Africa - Toto

What is the key for the into, verses, links, instrumental and outro?

B major

What is the key for the chorus?

A major

What is the chord sequence for the intro?

A (VIInatural) G#m (vi) C#m (ii) C#m (ii) x2

What are the features of the intro? (e.g riffs + instruments)

Riff A - bars 1&2 syncopated chords on keyboard/bass guitar

Riff B - quaver pattern in synthesiser - pentatonic - with cross rhythms

The pentatonic feel of riff b and additional percussion such as marimbas and maracas give african flavour

What is the chord sequence in the verse 1?

B (I) D#m (iii) G#m (vi) B/F# (Ic) A/E (VIIc) E/F# (iv9d) G#m(vi) x3

B (I) D#m (ii) G#m (vi) G#m (vi) Riff A C#m (ii ) C#m (ii)

Give the basic chord sequence in the chorus?

F#m (vi) D (VI) A (I) E (V) x4

F#m (vi) D (VI) A (I) C#m (iii) E (VI) F#m (vi)/ E/G# (Vb)

Describe the features of Verse 1.

Include:

• how many bars?

• harmonic rhythm?

• what the bass plays?

• pitch of the melody?

• description of the melody?

• how line 4 melody is different?

• what do the drums do?

• dynamics

• 9 bar phrase repeated 3 times with different words

• Harmonic rhythm is one chord per bar

• bass plays a dotted rhythm

• melody is fairly low pitched

• melody is syllabic, conjunct and syncopated with short melismas

• in Line 4 the melody moves an octave higher in the fourth bar

• drum fill

• mainly mf

Describe the features of the chorus

Include:

• key

• how many phrases?

• how many notes used in the melody?

• describe the melody?

• how many parts in each line?

• what does it ends with?

• dynamic

• A major

• 4 phrases

• the melody only used 2 notes

• high tessitura, syllabic and syncopated

• phrase 1 - solo, phrase 2 - duet, phrase 3&4 in 3 parts

• ends with a melisma “had”

• forte

State the chord pattern in the links

A (VII) G#m (vi) C#m (ii) C#m (ii)

Describe the link (what riffs)

• riff A

• riff B

What is the structure of Africa?

verse-harmony structure

What is the harmony of Africa?

diatonic harmony

What instruments are used in Africa?

• rock band: keyboard/synthesiser, lead guitar, bass guitar, drum kit with additional percussion (conga, maracas, marimba)

• lead singer

• backing vocals

• flute in verse 2 and flute-like synth in bridge

Describe the features of verse 2

• how many phrases with how many bars?

• what does the final line have?

• what plays a countermelody?

• are there backing vocals and what do they do?

• drums?

• 9 bar phrase repeated twice before the final 8 bar phrase

• final line has slight melodic variation

• a flute-like instrument plays a countermelody

• backing vocals of “oo” added in the 5th bar

• drum fill

State the chord sequence in the instrumental

same as chorus

F#m (vi) D (VI) A (I) E (V) x4

F#m (vi) D (VI) A (I) C#m (iii) E (VI) F#m (vi)/ E/G# (Vb)

Describe the features of the instrumental?

Include:

• how many phrases with how many bars?

• what does the bass play?

• what is the melody like in bars 66-69?

• what is the melody like in bars 70-74?

• what is it harmonised in?

• what is the melody like in bars 75-77

• is there syncopation?

• when do the vocals reenter

• based on verse - one 9 bar phrase and one 8 bar phrase

• bass plays dotted rhythm

• descending melody based on riff b using B pentatonic scale

• ascending and descending using quavers for the E major scale

• harmonised in 3rd and 4th

• ascending melody using B pentatonic

• syncopation

• last bars vocal line re-enters

Give the features of the last chorus

• like chorus 1