Killer Queen

• It was released on the album Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
• The song is written by Freddie Mercury
• What vocal part does Freddy Mercury sing?

  Tenor
• What guitar techniques are used?

  Slides

  Bends

  Pull offs

  Vibratos
• What recording techniques are used?

  Multi tracking

  EQ

  Flanger

  Distortion

  Reverb

  Wah-wah

  Panning

  Overdubbing
• How is the melody is sung?

  Syllabic
• What techniques do the backing vocals use?

  A mixture of words and vocables
• Examples of vocables:

  Ba

  ooh
• What type of melody is at the start?

  Anacrusis
• What technique does the lead vocal use in bar 11?

  Falsetto
• What is the metre?

  12/8
• What vocal technique is used on the word “Queen” in the chorus?

  Portamento slide
• What effect does the main vocals create when using spoken text?

  Dramatic effect
• What does the guitar start doing in the guitar solo?

  Mimicking the lead
• What is the pattern of chord sequence used in the guitar solo?

  Descending pattern
• What is the harmony extended with in the guitar solo?

  Repeated imperfect cadence
• What technique is used on “absolutely drive you wild”?

  Word painting
• What is the main texture?

  Homophonic
• What other textural devices are used?

  imitation.

  layering

  Three-part texture during guitar solo.

  panning

  Antiphonal
• What is the tonality?

  Eb minor
• What is the position of the chords?


  Root
• What is the tempo of the song?

  Moderato
• What rhythmic technique is used?

  Syncopation

  Triplets
• What is the genre?

  Rock
• What is created with the blend between the piano and honkey tonk?

  Hybrid timbre
• How many guitars are used?

  4
• What instruments use multitracking?

  Vocal

  Guitar
• What part does the bass guitar double up with?

  The left hand piano
• What are all the instruments used?

  Drum kit

  Lead vocals

  Backing vocals

  4 guitars

  Piano

  Honkey tonk

  Bass guitar

  Triangle

  Cymbal
•  What is the structure of the song?

  Intro

  Verse 1

  Chorus 1

  Instrumental

  Verse 2

  Chorus 2

  Guitar solo

  Verse 3

  Chorus 3

  Outro
• Key at the beginning?

  C minor
• Vibrato

  rapid variations in pitch
• Pull off

  plucking the string with the fretting hand
• Slide

  smooth glide in the pitch from one to the next
• Pitch bend

  slight change of pitch from one note to the next while its still sounding
• Palm mute


  placing the side of the picking hand across the strings producing a muted sound
• What key is at the beginning?

  C minor