Western rock music is a popular music form. It features vocals often with vocal harmony and accompanied with instruments- electric guitars, a bass guitar, keyboard instruments- electric piano, organ and synthesizer and drum sets. Other musical instruments like saxophone, trumpet and trombone are also included. Earlier horns were also used which are not being used since the 90s. The central piece of instrument in western rock music is of course the electric guitar. The microphone used by the singers itself functions as a musical instrument. Many singers depend upon the amplification and various effects like echo obtained by electronically transforming the sound obtained through the microphone.
The characteristic musical style categorized as rock music and music of its related styles has dominated the musical scene of the west since about 1955. Western rock music has its origins in the Unites States. However, it has been influenced and shaped by a broad field of cultures and musical traditions over the years. There has been the influence of gospel music, the blues, western country music, western classical music, folk music etc. Some elements of popular music of Asia, Africa and Latin America have also been incorporated in western rock music.
Western rock music styles have evolved into its complete form around 1959 with predominant influence of the white musicians. A major western rock music style is rock and roll or rock ‘n’ roll. Rhythm-and-blues music is a popular western rock music style influenced primarily by black American musicians. Now, these major genres of western rock music encompass several sub styles like heavy metal, punk, alternative and grunge. The harmonies and other complex technical aspects of the western music are shared by the western rock music too- the chords known as tonic, subdominant and dominant are to be especially mentioned in this regard.
Western rock music has taken the world by storm and it is now a popular musical form all over the world with a huge fan following.