1970's Disco

During the 1970's, Disco music began to develop in the USA and around Europe. Music of this kind was quite fast, usually played at 120 BPM (beats per minute).

Disco music became even more popular after the film Saturday Night Fever. Here is a BeeGees track that featured in the film:

Two features of disco music were a very strong bass part and a strong accent on the 2nd and 4th beats of the bar. Disco music often made use of riffs (repeated patterns of notes) on the bass guitar, guitar or keyboards.

Many bands during the 1970's used a horn section as part of the band. This was the term used for a section of brass instruments, such as trombones, trumpets and saxophones. Some of these horn sections played very complex music and filling patterns.

Click for an example of this - from the band The Tramps.

Guitars in disco music were played with a clean rather than distorted sound. Other instruments used were the electric piano, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit. Occasionally, a string section was also included.