Five roles, three layers
A classic rock band has drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar and vocals. On stage they sit in layers: rhythm at the back, harmony in the middle, melody up front.
Drums keep time
The drummer is the band's clock. The kick marks the strong beats, the snare cracks on beats 2 and 4, and the hi-hat ticks the steady pulse in between.
Bass locks the groove
The bassist plays low root notes in step with the kick drum. Together they form the rhythm section, and the bass links the beat to the chords.
Rhythm guitar fills the harmony
The rhythm guitar strums power chords and riffs through its amp, giving the song its body and drive.
Lead guitar adds hooks
The lead guitar plays single-note riffs, fills between vocal lines and the solo, usually with more distortion and sustain.
Vocals carry the song
The singer delivers the melody and lyrics from the front of the stage. The mic feeds the PA speakers so the voice rises above the loud instruments.
All together
Beat, low end, chords, hooks and voice stack into one sound. Each layer has its own space in pitch and in time, so the band sounds full and not muddy.