Stevie Wonder Flashcards
What is a chord extension?
Chords with added pitches: 7th 9th 11th 13th
what dies tritone mean?
the interval of an augmented 4th & diminished 5th
what is a subdominant chord?
the 4th degree of a major or minor scale as the root of the chord
what is a supertonic chord?
the 2nd degree of a major or minor scale used as the root of the chord
describe a perfect cadence
V - I
describe a plagal cadence
IV - I
describe an imperfect cadence
I - ii - IV - V
describe an interrupted cadence
V - vi
what is a secondary dominant?
- non diatonic
- functions as a dominant in relation to a scale degree other than the tonic
Give an example of when Stevie Wonder uses chord extensions (examples)
‘Isn’t she lovely’
- 9ths
- 11ths
Give an examples of when Stevie Wonder uses chromaticism
- ‘Sir Duke’ (0’45 - 1’03”)
- chromatic chords used in-between the key of B major
Give an example of how Stevie Wonder creates a bluesy effect in ‘Living for the City’
the juxtaposition of major/minor 3rds in relation to F#
what 3 chords are superimposed over a tonic pedal bass in Stevie Wonder’s ‘Living For the City’
F# major
G# minor
A major
how many pitches does Stevie Wonder use on the word ‘suffer’ in ‘Superstition’
what word would describe this technique?
6 pitches
melisma
describe 0’36” - 0’45” in Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke?
- pre chorus
- chromatically shifting chord sequence
- ascending and descending phrases
- unison
what is an augmented triad?
- 3 note chord
- root
- major 3rd
- augmented 5th degree
what does a mixolydian mode include?
major 2nd major 3rd perfect 4th perfect 5th major 6th minor 7th (in relation to tonic)
describe a major pentatonic scale
major 2nd
major 3rd
perfect 5th
major 6th
describe a minor pentatonic scale
minor 3rd
perfect 4th
perfect 5th
minor 7th
describe a tonic minor
a minor key that shares the same pitch as the home major key
describe the term modal
various scales other than major or minor
give an example of a Stevie Wonder song that combines chords from major and minor tonalities
‘Living for the City’
Give an example of a Stevie Wonder song that modulates
- give a time stamp
- “Happy Birthday’
- 3’21
- from c major
Give an example of a Stevie Wonder song that uses a mode
- which mode?
‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright)’
- C# mixolydian
Give an example of a Stevie Wonder song that uses a tonic minor
- give a time stamp
- be specific
‘I was made to love her’
- 0’03”-0’14 –> harmonica solo
- key of F major, chords taken from F minor
Describe strophic form
including a number of verses with different lyrics, no chorus
what is a refrain?
a recurring idea
What is the structure of ‘Sir Duke’ by Stevie Wonder?
verse-chorus form
Name a Stevie Wonder song that uses strophic form
‘Isn’t she lovely’
name 3 different keyboard instruments played by Stevie Wonder
Electric piano
Synthesiser
Hohner Clavinet
Name a Stevie Wonder song that includes a clavinet
- be specific
‘Superstition’
the riff
Give an example of when Stevie Wonder uses non musical sound effects
‘Living for the City’
4’14” - 5’14”
- describe a hetrophonic texture
- give an example with a time stamp
- doubling of the same melody, played/sang slightly differently
- ‘Sir Duke’ (1’04” - 1’21”)
describe a polyphonic texture
multiple independant melodic lines
What is the tempo of ‘Hotter than July’ in bpm?
76 bpm
Name a Stevie Wonder song where a shuffle feel is used
‘Higher Ground’
Name a Stevie Wonder song where a swing feel is used
‘Superstition’
What happens in terms of metre at 1’08” of ‘Living for the City’ by Stevie Wonder?
6 bars of 3/4
1 bar of 2/4
returns to 4/4
