"pretty" melodies were very important; usually easy to remember; interesting melodic contours

melodies & lyrics were of prime importance

simple melodies, allowing for considerable freedom & spontaneous invention (improvisation) in performance; served as vehicle for the lyrics

inventive harmonies, but still relatively simple (diatonic)

usually simpler than those of pop music

usually 3 basic chords with occasional variations

straight, uncomplicated rhythm; kept in background; tempos were usually moderate to slow

simple & straight-forward; usually more prominent than pop music; little or no subdivision of the beat

hard-driving, prominent rhythm

professional singers accompanied by full orchestra and small chorus

vocalist, vocal backup group, acoustic & electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, piano, violin, and acoustic bass; drums omitted

vocalist, guitars (electric, acoustic, or both), acoustic bass, piano, drums, saxophone, & harmonica

symmetrically organized, usually into 4-measure phrases

similar to the Tin Pan Alley pop song

commonly 12-bar blues

nonoffensive, noncontroversial, most often dealing with boy-girl love

often love-oriented (esp. unrequited love or jilted lover)

personal sentiments related to love, jobs, "hard knocks," and general philosophies of life

crooner

nasal quality; yodeling

shouter