Bohemain Rhapsody Flashcards
Distortion
Overloading speaker to create harsh, buzzy sound
Flanging
Two of the same tracks played together but one is slowed down taking it out of sync and creating swooshing sound
Multitracking / Overdubbing
Recording another track over previously recorded material
Bending
Altering pitch of a note by bending or pushing string up raising its pitch
Glissando
Sliding finger that is holding down a string up or down fretboard. Creates a sliding sound os pitch changing
Power Chords
Playing doubled root and fifth of a chord with the third left out
A capella
Vocal performance with no instrumental accompaniment
Antiphony
dialogue between parts, usually with parts imitating each other in quick succession. Melody is often passed from one part to other
Falsetto
Male vocalist singing above natural vocal range
Bohemian Rhapsody Sections
- Introduction
- Main song / Ballad
- Guitar Interlude
- Operatic Section
- Rock Section
- Coda
[BoRa] Introduction part 1
-4 bars of a capella vocals in 4 part close harmony
-Multitracked vocals of Freddie Mercury
-Changing time metre from 4/4 to 5/4
-Syncopation
-Repeated notes
-Seventh chords
-Bb major
[BoRa] Introduction part 2
-Piano enters with Gm chord playing broken chords
-Piano plays arpeggiated motif based on Eb which returns later in song
-Solo vocals with overdubbing
-Vocal countermelody with “Ooh poor boy against”
-Descending chromatic motif with “Easy come easy go”
-Flanged cymbal on “Any way the wind blows”-Word Painting
-Bass added at end with arpeggios leading into ballad
[BoRa] Main Song verse 1
-Ballad style - Bb major
-Solo voice accompanied with piano
-Broken chords with bass doubling root
-Bass plays descending glissando on “dead”
-Chromatic descending bass on “thrown it all away”-WP
-key moves to Eb major
-Bass rhythm changes to minim, two crotchets
-drums enter providing back beat on “away”
-piano motif from intro appears at end
[BoRa] Main song verse 2
-Returns to Bb major
-Same melody but drums and bass play from beginning
-WP “Shivers down my spine” with bell-tree effect by playing on other side of the bridge
-Electric guitar enters with distortion on “the truth”
-overdubbed vocals follow soon after
-backing vocal counter melody with “any way the wind blows”
[BoRa] Guitar Interlude
-Eb major bridge section
-Leader guitar improvises over chord progression
-Accompanying guitars overdubbed and bass play descending chromatic line
-Glissando
-Bends
-Vibrato
-Triplets
[BoRa] Verse basic chord progression
Bb - Gm - Cm - F7
[BoRa] Operatic Section until Galileo
-A major
-piano block staccato chords
-Antiphonal style singing between solo voice and chorus
-vocal overdubbing for harmonies
-melody features chromatic movement
-WP “Thunderbolt and lightning” using drums
-Falsetto on “Galileo” which also is antiphonal singing
[BoRa] Operatic section after Galileo
-Multitracked vocals enter one after other on “Magnifico to create echo effect on “o” vowel
-Piano briefly repeats music from intro
-Antiphony with “We will not let you go” part
-two choruses alternating
-Timpani added with “Bishmillah”
-staccato and crash on “no,no,no,no”
-Falsetto signals climax
-Overdubbed guitar plays triplets to signal change in music
[BoRa] Rock Section
-Eb major
-12/8
-syncopated guitar riff
-bends, vibrato
-vocal line features syncopation and repeated notes
-power chords
-single bar of 6/8 around “spit in my eye”
-Music modulates through different keys
-ascending guitar licks before piano returns
-tempo slows and time sig returns to 4/4
[BoRa] Coda
-Multitracked guitars with reverb create feeling of guitar orchestra
-Guitars play ascending arpeggio figures in imitation
-Backing vocals sing sustained notes in harmony on “Ooh”
-Tempo rubate (free)
-rock instruments drop out
-Piano plays broken chords similar to main song
-chromatic melody on “any way the wind blows”
-Final F major chord followed by gong
