Difference between revisions of "Team Fortress 2 (Main Theme) (Soundtrack)"
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==Analysis== | ==Analysis== | ||
− | '''Key:''' E | + | '''Key:''' E Minor <br> |
'''Time Signature:''' 4/4 <br> | '''Time Signature:''' 4/4 <br> | ||
'''Tempo:''' 130 BPM <br> | '''Tempo:''' 130 BPM <br> | ||
Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
'''Update:''' Base Game <br> | '''Update:''' Base Game <br> | ||
'''Composer:''' Mike Morasky <br> | '''Composer:''' Mike Morasky <br> | ||
+ | '''Instrumentation:''' 4 trumpets, 3 trombones (2 tenors, 1 bass), organ, 2 electric guitars, electric bass, drumset, 2 percussion | ||
− | The | + | The Team Fortress 2 Main Theme is in the key of E minor, with the overall modality being most similar to the E minor [[w:blues scale|blues scale]] (E, G, A, Bb, B, and D), though often emphasizing D#. Stylistically, it borrows several elements from rock music such as the drum beat, the use of the blues scale, and the instrumentation. In addition to the standard rock instruments like guitar, bass, drums, and often keyboard, there is a section of brass players. Several parts of the main theme, like the use of chromaticism, the descending blues scale, and the bassline. are used as [[w:leitmotif|leitmotifs]] throughout the soundtrack, as well as in certain sound cues. |
− | + | There is little progression or development for the main motifs, aside from short build ups, and the compositional content is fairly simple, with most instruments playing identical or similar parts. For example, trombone 1 and trumpet 1, 3 and 4 all play the main horn line, percussion and trombone 2 and 3 play notes to accent the bassline, and electric guitar 1 and electric bass both play the bassline. Guitar 1, organ, and trumpet 2 are unique parts, however, in that they all play short solos between major sections or otherwise play parts different from the rest of the ensemble. For example, trumpet 2 is notated in the official sheet music as a "screech part," a term used often for parts or players which primarily play much higher than others. This style of playing the trumpet is used often in [[w:jazz band|jazz bands]], marching bands, and [[w:Drum_and_bugle_corps_(modern)|Drum Corps]] for the purpose of "screeching" above the rest of a band. That style of trumpet playing, as well as the mixture of electric and brass instruments, produces a sound reminiscent of jazz, which much of Team Fortress 2's musical identity is centered around. | |
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== |
Revision as of 02:03, 23 December 2022
"Team Fortress 2" is one of the song titles featured on the official Team Fortress 2 Soundtrack, listed as track number one, as well as being track two on The Orange Box Original Soundtrack. Known as the 'theme tune' of the game, it is the song featured in the Meet the Heavy short (with the ending flourish being featured at every Meet the Team video) and Trailer 1, as well as being one of 33 different main menu themes. A blues cover is also included in the soundtrack for Poker Night at the Inventory.
Contents
Video
Here is a alternate version of the song as heard in the Jungle Inferno Update:
Guitar transcription
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The following is an abridged transcription of the song. The bass plays the exact same thing, coming in after the intro.
For best results, play in bridge position. Pick closer to bridge for closer tonality but keep tremolo picking as even as possible.
Main Theme | time = 4/4 130bpm | Standard E-tuning | (c) Mike Morasky / VALVe 2007 E Major with chromatic shifts down to Eb Major Intro Fig. 1 Fig. 2 e ||----------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------| B ||----------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------| G ||----------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------| D ||----------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------| A ||----------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------| E ||--5h-777-5h-777-5h-777-777-7--6--5--3---|--0--0--0--3--3--3--0--0--|--0--7--7--7--5--5--5b6--5b7---| 8th-16th notes 8th notes gradually bend up Tremolo picking with slight gallop slight accent on 2 Intro Alternative |----------------------------------------| |----------------------------------------| |----------------------------------------| |--1h-222-1h-222-1h-222-222-2--1--0------| |------------------------------------3---| Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Fig. 1 Fig. 4 |------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------| |------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------| |------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------| |------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------| |------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------| |--0--0--0--3--3--3--0--0|--0--7--7--7--6--6--5--5---|--0--0--0--3--3--3--0--0--|--0--0--1--1--2--2--3--3---|
Analysis
Key: E Minor
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 130 BPM
Length: 1:13
Release Date: July 19, 2006
Update: Base Game
Composer: Mike Morasky
Instrumentation: 4 trumpets, 3 trombones (2 tenors, 1 bass), organ, 2 electric guitars, electric bass, drumset, 2 percussion
The Team Fortress 2 Main Theme is in the key of E minor, with the overall modality being most similar to the E minor blues scale (E, G, A, Bb, B, and D), though often emphasizing D#. Stylistically, it borrows several elements from rock music such as the drum beat, the use of the blues scale, and the instrumentation. In addition to the standard rock instruments like guitar, bass, drums, and often keyboard, there is a section of brass players. Several parts of the main theme, like the use of chromaticism, the descending blues scale, and the bassline. are used as leitmotifs throughout the soundtrack, as well as in certain sound cues.
There is little progression or development for the main motifs, aside from short build ups, and the compositional content is fairly simple, with most instruments playing identical or similar parts. For example, trombone 1 and trumpet 1, 3 and 4 all play the main horn line, percussion and trombone 2 and 3 play notes to accent the bassline, and electric guitar 1 and electric bass both play the bassline. Guitar 1, organ, and trumpet 2 are unique parts, however, in that they all play short solos between major sections or otherwise play parts different from the rest of the ensemble. For example, trumpet 2 is notated in the official sheet music as a "screech part," a term used often for parts or players which primarily play much higher than others. This style of playing the trumpet is used often in jazz bands, marching bands, and Drum Corps for the purpose of "screeching" above the rest of a band. That style of trumpet playing, as well as the mixture of electric and brass instruments, produces a sound reminiscent of jazz, which much of Team Fortress 2's musical identity is centered around.
Trivia
- One of the defining features of the Team Fortress 2 (Main Theme) is the prominent semitone at the end of every phrase in this song. The direction of this semitone is also the characterizing difference between the domination sound cue, and the revenge sound cue.
- Playing With Danger, Intruder Alert, Drunken Pipe Bomb, and Haunted Fortress 2 are all in the same key as this theme.
- Playing With Danger uses the same guitar melody for both its guitar and horns sections. Intruder Alert and Drunken Pipe Bomb both use similar variations of this part.
- The ending flourish (1:06-1:12) is used in the match winning theme as it is behind the cheering.
- The ending flourish is also used in both Playing With Danger and Rocket Jump Waltz, with the latter shortening it to just the last 5 beats.
- Some similar parts are used in some Casual Mode level ups.
- The 2020 rerelease on Spotify has a typo that makes it 'Tean Fortress 2'