Computer Chip Rock is written in the style of mid-1950s rock ‘n’ roll, a form of music that originated from African-American genres such as gospel, jazz, boogie-woogie, and rhythm and blues. The song uses the three chords characteristic of the style (I, IV and V), with ‘blues’ notes appearing prominently in the melody (A flat and E flat). Rhythmically, groups of three notes (’triplets’) keep the music moving forward, while the rock ‘n’ roll feel is strengthened by the ‘backbeats’ (on the counts of 2 and 4) on the snare drum.