Study Guide
Week 12
[ Reading ] [ Textbook ] [ Review ] [ New Material ] [ What You Should Know ] [ Homework ]
Reading
No textbook reading this week.
Review
Modulation
Practice analyzing modulations using the following examples.
1.) C F G7 C :
2.) C Dm G7 C :
3.) C D7 G7 C Am F C :
4.) C F G7 C D G A7 D :
5.) C F G7 C A7 D G A7 D :
6.) C F G7 C Em F Bb Eb F7 Bb :
New Material
Form analysis
In this lesson we analyze "Help!" and "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles.
Help!
Composed: 1965
Occasion: Title song for movie "Help!". They considered the title "Eight Arms To Hold You" and eventually settled on "Help!" instead.
[ mp3 file ]
- Analyze the chord functions using Roman numerals.
- Make a schematic diagram showing order, type, and length of sections. The authors of the score we use chose to have a separate section for letter [E]. It is half of a verse but played quite differently--there is no vocal harmony, the drums stop, the guitars cool down, resulting in a quieter effect. The second half is a regular verse, hence the D.S.
- Compare how the two vocal parts work together in the different sections. In the intro there is a sort of "call and response" between the background and lead vocals. Over the verses there is a weaving/overlapping of the lead and background vocals where the two parts aren't in sync and take turns moving the lyric foreward. The choruses are more traditional: over the first half it's lead vocal, at the end the background singers come in with harmony singing in synchronized rhythm with the lead.
- Discuss what the bass player is doing in the different sections. In the intro there are steady eighth notes playing the roots, with passing tones in between. Over the verses there is the rhythm pattern of dotted quarter-eighth-half, with an alternation of the root and fifth under each chord. The choruses are back to quarter notes, with roots and fifths predominantly (there is more variety in scale degree under the final E7 chord).
- Discuss what the drummer is doing in the different sections. There isn't too much variety in the drum part. The drummer drops out at letter [E] to help calm down the final verse.
Yellow Submarine
For the homework you will apply the same level of detail in the analysis as was done for "Help!" above.
[ mp3 file ]
What You Should Know
At the end of this week you should be able to:
Read and interpret an open score (separate lines for each instrument)
Homework
See the assignment sheet.©2001 Robert Willey
