The main categories of labor chants are as follows:
(1) Carrying chants, which are sung during labor such as loading and unloading, carrying, carrying burdens, and pushing carts;
(2) Engineering chants, sung during work such as tamping, digging, logging, quarrying, etc.;
(3) Farming chants, sung during agricultural work, such as threshing wheat, Pounding rice, plowing water, plucking grass, etc.
(4) Boat and fishing chants, accompanying water transportation, fishing, shipping and other labor. Rhythm is a typical rhythmic form in Labor Haozi music, and it is also one of the main characteristics of Labor Haozi music. The constant repetition of labor movements and their sense of rhythm give the labor chant a rhythmic quality. The so-called rhythm refers to a relatively fixed and recurring rhythm pattern that often appears in haozi music. These rhythmic units not only have approximately the same duration, but also often have relatively uniform arrangements of melodic material.
There are roughly three types of rhythms in labor chants:
1. Long rhythm, the length of the rhythm unit is generally equivalent to a musical phrase;
2. Flat rhythm Rhythm, the length of a rhythm unit is generally equivalent to one music section;
3. Short rhythm, generally one beat is a rhythm unit. Leading the crowd and harmonizing is another main feature of labor chant music. The singing forms of labor chants include solo singing, duet singing, chorus singing, etc., but leading the crowd and singing together are the most common and typical singing methods. The leader is often the conductor of collective work. The lead singing part is often the main statement part of the lyrics. Its music is relatively flexible and free. The tunes and lyrics often have improvisational changes. The melody is often rising or high-pitched and loud, with the characteristics of calling and calling. Most of the singing parts are lining words or lyrics. Repeating the lyrics of the lead vocal, the music is relatively fixed, with few changes and a strong rhythm. The same music or the same rhythm is often used.
There are three main types of leading and singing in labor chants: 1. Alternating response type; 2. Overlapping type; 3. Comprehensive type.