The difference, by ear
Southern rock is a blues-rock band with country in it; country rock is a country band with rock in it. The centre of gravity is the difference.
Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 80 to 140 bpm. Songs run longer in Southern rock: usually 4 to 12 minutes, against 3 to 5 minutes in country rock. To hear the difference, play The Eagles next to Lynyrd Skynyrd. They share a root in rock, and country rock came first, by a year.
In figures
Country rock
Where it sits
Rock › Folk rock › Country rock
In short
Pedal steel and three-part harmony over a rock rhythm section. The sound of Laurel Canyon.
How it sounds
- Pedal steel and acoustic guitar over a rock rhythm section.
- Vocal harmony in thirds and sixths, sung loosely.
- Moderate tempos and warm, airy production.
Key acts
- The Eagles
- Gram Parsons
- Neil Young
Start here
The pickThe Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace of Sin. Cannabis embroidered on the suits, serious music inside.
Full page →Southern rock
Where it sits
Rock › Blues rock › Southern rock
In short
Blues rock with a Southern accent: two or three lead guitars, slide playing and songs as long as a Georgia highway.
How it sounds
- Two or three lead guitars playing harmony at once - the Allman Brothers signature.
- Slide guitar in open tuning with a Hammond organ underneath everything.
- Long songs that end in a jam, and lyrics about specific Southern places.
Key acts
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- The Allman Brothers Band
- ZZ Top
Start here
The pickThe Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East. The best live rock album there is.
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