Groove & Style with Yeo
In this video...
Yeo talks about the style and groove in the song The One That Got Away by Al Parkinson which has a relaxed and laid back feel.
Style
Each of these musical styles has signature traits (like common instruments, rhythms, vocal delivery, or production choices) but these are not hard and fast rules.
Artists often blend styles or draw influence from multiple genres. Open the tabs to explore how artists use and mix styles in their songs.
As you listen, try to spot what instruments are used, how the beat feels, and how the vocals are delivered. What stands out? What feels typical — or surprising — for the style?
MUSICAL STYLE
Reggae
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These songs draw on reggae rhythms – but they’re not pure reggae! You’ll also hear funk, indie, and rock influences.
Listen for:
- Offbeat strumming or laid-back grooves
- Other genre traits in the instruments and vocal style
MUSICAL STYLE
EDM
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These tracks use EDM elements in different ways: Ninajirachi blends electronic production with dreamy pop. Peking Duk remixes a mellow Crowded House ballad – showing how you can reimagine any song through production. Listen to the original here and compare.
Listen for:
- How energy builds and drops
- What parts repeat, loop, or drop out to shape the groove and mood?
MUSICAL STYLE
SOUL
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These songs are soul-inspired, but each artist adds their own flavour.
Wilson Blackley blends neo-soul with indie.
Chloe Kay draws on blues, jazz, and funk to shape her sound.
Listen for:
- How do the vocals express emotion? Consider tone, phrasing, dynamics?
- What instruments or grooves make the songs feel soulful?
MUSICAL STYLE
POP
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Both artists bring pop sensibility with their own twist. G Flip blends pop with rock and emotional storytelling; Kira Puru adds funk with a dance feel.
Listen for:
- What makes these songs catchy? Is it the rhythm, melody, vocal phrasing, or something else?
- How do the choruses feel compared to the verses?
MUSICAL STYLE
PUNK
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Both of these examples are modern Aussie punk with a rock edge. It’s raw, unapologetic, and full of attitude — but also clever and playful.
Listen for:
- What gives these songs their punk energy – tempo, distortion, vocals, lyrics, or something else?
- How are these songs different from older punk styles — like The Saints? Think about the speed, energy, or instruments used
MUSICAL STYLE
HIP HOP
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Baker Boy blends hip hop with dance and cultural celebration. Hilltop Hoods use classic hip hop beats with strong kick-and-snare rhythms and lyrical storytelling. Both represent different sides of Australian hip hop.
Listen for:
- Can you hear a strong beat or rhythm? What sounds are keeping time — like drums, claps, or bass?
- How does the singer use their voice — is it rhythmic, fast, smooth, or percussive?
MUSICAL STYLE
LATIN
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This isn’t traditional Latin music — The Cat Empire fuses jazz, ska, reggae, and Latin-inspired rhythms.
Listen for:
- What instruments drive the rhythm?
- How would it sound different with a straight beat?
MUSICAL STYLE
INDIE
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Indie isn’t a strict genre — it’s often a mix of pop, rock, and alternative sounds. Ball Park Music blend relatable lyrics with an upbeat, nostalgic vibe.
Listen for:
- What gives this track its indie feel — the lyrics, tone, or production?
- Can you hear influences from other genres?
Other Ideas
Compare Covers
Listening to different versions of the same song is a great way to hear how style and genre can shape a song. Try exploring Triple J’s Like a Version to hear how artists change style/genre, instrumentation, and groove/feel.
Search by Genre
Triple J Unearthed lets you search for songs by genre. Use it to explore different sounds, discover local artists, and get inspired by how they mix styles.
Groove
HOW RHYTHM SHAPES YOUR STYLE
Groove is the feel of your song’s rhythm, which beats stand out and how they’re arranged. It shapes your song’s energy and style.
Different grooves change how the same chords feel. Choosing the right groove helps your song sound like the style you want.
MATCHING GROOVE TO STYLE
A Latin beat’s bouncy rhythm won’t fit punk’s fast, straight feel — and punk grooves don’t suit Latin’s dance vibe.
Groove and style go hand in hand.
4/4: THE MOST POPULAR TIME SIGNATURE
In contemporary music, 4/4 is the most common time signature. In 4/4 there are 4 quarter notes (crotchets) to a bar. In most popular music, beats 2 and 4 are accented or serve as the strong beats. When listening to a drum beat, you will often hear the snare drum on these beats.
Almost every song you hear uses a 4/4 time signature. It’s easy to dance to, easy to sing-along to, and for a lot of people, just feels right. The songs below are all in 4/4 time. Listen to hear how they accent beats 2 and 4.
EXAMPLES OF SONGS IN 4/4
6/8 and 12/8: LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Other common time signatures used in popular music are 6/8 and 12/8. They are used a lot in music genres like soul, blues and gospel. Take a listen to the examples below to see if you think a 6/8 or 12/8 groove might work best for your song.
EXAMPLES OF SONGS IN 6/8 and 12/8
Want to explore time signatures more?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIMPLE AND COMPOUND TIME?
As is discussed in this video, the difference between simple time and compound time is whether the 8th (or quaver) notes are organised in groups of 2 or 3. If they are organised in groups of 2 we call this simple time and the bottom number of the time signature is usually a 4 (i.e 3/4 or 4/4). If they are organised in groups of 3 we call this compound time and the bottom number of the time signature is 8 (i.e 6/8, 12/8).
CREATE YOUR OWN DRUMBEATS IN 4/4 6/8 and 12/8
MUSICCA is an online drum machine that lets you create beats in both 4/4 and 6/8. Use the “beats” drop down menu to hear different pre-made beats in 4/4, 6/8 and 3/4. Move the placement of the snare and kick drums to hear how this changes the ‘feel’ of each drum beat. Add extra drums (like toms and cymbals) to alter the density of the texture of these drum beats.
