbreak.

* Hillbilly music: A term used to describe country music in the 1930s and 1940s, hillbilly music was often seen as a derogatory term, but it was also embraced by some country musicians as a way to celebrate their rural roots.

* Country blues: A subgenre of country music that blended elements of blues and country music, country blues was especially popular in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States in the 1930s.

Music Genres

Related Categories