Bell effect
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bell Effect, also known colloquially as "bells", is a technique used in musical arrangement where single notes of a chord are played in sequence by different instruments 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".
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. The bell effect is also claimed as an influence by Brian May of the rock band Queen, especially on the famous solo to "Killer Queen," 1:48-1:52. A better example, specifically imitative of trad jazz, is "Good Company" from the album A Night at the Opera.
Freddie Mercury, another Queen member (vocalist, pianist and chief songwriter) used this kind of effect with some frequence in his songs as well, including "The March Of The Black Queen" (written and recorded in 1973, released in 1974), "Bring Back That Leroy Brown" (1974), "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) and "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy" (1976).
