The Musical Cook Book

[diamondwaspvenom]

You know some people say that there are a few steps/ways to write certain kinds of music? What are your ways of describing them?

Examples:

Black Metal

Three to five riffs (preferrably tremolo picked)
Screeched vocals
Satanic Lyrics
Blast Beat Drums
Heavily Distorted Guitars
Really Crappy Production  

Country

Three Chords
The Truth


Can you guys come up with some? Feel free to delve into as much genres/subgenres as you wish.

[Leah]

Ska Punk


Hippy-ish lyrics
smooth reggae drum beats
punkish voice
punkish/ reggae guitar riffs/chords
reggae bass.

[zombie no.one]

House

kick - hi-hat - snare - hi-hat

repeat X1000000000000

[Rev. Powell]

Bluegrass

Traditional instrumentation - guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass
Fast picking/playing with an emphasis on counterpoint
Complex interplay among the instruments, emphasis on improvisation
Particular harmonic features, "dissonant" vocals (the "high, lonesome" sound)
Themes are based on everyday life, folktales, or religion.  They often feature a longing for death so the singer can escape the harsh realities of life and return to God.

[zombie no.one]

RnB

- annoying beat consisting of electronic thuds, handclaps, and 2-note synth riff
- annoying female singer trying to fit "oohhhuhhrreyyahh" onto the end of every word
- annoying rapper with curious speech impediment coming in 2/3rds of the way through to drop a forgettable verse about how sexy the female singer is, and how no one can ever step to her because she's the most exclusive and unique r'n'b singer of all time
- $20million video shot in Bahamas featuring said female singer cavorting with anonymous random hunk who is not her actual partner IRL

[Allhallowsday]

Early HEAVY METAL a la BLUE CHEER:

Pounding percussion 
Inept sloppy guitar 
Thundering bass
Half a ton of feedback/distortion 
Hair in the eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5uDozoSSM

[Flick James]

Here's one that it near and dear to my heart, but surely not many here. Irish Traditional Session Music.

*A bunch of musicians gather to play Irish trad, of varying skill levels.
*Fiddles, flutes, tin whistles, bagpipes (1st tier instruments)
*Button accordion, mandolin, tenor banjo (acceptable instruments but may be frowned upon by purists)
*Guitar, bodhran, or other backing instruments (generally frowned upon)
*Jigs, reels, and other traditional Irish tunes played for the enjoyment of the players with little to no care for what the patrons want to hear. Patron wants to hear somebody sing "Whiskey in the Jar?" "Feck off, mate. We're not here for you."