Is Adele's latest single microtonal? | Q+A

Summary by Krater

Adam Neely analyzes Adele's use of pitch as an expressive device in "Easy On Me," examining how singing sharply on certain notes creates a feeling of human vulnerability rather than sounding like a technical flaw.

From the video

Answers: Is the chorus melody of Adele's 'Easy On Me' microtonal?

• Pitch correction in modern pop music
• Expressive use of sharp notes in vocals
• Chord progressions and root harmony analysis
• EQ adjustments for keyboard and bass frequencies
• Music theory metaphors of brightness and darkness

What it concludes

• Adele uses pitch as an expressive device rather than adhering strictly to pitch-corrected tuning in "Easy On Me."
• Keyboard players should cut low frequencies between 200 and 300 Hz to prevent muddying the mix with bass players.
• The English language uses spatial metaphors to describe musical pitch, and tactile metaphors to describe tuning such as sharp and flat.
• A triad played with notes in different octaves is a spread triad, which sounds broader and more glorious than a close triad.
• Streaming services like Nebula offer a creator-owned alternative to YouTube that is not beholden to major music labels.