Bell effect
Encyclopedia
The bell effect, also known colloquially as "bells", is a technique used in musical arrangement in which single notes of a chord are played in sequence by separate instruments (could be the same instrument, just multiples) which sustain their individual notes to allow the chord to be heard. It is, in effect, an arpeggio
played by several instruments sequentially. This is also known as a "pyramid" or "cascade". In barbershop music
, it is typically referred to as "bell chords".
The technique originated with jazz
big bands and is a staple of trad jazz
. A good example can be heard in the introduction to "The Charleston" by The Temperance Seven
. A more modern example is "Gronlandic Edit" by the indie-pop band Of Montreal
, where the vocals on the word "forget" overlap to form a chord.
Don Davis
's soundtrack for the Matrix trilogy features prominent use of the bell effect in the brass.
The bell effect was used numerous times by the rock
band Queen
on songs such as "The March Of The Black Queen" (Queen II
), "Bring Back That Leroy Brown" and "Killer Queen" (Sheer Heart Attack
), "Good Company" and "Bohemian Rhapsody
" (A Night at the Opera
) and "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy
" (A Day at the Races
).
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
played by several instruments sequentially. This is also known as a "pyramid" or "cascade". In barbershop music
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
, it is typically referred to as "bell chords".
The technique originated with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
big bands and is a staple of trad jazz
Trad jazz
Trad jazz - short for "traditional jazz" - refers to the Dixieland and Ragtime jazz styles of the early 20th century in contrast to any more modern style....
. A good example can be heard in the introduction to "The Charleston" by The Temperance Seven
The Temperance Seven
The Temperance Seven is a British band specializing in 1920s-style jazz music.- Career :The Temperance Seven were founded at Christmas 1955, although it has been alleged they first "saw the light" in the Pasadena Cocoa Rooms, Balls Pond Road, North London, in 1904...
. A more modern example is "Gronlandic Edit" by the indie-pop band Of Montreal
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
, where the vocals on the word "forget" overlap to form a chord.
Don Davis
Don Davis (composer)
Donald Romain Davis is an American film score composer, conductor, and orchestrator. Best known for his work on The Matrix, he has worked on a variety of films, from horror to comedy.- Early life :...
's soundtrack for the Matrix trilogy features prominent use of the bell effect in the brass.
The bell effect was used numerous times by the rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
on songs such as "The March Of The Black Queen" (Queen II
Queen II
Queen II is the second album by British rock group Queen, released in March 1974. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London in August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Cable, and engineered by Mike Stone....
), "Bring Back That Leroy Brown" and "Killer Queen" (Sheer Heart Attack
Sheer Heart Attack
Sheer Heart Attack is the third album by the British rock group Queen, released in November 1974. It was produced by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker and distributed by EMI in the United Kingdom, and Elektra in the United States....
), "Good Company" and "Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
" (A Night at the Opera
A Night at the Opera (Queen album)
A Night at the Opera is the fourth studio album by the British rock group Queen, released in November 1975. Co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen, A Night at the Opera was, at the time of its release, the most expensive album ever recorded...
) and "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy
Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy
"Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" is the third single , and is the eighth track, from the British rock group Queen's 1976 album A Day at the Races, written by Freddie Mercury...
" (A Day at the Races
A Day at the Races (album)
A Day at the Races is the fifth album by British rock group Queen, released in December 1976. A Day at the Races was the band's first completely self-produced album, and the first not to feature producer Roy Thomas Baker. Recorded at Sarm East, The Manor and Wessex Studios in England, A Day at the...
).