Nashville isn’t called the “Country Music Capital of the World” for nothing. In fact, in the mid 1920s, country music was brought to a national audience on a radio program called Grand Ole Opry. However, what many do not know is that country is not only a genre, but it has several genres within itself.
Depending on how old you are, you perhaps can recall how you could walk into a country music bar and hear the slow tunes about love or heartache. Today, you can walk into a country music bar and still hear songs about love or heartache, but at a faster, more upbeat pace of music. This proves that this favorite genre has certainly evolved over its history.
Do you remember how the genre had humble beginnings? The music was centered around guitars, fiddles, banjos, washboards, harmonicas, and strong vocals. Today, country music has all the original instruments but also drums, electric guitars, pianos, dobros, and pedal steel guitars. It is all the makings for amazing music if you ask us!
At Legends Corner, country music is the staple of this establishment, and we can confidently say we have been dubbed one of the best bars in Nashville with live music and wear it as a badge of honor. It is our pleasure to provide our bar-goers with country music of all genres, whether from country music legends or from some of our talented local artists.
So, if you are a country music lover, then there isn’t any subgenre within it that you have not heard. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why you may like certain songs from certain artists more than others, it is likely because you favor a particular genre of country more than others. When this happens, it usually has nothing to do with the artist but more so that the style and type of country music. Let’s dive a little deeper into country music to enhance your appreciation of the genre even more.
Music Genres Within Country Music
Nashville Sound
The gruff honky-tonk music that had dominated the charts in the 1940s and 1950s gave way to "smooth strings and choruses," "sophisticated background singers," and "smooth tempos" associated with classic pop in the middle of the 1950s.
Nashville's prominence of pop song structure led to what is now known as Countrypolitan. It has a mellower, cozier sound enhanced by choir accompanist and symphonic strings. Because Countrypolitan catered to mainstream listeners, their music enjoyed strong sales in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Honky Tonk
Many businesses provide their patrons with entertainment by playing country music in honky-tonks. Tack pianos are another term used to describe the music played on them. The American South and Southwest are home to many of these bars. A full rhythm section plays two-beat patterns with a strong backbeat in honky-tonk music. The fiddle and steel guitar are the two most widely used instruments in this kind of music. The earliest type of ragtime-inspired piano playing, honky-tonk, was more about rhythm than melody or harmony.
Rockabilly
Early rock & roll music was characterized by rockabilly. It first appeared in the United States in the early 1950s, particularly in the South. The resulting sound is "classic" rock and roll, which combines the rhythm and blues and Western musical genres like country. The rockabilly sound was characterized by fast beats, twangy voices, and frequent use of the tape echo. Music lovers claim that its "dilution" is the result of the gradual introduction of new instruments and vocal harmonies.
Pop Country
A country singer who attempts to succeed in the pop industry by embracing a more commercial sound is said to have made a country-pop crossover. Pop-country songs frequently appear in the mainstream Billboard Top 40. The popularity of this genre has been greatly influenced by American Idol. Pop-country musicians include Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, and Shania Twain.
Bakersfield Sound
The Bakersfield Sound first appeared in the 1950s in and around Bakersfield, California. Although rock'n'roll has always served as the primary inspiration for country music, Bakersfield was the first to include electronic instruments and a well-established backbeat. In the 1960s, the Bakersfield Sound created a revival in honky-tonk music and had an impact on later country rock and outlaw country musicians.
Country Rock
Country rock is a popular music subgenre that combines rock with country. Rock musicians started to create albums with a country influence in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which gave rise to the genre. These musicians frequently included country themes, vocal techniques, and extra instruments, most notably pedal steel guitars, in their rock recordings.
The International Submarine Band and other country musicians brought it all to a head in the 1970s, but it all began with performers like Bob Dylan. As a result, country music significantly influenced southern rock and other musical genres.
Enjoy Country Music at Legends Corner
Whether you love heart-wrenching sad songs, feel good dance tunes, or heartfelt love songs, country music is intended to tell a story and to evoke emotions. Legends Corner is the very location where you can get a little bit of all the genres of country music in a single visit. Our local artists perform a wide array of country music genres that all audience members enjoy. The evolution of country music is a beautiful occurrence, to say the least, and there is no denying that.
Whether you are a Nashville native or visitor, the country music at Legends Corner is sure to please. Be sure to drop by or give us a call regarding any questions or concerns you may have.
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