| many people think of country music, they think of | | | | music pieces in the mid 1800s, while the guitar did not |
| sad songs about lost loves, broken down trucks and | | | | break into the country music scene until the early |
| runaway dogs. In their minds, they are hearing all of | | | | 1900s. Electric guitars did not become a regular |
| these woes sung in the traditional twangy country | | | | instrument in country music until much later in the |
| accents of the south. However, these perceptions of | | | | 50s. Other various instruments used in country music |
| country music are far from where this style of music | | | | are the piano (introduced in the 1930s) and the |
| has evolved. Today, country music is one of the | | | | drums (used since the 1960s). Rarely used, but |
| most popular genres of music, normally outsold only | | | | distinctive sounding instruments are used in certain |
| by rock and pop genres. | | | | country songs: the accordion, the harmonica, and the |
| Created in the late 19th century, country music has | | | | washboards. |
| under gone many changes over the years. There are | | | | Country music has roots in several different styles of |
| now many sub-genres to this type of music, with | | | | music. Its beginnings started with the settlers that |
| some of the sub-genres being commonly played on | | | | came from Europe. During that time, many |
| top 40 radio stations. | | | | couldn’t read or write, so songs were |
| To understand country music, it is helpful to know | | | | created to pass history down from one generation |
| about the instruments commonly associated with it. | | | | to the next. Although country ballads have changed a |
| In country music, one of the most common | | | | great deal, going from the original songs about |
| instruments used is the fiddle (or violin). Some of | | | | objective, though gruesome, events to more |
| these instruments can be expensive, but most are | | | | personal, subjective ballads without all the gore. |
| relatively inexpensive and are very easily transports | | | | Today, the sound of country music can sometimes |
| since they tare light in weight and not overly large. | | | | be very similar to other genres of pop and rock. |
| When country music first ‘hit the | | | | Some country musicians, like Shania Twain, have |
| scene’, the fiddle was practically the only | | | | many songs playing on stations that aren’t |
| instrument used as accompaniment. However, as the | | | | considered “country”. There are also |
| country music style became more popular, the | | | | musicians, like Sheryl Crow, who are considered pop |
| addition of other accompanying instruments became | | | | rock, but have songs popular on country stations. |
| normal. The banjo became popular in some country | | | | |