The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Question 1

Describe the melody of the introduction of Lucy in the Sky

Answer 1

The intro is played on the Lowery organ with a celeste sound. It is played with inner pedal on the tonic, creating an ostinato. It is disjunct, with jumps of a minor sixth, perfect fifth and major seventh between notes. The ostinato pattern is repeated in the verse

Question 2

Describe the melody in the verse of Lucy in the Sky

Answer 2

The melody uses a limited range of only five notes. The melody is repetitive, with the C# being sung ten times a repeated use of the notes A-G-F#. Tone painting and rhythmic augmentation are used on the words “river” and “slowly”. ADT is used on the last line of the verse to create a psychedelic delay

Question 3

Describe the melody in the pre-chorus of Lucy in the Sky

Answer 3

The range of the melody is very limited, sung mainly on the note D. An echo effect is added to the vocal melody and guitar bends can be heard in the electric guitar (pushing a string across or over the fingerboard so that the string gets tighter and the pitch goes up)

Question 4

Describe the melody in the chorus of Lucy in the Sky

Answer 4

Only McCartney sings the opening two lines of the chorus, with the melody based around a descending G major scale. It is conjunct. Lennon adds a harmony a third higher than the melody. A quaver, dotted quaver, and semiquaver scalic countermelody is played through a Leslie speaker. In the second chorus, the first vocal line is a solo, and the second and third lines are harmonised. The organ plays a chord ostinato

Question 5

Describe the phrase structure of the chorus in Lucy in the Sky

Answer 5

The chorus is made up of a two-bar phrase, which is repeated three times in the first chorus

Question 6

What is the key of the four-bar introduction and the verses?

Answer 6

A major

Question 7

To what key does the pre-chorus modulate?

Answer 7

Bb major

Question 8

To what key does the chorus modulate to?

Answer 8

G major

Question 9

Describe the harmony in the verses?

Answer 9

The verse uses mostly the tonic chord of A major, with the bassline descending down the A major scale. It is made slightly unusual with the use of an F#m7 chord (a vi chord) and an Faug chord (F natural not in key sig.)

Question 10

Describe the harmony in the pre-chorus

Answer 10

The pre-chorus uses chords Bb, C and F, C being unusual as it contains an E natural, which is not in the key sig. of Bb. However, the chords Bb and F (I and V) are ordinary

Question 11

Describe the harmony in the chorus

Answer 11

The harmony in the chorus is ordinary and diatonic, using chords G, C and D7 (I, IV and V of G major)

Question 12

How does the song end and what effect does this have?

Answer 12

The choruses end on the fifth (D major). The song, as it fades out, then moves to A major, the fifth of D major. This creates an imperfect cadence and makes the song sound unfinished

Question 13

Describe the structure of Lucy in the Sky

Answer 13

The structure of the song is the following:

• Four-bar intro
• Verse 1
• Pre-chorus
• Chorus
• Verse 2
• Pre-chorus
• Chorus
• Verse 3
• Chorus
• Chorus while fade out

Question 14

Who sings the vocals of the song?

Answer 14

John and Paul

Question 15

Describe the instrumentation of the song

Answer 15

• Lowery organ - set to celeste sound
• Maracas
• Distorted lead guitar - played through Leslie speaker with echo to create a surreal, spaced-out feel
• Bass guitar
• Drums
• Piano
• Tambura

Question 16

What was done to John’s vocals and what effect did this have on the timbre?

Answer 16

John’s vocals are sped up to create a thinner, higher, more childlike sound

Question 17

What takes place in terms of timbre on the last line of the verse?

Answer 17

Double tracking is used in order to make it sound like two people are singing

Question 18

What technique is used in the guitar to change the timbre?

Answer 18

Guitar bends are used in the pre-chorus

Question 19

What is the guitar played through and what effect does this have?

Answer 19

The Leslie speaker adds tremolo and vibrato to the guitar

Question 20

Describe the tempo of the song?

Answer 20

120bpm - moderate

Question 21

What is the time signature of the verses and pre-chorus?

Answer 21

3/4

Question 22

What is the time signature of the chorus?

Answer 22

4/4

Question 23

Why does the chorus sound faster than the verses?

Answer 23

The chorus of the song is slower, however sounds faster than the verses due to the syncopated quaver rhythm played by the bass guitar

Question 24

Describe the rhythm of the introduction

Answer 24

Mostly crotchets with occasional quavers

Question 25

Describe the rhythm of the first section of the verse

Answer 25

Mainly in crotchets

Question 26

Describe the crotchet pulse of the chorus

Answer 26

The pulse is slower than in the intro

Question 27

What rhythmic technique is used in the chorus?

Answer 27

Syncopation is used in the guitar, bass and vocal parts

Question 28

How can the Lowery organ chords of the chorus be described rhythmically?

Answer 28

A backbeat (playing beats 2 and 4)