What is a power chord?

A chord of just the root and fifth, played loudly on electric guitar

A short repeated musical pattern

The catchy part of a song you remember

What often happens to the key in the last chorus of a pop ballad?

It goes up, often by a semitone or tone

A contrasting section, usually eight bars, before the last chorus

A high, light singing voice above the normal range

Several notes sung to one syllable

Rock and roll (1950s and 1960s): built on the 12-bar blues, with a fast swing or shuffle beat, walking bass, electric guitar, piano and drum kit. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
Rock anthems (1970s and 1980s): big songs for stadiums, with power chords, distorted electric guitar, guitar solos, powerful drums and a chorus the crowd can sing. Queen and Bon Jovi.
Riffs (short repeated patterns) and hooks (catchy bits you remember) are at the centre of both.

Pop ballads (1970s to 1990s) are slow, emotional songs, usually about love.
They often start quietly with piano or acoustic guitar, then build up with strings, drums and backing vocals.
A key change (modulation), often up a semitone or tone for the last chorus, lifts the end of the song. Singers show off a wide range and expressive vocal techniques.
Elton John, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion are well-known ballad singers.

Solo artists (1990s to today) are singer-songwriters and pop stars who use music technology: synthesisers, drum machines, samples, loops and auto-tune. Adele, Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé.
Song structure: intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, middle 8 (or bridge), outro. The verse tells the story; the chorus repeats the main hook.
Vocal techniques: falsetto, belting, riffs and runs (melisma), vibrato, and backing vocals in harmony.

Riff: A short repeated musical pattern.
Hook: The catchy part of a song that you remember.
Power chord: A chord of just the root and fifth, played loudly on electric guitar.
Middle 8: A contrasting section, usually eight bars, before the last chorus.
Modulation: A change of key.
Falsetto: A high, light singing voice above the normal range.
Melisma: Several notes sung to one syllable.
Ballad: A slow, emotional song, usually about love.

Which chord pattern is rock and roll often built on?: The 12-bar blues: Like the blues it grew from.
What is a power chord?: A chord of just the root and fifth, played loudly on electric guitar: Typical of rock anthems.
What is a riff?: A short repeated musical pattern: Often played on guitar.
What is a hook?: The catchy part of a song you remember: Usually in the chorus.
What often happens to the key in the last chorus of a pop ballad?: It goes up, often by a semitone or tone: It lifts the end of the song.
What is the middle 8?: A contrasting section, usually eight bars, before the last chorus: Also called the bridge.
What is falsetto?: A high, light singing voice above the normal range: Often used by male singers.
What is melisma?: Several notes sung to one syllable: Riffs and runs in pop singing.