Killer Queen

Question 1

Harmony and Tonality

Answer 1

• Overall tonality is E flat major (AO3) unusual key for Rock music (AO4)
• Inspired by musicals rather than blues (AO4)
• Opening C minor (AO3)
• Moments of ambiguity (AO3), many passing modulations (AO3)
• Most chords root position (AO3), some first or second inversion (AO3)
• Circle of fifths B20 (AO3)
• Altered and extended chords (AO3)

Question 2

Technology

Answer 2

•	Overdubbing (AO3)
•	Recording techniques and effects (AO3)
o	Multi-tracking
o	Flanger
o	Distortion
o	Reverb
o	Wah-wah
o	Panning, separates sounds and creates antiphonal effects (AO4)
•	No synths (AO3), although this was popular during the period of time (AO4)

Question 3

Melody

Answer 3

• Text setting mainly syllabic (AO3)
• Backing vocals- mixture of words and vocalisation (AO4)
• Mainly conjunct with occasional leaps of third or a fourth (AO3)
• B62- octave leap (AO3)
• Unusual phrasing (natural flow of lyrics) (AO4)
• Unusual finger clicks and spoken words for added interest (AO4)
• Falsetto and spoken words give the feeling of theatre (AO4)
• ‘Laser beam’- Flanger (AO3), word painting (AO4)

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

• Verse and chorus form (AO3)
• Unusual phrase lengths (AO3)
• Reuse of phrases in different sections (AO3)
• Clear contrast between sections (AO3)

Question 5

Instrumentation

Answer 5

• Made up of frontline and Rhythm section (AO3)
• Main vocal- tenor (AO3)
• Lead and backing vocals
• piano and overdubbed jangle piano (AO3), creates a hybrid timbre (AO4)
• four electric guitars, bass guitar and drum kit (AO3)
• Overdubbing- creates a richer colour (AO4)
• Guitar- slides, bends, pull offs, vibrato (AO3) typical of Brian May (AO4)
• Guitar- hocketing (AO3) entry delayed creating chord (AO4)
• Guitar- no strumming (AO3), carefully articulate each note (AO4)
• Drum fills (AO3), links sections (AO4)
• Cymbals and snare rolls (AO3), adds colour (AO4)

Question 6

Rhythm, metre and tempo

Answer 6

• Fast tempo (AO3)
• Mainly 12/8 compound quadruple time (AO3)
• Swung feel (AO4)
• Occasional 6/8 bar inserted (AO3), extends the phrase length (AO4)
• Syncopation frequent throughout (AO3)

Question 7

Texture

Answer 7

• Mainly homophonic (AO3)
• Use of imitation (AO3)
• Use of layering (AO3)
• Antiphony during guitar solo (dialogue) (AO3)
• Clever placement of parts to not crowd texture (AO4)