AOS2: Voices and instruments in Pop

Question 1

What are the 4 ways that backing singers can sing harmonies?

Answer 1

In harmony, in unison, descant (singing a higher part to the lead singer/tune) and call and response.

Question 2

Give 8 ways of singing.

Answer 2

A capella, vibrato, falsetto, portamento, scat, riffing, belting, rapping and beatboxing.

Question 3

What is portamento?

Answer 3

When a singer slides from one note to another- like glissando.

Question 4

What is scat?

Answer 4

Improvisation using syllables like “doo” and “dat”. This comes from jazz.

Question 5

What electronic effects can be added to vocal parts?

Answer 5

Reverb, multi-tracking, sampling (using a short recording of someone else’s voice in a song), auto-tuning and a vocoder (electronically alters a voice recording to create effects).

Question 6

What does the lead guitar play?

Answer 6

Plays the melody, often decorating the tune, and plays often improvised solos in instrumental sections.

Question 7

What does the rhythm guitar play?

Answer 7

Fills in the harmony by either strumming the chords or picking arpeggiated chords. It often plays rhythmic riffs.

Question 8

Give 10 effects that can be put on electric guitars.

Answer 8

Distortion/overdrive- a grungy sound.
Fuzz- fuzzy-sounding distortion.
Reverb- makes it sound like it’s in a large room.
Echo/delay- repeats sound at a regular interval, fading out.
Chorus- makes it sound like several guitars.
Flanger and phaser- whooshing noise.
Wah wah- wah wah.
Compression- evens out variations in volume.
ADT- the same track is overlayed slightly out of time.
Panning- different sounds through different speakers.

Question 9

What are the main instruments of a drum kit?

Answer 9

Snare drum, bass drum, tom-tom, hi-hat, symbols.