Aural Concept Analysis – TEXTURE

 Pitch
 Duration
 Structure
 Tone Colour
 Dynamics and Expressive Techniques

Song Title: Hallelujah

Aritst: Paramore
 Outline graph of the texture of this song:
Lead Guitar ___________________________ ______________________________________________
Drums _____________________________________________________________________________
Rhythm Guitar _____________________________________________ ______________
Bass Guitar ___________________________________________________________________________
Lead Vocals ________________________________ _______________
Computerised long, sustained, high sound _______________________________

 The Intro begins with a solo lead guitar riff. Although there is only one instrument playing at this
point, the distorted, rough, dirty effect on this electric guitar gives the illusion of a thicker texture
through it’s unique tone colour.

 After 2 repetitions of the Lead Guitar riff, the drum kit enters on an upbeat “Crash” on the Bass
Drum, Hi Hat and Snare Drum. Hearing the heavy start of the drum part thickens the texture by
adding a layer of rhythm and enforcing the beat, giving energy and forward momentum to the
song.

 The remainder of the rhythm section enters the song in the intro. The rhythm guitar enters with
heavily distorted, low register sustained chords while the bass guitar echoes the strumming
pattern with simple, sustained bass notes. This gives depth to the textures by adding layers to the
harmony and providing a low register, expanding the overall range of the piece.

 The lead vocalist enters for Verse 1 of the song. She sings with an emphasized and powerful tone.
This suits the mood already established in the Intro by the heavy drums and distorted guitar. The
introduction of the lead vocalist creates interest through a change in performing media, while
enhancing the expression of mood through lyrics and vocal technique.

 The vocals essentially replace the lead guitar riff from the intro. She sings in a moderately high
pitch range, still maintaining the same depth to the overall texture of the piece.

 In a short instrumental fill between Verse 1 and the first Chorus, the drums settle into a basic four
beat pattern, giving the effect of a thinner texture due to the lack of complexity. At the same time,
the heavy rhythm guitar chords are deducted, further altering the texture of the song.

 This instrumental fill introduces a long, high pitched, sustained and computerized sound that is
held for the full 8 beats of the fill. Despite its simplicity, this added layer of harmony in the upper
register thickens the texture when the vocals drop out. This sound returns as an accent to the
vocals on the lyric “Hallelujah” during the chorus.
 The Lead Guitar returns in the instrumental fill playing an ascending, high pitch, four note riff.
This added harmonic layer and performing media returning adds depth to the texture.

 When the Rhythm Guitar comes back for the Chorus, it echoes the ascending Lead Guitar riff,
giving greater depth to the texture by adding emphasis to the lead riff.

 During the Chorus, the Lead Vocalist is singing in a higher pitch range, thereby expanding the
texture through the overall pitch range of the song. This technique also enhances the mood of the
piece by drawing attention to lyrics and offering a sense of empowerment.