Gospel music was the first church music to use 20th century instruments such as the drum set and electric guitar. Because the church is prevalent in the culture of many rhythm and blues musicians, this influenced them to use the same type of instruments in secular music they created. Other instruments common in both gospel and modern rhythm and blues are piano, saxophone and multiple vocalists.
Afgen.com states that gospel music's influence on modern rhythm and blues is most obvious in the vocal style of each. Gospel hymns often involved multiple singers harmonizing together, as well as the use of melisma, the musical term for using multiple pitches for one syllable in a song. Both of these aspects are common in modern rhythm and blues, such as the vocal style of Mariah Carey, who uses much melisma.
Because gospel music is sacred in nature, many of the lyrics involve praise to the Christian God. Similarly, because many involved in rhythm and blues music are religious themselves, they insert references to their Christianity and religious culture in general in their songs. Though these secular songs also deal commonly with subjects of love and relationships, they are usually within the framework of African-American Christian culture.
Gospel music usually has rhythms similar to rock and roll rather than traditional sacred music. This is another influence evident in the backbeat-strong rhythms of modern rhythm and blues. Additionally, the textures of each music are very similar. Modern rhythm and blues derives a highly polyphonic sound similar to gospel, which means there are multiple melodies occurring simultaneously. In regard to harmony, the dominant seventh chords and intricate vocal backings have been transferred to rhythm and blues styles.
Modern rhythm and blues derives its primary style from taking the aforementioned elements and combining them with the dance rhythms of disco and soul music, as well as modern synthesizers and drum machines. By combining modern elements with traditional, rhythm and blues has reinvented itself time and time again.