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GCSE Study pieces > Killer Queen > Flashcards

Killer Queen Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the structure of “Killer Queen”?

A

Verse-chorus form

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2
Q

What is unusual about the start of the song?

A

Starts with finger clicks

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3
Q

Describe how the accompaniment chords are played in verse 1.

A

Detached

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4
Q

In what key does song begin?

A

C minor

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5
Q

The melody starts on an upbeat. What is the musical term for this?

A

Anacrusis

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6
Q

Which 2 instruments enter at the end of bar 6?

A

Bass and drums

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7
Q

Which instrument plays the chords at the start of the song?

A

Piano

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8
Q

The guitar starts playing in bar 7 - describe the melodic movement.

A

Descending sequence

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9
Q

What singing technique does the lead singer use in bar 11 on the word “decline”?

A

Falsetto

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10
Q

What do the backing singers sing when they start singing on the word “Kennedy” in verse 1?

A

Vocalisation (Oohs)

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11
Q

What is the main time signature of the song?

A

12/8 (compound quadruple)

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12
Q

In Chorus 1, the backing vocals sing in harmony with the lead vocalist. How many vocal parts are there in total?

A

4

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13
Q

The song uses a lot of extended chords. What is an extended chord?

A

A chord with additional notes, eg. 7th, 9th, 11th

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14
Q

What notes are in chord Bb7?

A

Bb D F Ab

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15
Q

Some of the chords are slash (/) chords. What does this mean?

A

The chord is inverted.

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16
Q

In chord Eb/Bb, what note is played in the bass?

A

Bb

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17
Q

In chord Eb/Bb, what inversion is the chord?

A

2nd inversion

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18
Q

What technique is used on the word “queen” at the start of the chorus? (She’s a killer queen…)

A

Portamento slide

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19
Q

In what way does the guitar sound different on “laser beam” in the chorus (bar 17)?

A

A change of EQ

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20
Q

Describe what the backing vocals sing in bar 18 (underneath the lead vocals “guaranteed to blow your mind”).

A

“Ba” (vocalisation) vocal ‘stabs’ (short chords)

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21
Q

Describe how the majority of the text is set.

A

Mainly syllabic

22
Q

What harmonic device is heard near the end of the chorus (bars 20 - 21: “recommended at the price, insatiable an appetite)?

A

Circle of 5ths

23
Q

What harmonic device is heard at the start of verse 2 (bars 27 - 30)?

A

Pedal note

24
Q

Describe the tempo of the song.

A

Moderate

25
Q

What is the bpm of the song?

A

112 bpm

26
Q

Describe the drum part in the bar before verse 2.

A

Drum roll

27
Q

What interval is between guitar 1 & guitar 3 in the instrumental section (bars 23 - 26)?

A

Third

28
Q

Identify two playing techniques that the guitars use in the instrumental section (bars 23 - 26).

A

Vibrato & glissando (slides)

29
Q

Describe the inner harmony part (right hand chords of the piano) in bars 31-33.

A

The chords descend chromatically

30
Q

At the end of verse 2, how does Freddie Mercury (lead singer) perform the words “..tidious and precise…” (bar 38)?

A

He speaks the words

31
Q

In bar 34 the time signature changes for one bar to fit the phrase in. What is the time signature in bar 34?

A

6/8 (compound duple)

32
Q

Describe how the bass guitar part is developed in bars 37 & 38.

A

Uses pentatonic & chromatic scales

33
Q

Chorus 2 is shorter than chorus 1. Which part of chorus 1 does chorus 2 use?

A

The first 5 bars

34
Q

The opening of the guitar solo mimics the vocals from which section?

A

Bars 20 - 21 in the chorus

35
Q

How many guitar solo parts are playing in bars 48 - 50?

A

3

36
Q

Brian May is the guitarist. How does he play several guitar parts at the same time?

A

The guitar parts are overdubbed (recorded in separate tracks)

37
Q

Identify the texture between the solo guitar parts in bars 47 - 49.

A

Imitation (guitars 3 & 4 imitate guitar 1)

38
Q

Describe the guitar parts in bar 50.

A

They play together in harmony

39
Q

Identify the section(s) that the accompanying chords in the guitar solo at bar 51 have previously been played.

A

Verse 1 & 2

40
Q

In bar 51 the guitar solo plays the vocal melody from the verse. How does the guitarist slightly change the melody?

A

Extra notes/decoration

41
Q

Describe the entries of the guitar parts in bar 55.

A

They are staggered (enter at slightly different times)

42
Q

Identify the cadence that is repeated at the end of the guitar solo, leading into verse 3.

A

Imperfect cadence in Eb

43
Q

Identify the interval Freddie Mercury sings from the word “hat” to “she’s” in bar 62 (verse 3).

A

An octave

44
Q

Describe how the words “drive you wild” are sung when they are repeated in bars 66 - 67.

A

4 part harmony & high in pitch - word painting

45
Q

What is played on the drum kit during the words “drive you wild” in bar 67?

A

Semiquavers on the snare drum

46
Q

What part has been added to chorus 3 that wasn’t in chorus 1 or 2?

A

Guitar solo

47
Q

How does the song end?

A

Outro & repeats to fade

48
Q

What is the main texture of the song?

A

Homophonic

49
Q

Describe the melodic movement of the vocals at the start of the song.

A

Mostly stepwise/conjunct (notes next to each other)

50
Q

What is the name of the particular type of piano used in the song?

A

Honky-tonk (jangle) piano

GCSE Study pieces (9 decks)

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