killer queen

Question 1

what style of song is it?

Answer 1

rock

Question 2

when was it written?

Answer 2

1974

Question 3

what studio effects does the song use?

Answer 3

• multi-tracking
• EQ
• flanger
• reverb
• wah-wah
• panning
• overdubbing

Question 4

what guitar techniques are used?

Answer 4

• slides
• bends
• pull-offs
• vibrato

Question 5

what instruments were used?

Answer 5

• vocals
• piano
• jangle piano/honky-tonk piano
• electric guitar
• bass guitar
• drum kit

Question 6

what kind of harmony is there in the vocals in the chorus?

Answer 6

three- and four-part harmony

Question 7

what range is the vocals?

Answer 7

tenor and falsetto (spans two octaves and a third)

Question 8

what two other percussion instruments are there other than the drumkit?

Answer 8

• triangle
• windchimes

Question 9

what is the text setting like?

Answer 9

mainly syllabic

Question 10

what do the backing vocals sing?

Answer 10

a mixture of words and vocalisations

Question 11

is the melody conjunct or disjunct?

Answer 11

starts mostly conjunct with small leaps of a third or fourth

Question 12

what form is it?

Answer 12

verse-structure

Question 13

what technique is used in the voice on the first ‘she’s a killer queeeeeen’?

Answer 13

portamento slide

Question 14

how do the guitars play in the instrumental between the first chorus and second verse?

Answer 14

• guitar 1 + 3 play in thirds
• use slides and vibratos

Question 15

what cadence is used at the end of the guitar solo?

Answer 15

a repeated imperfect cadence

Question 16

what sound is heard on ‘laser beam’?

Answer 16

phase shifter

Question 17

what chord does the song end over?

Answer 17

Eb major

Question 18

what are the main features of the texture?

Answer 18

• homophonic
• use of imitation
• use of layering
• three-part texture during guitar solo
• use of panning
• antiphonal
• chordal texture in vocals at the start and end of chorus

Question 19

what key is the song in?

Answer 19

Eb major

Question 20

what key do the verses start in?

Answer 20

c minor

Question 21

what key do the choruses start?

Answer 21

Bb major

Question 22

what are features of the harmony?

Answer 22

• chords mostly root position with some in first or second inversion
• some dissonance
• short tonic pedal in C minor at the start of each verse
• dominant pedal in instrumental links after the first two choruses
• descending chromatic scale
• circle of 5ths
• altered and extended chords
• 7th chords

Question 23

what is the tempo marking?

Answer 23

moderato

Question 24

what is the time signature?

Answer 24

12/8

Question 25

what sort of rhythm is there?

Answer 25

a swung rhythm

Question 26

what are features of the rhythm?

Answer 26

- syncopation - each verse and chorus start with an anacrusis - triplets