Where punk comes from
Punk broke out in the mid-1970s with the Ramones in New York and the Sex Pistols and the Clash in London. Hardcore, pop-punk and post-punk followed, each taking a different part of the original energy.
What makes a track sound like punk
- Fast downstroke guitars
- Short track length
- Raw, live production
- Shouted group choruses
Typical structure
Short: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, a short bridge and a final chorus, all inside 2 to 3 minutes.
Vocals in punk
Punk vocals are shouted, fast and slightly rough, with gang vocals on the chorus. Ask for "snotty, energetic lead and shout-along gang vocals" and keep the song under three minutes.
Prompting tips
Choose "70s punk" for raw, "pop-punk" for melodic or "post-punk" for dark, angular guitars and prominent bass.
Long track lengths dilute punk. Keep it under 3 minutes, and if you want vocals, ask for shouted gang vocals in the chorus rather than polished harmonies.
Prompts to start from
Raw 70s punk at 180 BPM, three-chord guitar, driving bass, fast snare and a shout-along chorus, 2 minutes
Energetic pop-punk with catchy guitar melodies, palm-muted verses and a big skate-park chorus
Dark post-punk with chorus-drenched guitar, prominent melodic bass and a steady motorik beat