Stevie Wonder

Question 1

Harmony

Answer 1

• Use of chromatic harmonic shifts
• Extended chords (7th, 9th and 13th chords)
• Improvisatory feel

Question 2

Melody

Answer 2

• Repetitive
• Use of pentatonic scale (minor pentatonic scale in Superstition)
• Glissandos and slides in the horn section
• Short, easily identifiable melodic motives
• Vocalisation
• Often simple melody lines so more focus is on rhythm section.
• Use of blues notes and blues scale

Question 3

Texture

Answer 3

• Layering of ostinatos
• Many moving parts in texture
• Often a chromatically moving bassline
• Groove feel - created through propulsive rhythm or a sense of “swing”.
• Interlocking riffs

Question 4

Rhythm

Answer 4

• Prominent use of syncopation.
• Backbeat.
• Use of faster rhythms to provide rhythmic drive
• Dotted rhythms

Question 5

Structure

Question 6

Electronic effects

Question 7

Instrumentation

Answer 7

• Clavinet
• Drum kit
• Bass guitar
• Horn section - horn lines became more disjunct, staccato, extensively accented and syncopated
• Moog synthesiser bass
• Synthesisers