Overview
This lesson explains the beat of Queen's "We Will Rock You," focusing on how body percussion creates iconic drum sounds in music production.
Body Percussion in "We Will Rock You"
- The classic beat uses only sounds made by the human body.
- The "kick drum" is created by stomping feet on a wooden floor.
- The hand clap sound is produced by real hand claps.
- No traditional drums or electronic instruments are used for the main rhythm.
Beat Structure and Tempo
- The beat follows a steady, repetitive pattern.
- The song's tempo is 81 beats per minute (bpm).
- The pattern typically repeats in measures, emphasizing the sense of rhythm.
Musical Concepts Highlighted
- Shows how percussion can be made without instruments.
- Demonstrates the use of simple sounds to build a memorable drum track.
- Encourages creativity using readily available sounds in music making.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Body percussion — Creating musical sounds using parts of the human body (e.g., clapping, stomping).
- Kick drum — The lowest drum sound in a beat, here made by stomping feet.
- Tempo — The speed of a song, measured in beats per minute (bpm).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Try recreating the "We Will Rock You" beat using your own stomps and claps.
- Experiment with body percussion to make unique drum patterns.
- Listen to the original recording to analyze how these sounds fit together.