Teens should try listening to music of 60s

Music is a favorite pastime of many teens in America. Many of them enjoy listening to hot modern bands like The Killers or Green Day.But few of them find any value in listening to artists of past generations, never realizing that much of the current style was pioneered by groups of former eras, especially during the 60s.Guitar techniques, the introduction of new instruments, the beginnings of new musical styles and a great format for listening are great reasons for teens to listen to the music of the 60s.Those years were a time of enormous growth and revolution for rock and roll. The guitar itself would never be played the same. The introduction of feedback, the whammy bar, and many other implements have been used to distort and glorify the guitar sound. In the 60s, guitar was no longer played in chords as much as it was played freestyle with solos in many songs. It was also played aggressively and emotionally, putting mood into the music.For any teens who enjoy great guitar work, bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Cream, Santana and Iron Butterfly, are a great listening choice.The use of a synthesizer was also introduced in the 60s, as well as the keyboard. The Doors pioneered the keyboard sound - with long keyboard solos on many of their songs. They are a great band to listen to if you like rock and roll with a bluesy sound coming from the guitar and keyboard. Another great band for people who like music full of instrumentation is the Moody Blues. Not only were they the first to use a synthesizer, they also did something no band had done before. They recorded with the backup of a complete orchestra. This created a musical sound unlike any other - so complex it defies description.Another musical innovation of the 60s was the introduction of several new styles of music. With King Crimson and Blue Cheer came acid rock, an unearthly psychedelic sound complete with keyboard, synthesizer, the "heavy" guitar sound, and a broad range of sound effects. With British Invasion bands like The Hollies, The Rolling Stones, and the Beatles came the "mods," with their versatile pop music. Later, the "rockers" emerged, bringing with them rowdy, guitar filled music and groups like The Who, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead. Even The Beatles and The Stones jumped onto the rocker bandwagon. Reggae also made an appearance, with Bob Marley and the Wailers being the biggest and most successful of these groups. Other musical styles included soul (Aretha Franklin), progressive rock (Pink Floyd), and contemporary pop (The Carpenters). All of these musical styles influenced today's music groups. In listening to artists of the 60s, today's youth could find some surprising similarities between the music of that time and some of their favorite contemporary bands.Although a lot of 60s music is now available on CD, it is often much more fun and aesthetically pleasing to listen to it on record. Many used music stores carry records, but if you're lucky, your parents may have kept their albums and a turntable around. The 60s were truly a great era for music. The era was so diverse that everyone could find something to their liking and have a lot of fun listening to it.This fascinating and exciting time was so full of genuine talent that no music of any era since has even begun to match it.- A resident of Folsom, Sean Garbutt attends high school. His column will be appearing once a month in the Telegraph.