Queen: Killer Queen

Question 1

Anacrusis

Answer 1

Upbeat, when the melody behinds ahead of the downbeat
e.g. ‘She keeps a..’
Each verse and chorus begins with an anacrusis

Question 2

Basic information

Answer 2

• Written by Freddie Mercury
• featured on Queen’s 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack

Question 3

Structure of Killer Queen

Answer 3

verse and chorus form:
Verse 1, Chorus 1, Instrumental, Verse 2, Chorus 2, Guitar Solo, Verse 3, Chorus 3, Outro

Question 4

Harmony points

Answer 4

• Functional
• Passing Modulations
• Parallel chords (same interval)
• Circle of Fifths (chord progression)

Question 5

Slash chords

Answer 5

indicate chord inversions

Question 6

Vocal techniques

Answer 6

• Falsetto
• Portamento: gradual slide from one note to another
• Spoken lyrics create a sarcastic and mocking tone
• Backing vocals sometimes echo soloist (e.g. ‘nat’rally’)
• Vocalisations/vocables (e.g. ooh)

Question 7

Vibrato

Answer 7

Continual small fluctuation of pitch to warm the sound of a note

Question 8

Pitch Bend

Answer 8

A small slide in pitch away from a note and back again

Question 9

Slide

Answer 9

A smooth glide in pitch from one note to the next

Question 10

Palm Mute

Answer 10

Damping the strings with the side of the hand while plucking to produce a dark, dry sound

Question 11

Wah-Wah

Answer 11

An effect, created using a pedal, which imitates the human voice

Question 12

Pull-offs

Answer 12

When a note is succeeded by a lower note, guitarists don’t pick the string again - they simply pull their finger off the fret

Question 13

Reverb

Answer 13

Giving sounds different levels in the left and right speakers

Question 14

Panning

Answer 14

Placing particular parts of a track in either the right or left channel in the stereo field

creates antiphonal feel

Question 15

Flanger

Answer 15

An effect which creates a sweeping or swooshing sound

Question 16

Overdubbing

Answer 16

the process of recording a part, or multiple parts, over an existing recorded performance

Question 17

Multi-tracking

Answer 17

the process of recording separate audio tracks for later mixing into a single audio track

Question 18

Equalisation (EQ)

Answer 18

the process of adjusting the level or amplitude of specific frequencies to achieve a clear and balanced mix

Question 19

Distortion

Answer 19

the altering or deformation of an audio signal’s original waveform to create different tones