Buckley: Grace from the Album Grace

General Context Other tracks from the album Grace include Hallelujah and Last Goodbye.
Album released in 1994.
Grace is a rock ballad or folk rock.

Features of Folk Variations in tempo + rhythm.

Fusion Music Long section divided into short phrases.
Short phrases can have their own dynamics, style and tempo.

Instrumentation Lead vocal and backing vocals

Electric guitar
Acoustic guitar

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Bass guitar
Drum kit
Synthesiser (heard clearly in intro - uses a wailing sound)
Strings (added in verse 2, pizzicato in 2nd pre-chorus)

Voice

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Very wide range. Falsetto - singing above normal top register.
Vibrato (a rapid, slight variation in pitch) used extensively.
Combination of syllabic + melismatic writing.
Portamento - scoops up notes.
Screaming at points.
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Vocal improvisations in outro - showing off his falsetto and virtuosity - top G!
Multi-tracked vocal harmonies in bridge - also uses vocables (oohs and aahs).
Verse 3 vocal is an eve higher, louder, uses falsetto, growling, shouting and has a longer held note at the end.
Improvised vocals at the end.

Electric Guitar
Plucked or picked at the start w/ broken chords or arpeggios.
Strumming in second part of intro and link.
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Percussive sound - hitting the strings in link before verse 3.
Mostly clean guitar sounds, distortion in verse 3 and strummed chords.
Verse 3 also has pick-scraping, glissando, palm muting, hammer-ons and pull-offs.

Form

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Intro is repeated after the choruses.
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Typical verse-chorus structure, w/ bridge and guitar solo towards end.

Ends w/ a short outro (same chords as chorus).

Overview:

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1) Intro Verse 1 Pre-chorus Chorus

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2) Link (from Intro) Verse 2 Pre-chorus Chorus
3) Bridge

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4) Link Verse 3 Outro
made up of 4 sub-sections.

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Tonality/ Song is minor or modal, most sections have a tonal centre of E.
Harmony Unusual chord progressions - harmony is non functional.

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Picking and strumming at different points.
Chords seem complex but are actually simple on the guitar. Uses power chords = technique of moving the same
chord shape up and down the fret board while keeping one or more strings open as a drone.

Tempo Moderate tempo, though the quick moving guitar rhythms cause the music to seem fast.

Meter Time signature of 12/8

This is a popular meter used in folk music, and is quite unusual for pop music to use - pop songs = 4/4

Rhythm Feels fast as guitar plays semiquaver patterns at the beginning.

Lots of syncopation in vocal and bass line.

Melody Frequent use of ornamentation and falling patterns

Four main riffs in the piece:
1) Made up of semiquavers played by electric guitar in intro
2) In the verses electric guitar plays broken chords
3) Acoustic guitar plays rhythmic, percussive riff in verses and choruses.
4) In final section both guitars play a fourth riff

Dynamics Quiet in the intro

Volume increased by bringing more instruments in.

Texture Mainly melody and accompaniment.

Intro - just guitar and synth pad sound.
Suddenly full band joins in, no vocal yet.
Verse 1 - vocals enter.
Chorus - backing vocals enter (very subtle). Double tracked main vocals at points.
Strings are used from time to time.

Electronic Delay - creates an echo effect (repeats the note).

Effects EQ - telephone like sound.
Flanger - added to electric guitar in the outro. Creates a swirly sound.
Distortion - used on one guitar in verse 3. Makes it amplified and fuzzy.
Guitar whisper effects used where they can be heard.