Muse

Question 1

What are the features commonly found in muse’s melodies?

Answer 1

• generally simple, with regular phrasing and repeated motifs
• mixture of syllabic and melismatic text setting
• hooks are used in choruses for anthemic feel
• occasional use of large leaps
• extensive use of riffs played by guitar piano or bass
• use of pitch bending and glissando/ slide effects in guitar parts

Question 2

What are the features commonly found in muse’s harmonies?

Answer 2

• varied use of harmony reflects combination of rock and classical influences
• use of power chords in guitar parts typical of rock
• piano fills out harmonies and introduces different chords types including sus4, augmented triads, diminished triads, diminished 7ths, half diminished 7ths, 7flat9, secondary dominants
• use of chromatically ascending in descending lines in harmony is common

Question 3

What are the features commonly found in muse’s tonality`/

Answer 3

• generally tonal- tend to rely on minor keys
• modal (aeolian) minor harmonies of roc mixed with raised leading notes/ functional harmonies of classical music
• harmonic minor scale used for exotic sound
• other scales include phrygian dominant, pentatonic, blues scale, dorian mode, and chromatic scale
• modulations often used to create contrasts between sections

Question 4

What are the features commonly found in muse’s structure?

Answer 4

• most songs in verse-chorus form
• additional sections include intro/outro bridge, instrumental/solo
• drum fills used to punctuate sections
• more experimental extended forms sometimes used showing classical/progressive rock influence

Question 5

What are the features commonly found in muse’s sonority?

Answer 5

• core elements of earlier style are guitar and piano, supported by bass and drums
• wide vocal range and use of techniques such as vibrate and falsetto for operatic quality
• use of effects with guitar and bass, including distortion, pitch shifting, delay and reverb
• synthesiser-like sounds created through creative use of effects
• use of guitar techniques such as palm muting, temolo picking and feedback
• later albums feature extensive use of synthesisers, drum machines and orchestral forces shows influence of classical and electronic dance music

Question 6

What are the features commonly found in muse’s texture?

Answer 6

• usually melody and accompaniment - melody, chords, bass and drums
• textures vary depending on whether focused on guitar, piano or both
• guitar parts often feature strummed block chords, while piano parts often based on arpeggios
• sometimes more explicit references are made to classical textures
• occasional use of polyphony

Question 7

What are the features commonly found in muse’s tempo, metre and rhythm?

Answer 7

• a variety of different tempos used, from slow to rather fast
• tempo changes and rubato show classical influence
• 4/4 is most common metre, with a strong backbeat groove
• other time signatures and time signature changes also used- compound metres particularly common
• melodies often feature syncopation and triplets
• complex subdivisions and time signature changes used in ‘butterflies and hurricanes’ piano solo

Question 8

What are the features commonly found in muse’s dynamics and articulation?

Answer 8

• more varied use of dynamics than most rock bands
• louder, ‘heavier’ moments contrast with quieter piano led passages
• dynamic contrasts and crescendo/diminuendo used for expressive effect