Muse Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s melodies?

A
  • generally simple, with regular phrasing and repeated motifs
  • mixture of syllabic and melismatic text setting
  • hooks are used in choruses for anthemic feel
  • occasional use of large leaps
  • extensive use of riffs played by guitar piano or bass
  • use of pitch bending and glissando/ slide effects in guitar parts
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2
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s harmonies?

A
  • varied use of harmony reflects combination of rock and classical influences
  • use of power chords in guitar parts typical of rock
  • piano fills out harmonies and introduces different chords types including sus4, augmented triads, diminished triads, diminished 7ths, half diminished 7ths, 7flat9, secondary dominants
  • use of chromatically ascending in descending lines in harmony is common
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3
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s tonality`/

A
  • generally tonal- tend to rely on minor keys
  • modal (aeolian) minor harmonies of roc mixed with raised leading notes/ functional harmonies of classical music
  • harmonic minor scale used for exotic sound
  • other scales include phrygian dominant, pentatonic, blues scale, dorian mode, and chromatic scale
  • modulations often used to create contrasts between sections
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4
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s structure?

A
  • most songs in verse-chorus form
  • additional sections include intro/outro bridge, instrumental/solo
  • drum fills used to punctuate sections
  • more experimental extended forms sometimes used showing classical/progressive rock influence
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5
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s sonority?

A
  • core elements of earlier style are guitar and piano, supported by bass and drums
  • wide vocal range and use of techniques such as vibrate and falsetto for operatic quality
  • use of effects with guitar and bass, including distortion, pitch shifting, delay and reverb
  • synthesiser-like sounds created through creative use of effects
  • use of guitar techniques such as palm muting, temolo picking and feedback
  • later albums feature extensive use of synthesisers, drum machines and orchestral forces shows influence of classical and electronic dance music
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6
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s texture?

A
  • usually melody and accompaniment - melody, chords, bass and drums
  • textures vary depending on whether focused on guitar, piano or both
  • guitar parts often feature strummed block chords, while piano parts often based on arpeggios
  • sometimes more explicit references are made to classical textures
  • occasional use of polyphony
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7
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s tempo, metre and rhythm?

A
  • a variety of different tempos used, from slow to rather fast
  • tempo changes and rubato show classical influence
  • 4/4 is most common metre, with a strong backbeat groove
  • other time signatures and time signature changes also used- compound metres particularly common
  • melodies often feature syncopation and triplets
  • complex subdivisions and time signature changes used in ‘butterflies and hurricanes’ piano solo
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8
Q

What are the features commonly found in muse’s dynamics and articulation?

A
  • more varied use of dynamics than most rock bands
  • louder, ‘heavier’ moments contrast with quieter piano led passages
  • dynamic contrasts and crescendo/diminuendo used for expressive effect
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