killer queen by queen

Question 1

name the 5 main instruments

Answer 1

• voice
• honky tonk piano
• elec guitar
• bass guitar
• drumkit + percussion

Question 2

what does queen do to maximise the songs layers with only 4 members

Answer 2

use of multitracking on guitar and vocal parts

Question 3

describe the structure of this piece

Answer 3

• verse-chorus structure with guitar solo (instrumental)
• irregular section and phrase lengths

Question 4

what guitar techniques are used

Answer 4

vibrato, hammer on, pull offs, bends, slides
- careful articulation

Question 5

what is the time signature

Answer 5

12/8 - shuffle feel

Question 6

what guitar effects are used

Answer 6

distortion, wah wah, flanger, panning

Question 7

when is the flanger used

Answer 7

on “laser” to give the effect of a laser beam

Question 8

did queen use synths

Answer 8

no

Question 9

what were the two genre influences of this song

Answer 9

rock + musical theatre

Question 10

what were the rock influences

Answer 10

elec guitars, verse-chorus struc, guitar techniques + effects

Question 11

what were the musical theatre influences

Answer 11

operatic voice style, irregular phrase lengths, irregular section lengths

Question 12

what is the texture of the intro

Answer 12

monophonic (clicks)

Question 13

what is the texture after the intro

Answer 13

homophonic

Question 14

when does the texture change to polyphony

Answer 14

verse 2, backing vocals, multiple guitar melodies, outro

Question 15

how does the guitar solo fit the song

Answer 15

replicates and develops vocal melody