Queensryche Lesson Options

[kevvyg]

Hi, just wanted to ask about the Queensryche lesson, which is brilliant, by the way!!
I recently posted a general question about what makes certain bands sound unique, and on that sort of track, could you tell me what gives Queensryche that distinctive, 'dramatic', but 'meloncholy' feel?. All of their songs have it, even the more optimistic ones, i.e. 'Best I Can' from 'Empire'. I know the subject matter is usually a little dark, as in 'Operation Mindcrime' (which is a masterpiece, in my humble opinion), and the music definitely has that 'feeling' of depression, but the riffs are quite 'upbeat' at the same time. It's like listening to the character's depressing story, but not feeing particularly depressed whilst you're doing it, if that makes sense...
Do they use minor scales to achieve this, or do they have something modal going on (could get into trouble here, as minor scales are 'modal'), or maybe a set of chord sequences with a particular quality that they make frequent use of?
Thanks!!

KG

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Hi! Well.. I think that it's a combination of all those things that you are saynig. They use mostly minor scales and tonalities in their songs. This tonalities has a "sader", "darker" "more melancholic" sound than the major scales. The chord progressions that they use are similar than the ones used by Iron Maiden in their epic/dramatic songs like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner or Alexander the great (for example).
The voice of Geof Tate is one of the most "dramatic" voices that I heard in Heavy Metal so for me this is the most important characteristic to that distinctive, 'dramatic', but 'meloncholy' feel.
Finally the addition of keyboards and orquestrations also sums to the style of Queensryche.

There isn't a deep music theory behid their music, so I suggest you to learn many of their songs (as I did) and study the order they use the chords in their compositions.

Gabriel.

[kevvyg]

Hi! Well.. I think that it's a combination of all those things that you are saynig. They use mostly minor scales and tonalities in their songs. This tonalities has a "sader", "darker" "more melancholic" sound than the major scales. The chord progressions that they use are similar than the ones used by Iron Maiden in their epic/dramatic songs like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner or Alexander the great (for example).
The voice of Geof Tate is one of the most "dramatic" voices that I heard in Heavy Metal so for me this is the most important characteristic to that distinctive, 'dramatic', but 'meloncholy' feel.
Finally the addition of keyboards and orquestrations also sums to the style of Queensryche.

There isn't a deep music theory behid their music, so I suggest you to learn many of their songs (as I did) and study the order they use the chords in their compositions.

Gabriel.

Thanks Gabriel.
Your lesson has certainly made me dig out my Queensryche CDs again!
I recently got hold of Operation Mindcrime 2, featuring Dio.
It's ok I think, but not a patch on MC1.
More Queensryche lessons please!!!!!!

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Thanks Gabriel.
Your lesson has certainly made me dig out my Queensryche CDs again!
I recently got hold of Operation Mindcrime 2, featuring Dio.
It's ok I think, but not a patch on MC1.
More Queensryche lessons please!!!!!!

Great! By the moment check my Iron Maiden lessons. Maiden is another band that influenced Queensryche very much.
Have you listened to Fates Warning? Maybe you'll like albums like Parallels and Inside Out.

gabriel.

[kevvyg]

Great! By the moment check my Iron Maiden lessons. Maiden is another band that influenced Queensryche very much.
Have you listened to Fates Warning? Maybe you'll like albums like Parallels and Inside Out.

gabriel.

I'll give Fates Warning a listen!

Thanks!

[Gabriel Leopardi]

I'll give Fates Warning a listen!

Thanks!

Cool. It's not the same but maybe you like them too. Queensryche and Fates Warning are like some of the pioners in the Progressive Metal style... and a great influence for Dream Theater for example.