Muse

Question 1

Describe the overall structure of supremacy

Answer 1

Symphonic - Intro then ABCABCA then Outro

Question 2

the first 4 bars use antiphony - what is this?

Answer 2

The first idea in each bar is panned left, the second idea is panned right

Question 3

Describe the overall harmony of Supremacy

Answer 3

The song is in A Minor, with various chromatic features and chord extensions taking place throughout.

Question 4

Describe the use of the voice in Supremacy

Answer 4

Octave range in each phrase, triadic range in B section, moving by step until final cadence, slight syncopation due to the words, occasional delay on the vocals, millisecond repeats of the first words. Extended note duration in C Section. Final note (“destroy”) held for 9 beats, followed by switch to falsetto

Question 5

Describe the guitar solo in Supremacy

Answer 5

Uses a typical fuzz distortion sound, playing the vocal melody but with added decorative mordents. Has a homophonic texture.

Question 6

Describe the overall texture of Supremacy

Answer 6

Changes frequently. Gradually developing until the climax of the solo section, before dropping back down.

Question 7

Describe the overall structure of Supermassive black hole

Answer 7

Typical verse-chorus structure with intro, outro and solo

Question 8

Describe the key features of the introduction of Supermassive black hole

Answer 8

16 bar intro on bass, electric guitar and drum kit, with repeated tonic pedal and syncopated rhythm that accents the first beat of the bar.

Question 9

Describe the key features of the verses in Supermassive black hole

Answer 9

Two 2-bar phrases repeated to form an 8-bar section, Power chords outlining the primary chords, Vocal line is falsetto and contains blues note heard in introduction

Question 10

Describe the key features of the bridge in Supermassive black hole

Answer 10

Two 8-bar phrases - first of which links back to the intro, second of which contains new ideas. The electric guitar solo in this phrase uses semiquaver patterns between A and Bb (4th and flattened 5th degrees of the scale) and the bass uses a mix of octaves, open strings and bare-5th chords.

Question 11

Detail 3 main harmonic features of Supermassive black hole

Answer 11

Power Primary Chords in the verse, wider variety in the chorus but one chord per bar, flattened 5th chords frequently used

Question 12

Describe the instrumentation of Supermassive black hole

Answer 12

Electric guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer (last chorus), vocals

Question 13

Detail 3 main melodic features of Supermassive black hole.

Answer 13

Falsetto Vocals, Scalic passage at the end of chorus

Question 14

How are the dynamics varied to give contrast in Supermassive black hole?

Answer 14

The dynamics remain at a similar level for the whole song