Music / Styles A–Z / Guitars · 12 of 35
Punk
Punk rock appeared in the mid-1970s in the US, the UK and Australia, set against the overproduced arena rock of the day: short, fast, stripped-down songs on distorted power chords.
- Where and when
- US, UK and Australia, mid-1970s
- Tempo
- Fast; hardcore faster still
- Played on
- One or two guitars, bass, drums, voice
- Lesson
- Guitars →
What it is
Punk rock appeared in the mid-1970s in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock and set against the overproduced arena rock of the day. Songs are short, fast and stripped down.
For the producer. One or two guitars, bass, drums and a voice. Long solos were seen as self-indulgent; the guitar plays heavily distorted power chords or barre chords, the "buzzsaw drone". Keep the takes rough and the arrangement bare.
The records that made it
From the lesson Guitars, where the sources are listed · links open a search
- 1969Kick Out the JamsThe MC5 · Counted a forerunner.
- Hey Joe / Piss FactoryPatti Smith · Often cited as the first punk record.
- Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistolsthe Sex Pistols · Their only official album; topped the British charts.
Punk in this month’s records
New releases the press we read wrote about, tagged punk on MusicBrainz · updated with every build
Album · 11.06 · country · garage rockThe Holy Cross Tigerstwisted teens
- Single · 11.05 · alternative rock · indie rockMake It EasyCage the Elephant
Album · 10.30 · noise · noise rockyou made me / skin on linenPISS
Single · 10.27 · punk rock · garage punkOff ItThe Chats
Single · 10.15 · new wave · rockSpectral EyesBlondie