Africa Elements and music + chords

what chords and MAD TTSHIRT features are in each section

Who? When?

David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, 1981-1982

what instruments + voices?

A typical Rock Band

• Drum kit + additional percussion (congas, cowbell, maracas, tambourine and GONG

• Lead guitar

• Bass guitar

• 12-string acoustic guitar

• Recorder/flute sound

• Male lead vocals - main singer

• Male backing vocals

Tempo?

moderately fast, medium rock beat

Dynamics?

• Mostly mezzo forte (mf)

• Chorus in forte (f)

Music Technology?

• The ending is marked ‘repeat and fade’ (6 times)

• synthesizers

• multi-tracking

Texture?

• Homophonic (melody & accompaniment)

• Countermelody + backing vocals are added in the 2nd verse

Rhythm & Metre?

• Time signature is 2/2 - 2 minim beats per bar

• LOTS of ostinato patterns and rhythms are used - consisting mostly of quavers with some triplets rhythms in the instrumental section

• syncopation EVERYWHERE

Tonality?

• mostly major

• versus (+instrumental) are in B major

• Chorus’ are in A major

• Intro, links, and outro are in A major

Structure?

• verse-chorus structure

• links (with riffs)

• instrumental section

Melody?

• mostly conjunct

• wide vocal range (less than 2 octaves)

• instrumental solo includes pentatonic scale

• (almost all) vocal entries avoid beat 1 of the bar

• lyrics are mostly syllabic, but often melismatic at the ends of phrase

Harmony?

• diatonic throughout

• opening 3 chords (A → G#m → C#m) is heard in every section

• great variety of chords used in verses + instrumental

• chorus uses 5 different chords, all in root position

• perfect cadence at the end of the choruses

Intro chords?

A → G#m → C#m

Angry Gorillas Celebrate

Verse 1 chords?

B → D#m → G#m → B/F# → A/E → E/F# → G#m

A → G#m → C#m x3

Big Dinosaurs Gobble Big Fish, Angry Elephants Eat Fruit Gracefully (riff A)

B → D#m → G#m

A → G#m → C#m

Bright Dinosaurs Glow (riff A)

Chorus 1 chords?

F#m → D → A → E x3

Friendly Dogs Adore Eagles

F#m → D → A → C# → E

Funny Dogs Achieve Cool Energy

F#m → E/G#

Forceful Eagles Gallop

Link 1 chords?

A → G#m → C#m x2

Angry Gorillas Celebrate

Verse 2 chords?

B → D#m → G#m → B/F# → A/E → E/F# → G#m

A → G#m → C#m x2

Big Dinosaurs Gobble Big Fish, Angry Elephants Eat Fruit Gracefully (riff A)

B → D#m → G#m

A → G#m → C#m

Bright Dinosaurs Glow (riff A)

Chorus 2 chords? (same as c1)

F#m → D → A → E x3

Friendly Dogs Adore Eagles

F#m → D → A → C# → E

Funny Dogs Achieve Cool Energy

F#m → E/G#

Forceful Eagles Gallop

Link 2 chords?

A → G#m → C#m x2

Angry Gorillas Celebrate

Instrumental chords?

B → D#m → G#m → B/F# → A/E → E/F# → G#m

A → G#m → C#m

Big Dinosaurs Gobble Big Fish, Angry Elephants Eat Fruit Gracefully (riff A)

B → D#m → G#m

A → G#m → C#m

Bright Dinosaurs Glow (riff A)

Chorus 3 chords? (same as c1)

F#m → D → A → E x3

Friendly Dogs Adore Eagles

F#m → D → A → C# → E

Funny Dogs Achieve Cool Energy

F#m → E/G#

Forceful Eagles Gallop

Outro chords?

A → G#m → C#m (continuous repeat)

Angry Gorillas Celebrate