The difference, by ear
Skate punk is the faster, more technical Californian wing, with double-time drumming and far busier bass.
Both are sung cleanly, but skate punk is a little faster: 180 to 230 bpm against 160 to 200. To hear the difference, play Ramones next to NOFX. Skate punk grew out of pop punk, thirteen years later.
In figures
Pop punk
Where it sits
In short
Punk speed, garage-pop choruses and lyrics about suburban boredom.
How it sounds
- Simple major progressions - I-V-vi-IV - played fast and distorted.
- Choruses with vocal harmonies and singalong 'whoa-oh' hooks.
- Clean production, compressed drums, tempos of 160 to 200 bpm.
Key acts
- Ramones
- Green Day
- blink-182
- The Offspring
Start here
The pickThe Descendents - Milo Goes to College. The manual, written twelve years before the boom.
Full page →Skate punk
Where it sits
Rock › Punk rock › Pop punk › Skate punk
In short
Faster, more technical pop punk with two-beat drumming and short solos. The soundtrack to skate videos.
How it sounds
- Very fast tempos with two-beat drumming and technical transitions.
- Clear-toned bass with its own often highly technical lines.
- Vocal harmonies everywhere, even at 220 bpm.
Key acts
- NOFX
- Pennywise
- Lagwagon
Start here
The pickNOFX - Punk in Drublic. Technical, fast and unreasonably well written.
Full page →