If you are a big fan of movies, or you have watched a film or two, then you may have some experience with soundtracks. Note that not all films have soundtracks, though. While it is not compulsory, why do films still have music? Well, you will get the answer to the question as you read on.
One of the most famous soundtracks of all times is Once Upon a Time in The West, composed by Ennio Morricone. The soundtrack was released in 1972 and has sold over 10 million copies. The track was used for filming Once Upon a Time in The West, which was directed by Sergio Leone. The exciting thing is that each character of the film had a particular musical phrase from the track.
The soundtrack was composed before the shooting of the film started and was used backstage by the actors. The track is still receiving attention in the contemporary culture. For instance, Black Light Orchestra, which is a Canadian disco band, has released several versions of it. Also, music enthusiasts are using platforms like chordify.net to learn how to play the soundtrack on guitar.
The critical question is, what impact does the music have on the film Once Upon a Time in The West?
1. Gives the film personality
One of the essential roles that soundtracks play in films is giving them personality. Remember that Once Upon a Time in The West has been used as a leitmotif. This is a musical phrase that is associated with a character, idea, or even place. It goes a long way in binding ideas and bringing attention to an already existing story. It helps the viewers relate with the character, and also helps the composer help the character stand out.
The idea of the soundtrack is to bring about a distinction in the events taking place in the film.
2. Makes the film likable
Soundtracks set the right tone and mood for a movie. You can attest to the fact that the soundtrack of film you have watched have made you develop a soft spot for the movie. This is the same effect that this music has had on the plot of the film. Just by playing the music, the view can predict the atmosphere and drama to expect. The atmosphere created by the film music makes it more likable.
3. Makes the movie recognizable and memorable
Of all the movies you have watched, how many can you remember effortlessly? Not so many. Well, if you look deeper into this, you will realize that apart from the plot or characters, noting else makes the film memorable. That is where music comes in. People are more likely to remember films with soundtracks than those that don’t.
This is one of the effects that this music has had on films. It helps in portraying the emotions of the characters, cultural and geographical referencing, and time periods. This is mainly what will make the film memorable.
4. Help with the creation of flow
With music in a movie, connecting scenes will be an effortless task. The leitmotifs used in Once Upon a Time in The West help in creating smooth transitions from one character to another. When the film is changing from a protagonist scene to an antagonist scene, the music helps in making the transition seamless. This creates some level of comfort in the transformations taking place in the film.
Can you play Once Upon a Time in The West along with a guitar?
Being in the list of the most famous soundtracks of all time, you may have some interest in playing the music on an instrument. Playing Once Upon a Time in The West on guitar can be a fantastic experience. If you are not well versed with the instrument, you can learn with the help of an online instructor. Understanding the chords used in playing Once Upon a Time in The West on the guitar will go a long way. The primary chords used for this music are the A, D, Bm, and Gm chord.
A chord
Playing the A chord is pretty simple, even for beginners. To play this chord, start by compressing your fingers together to form one block, then can move singly. Using the compressed fingers make movement on the fretboard, with your fingertips at 90 degrees on it. While playing the A chord, only play with the strings 1-5. Do not go past that.
D chord
D chord is also easy to learn. First of all, note that to get the D chord, you should start with the second fret on the guitar. Your index finger should be on the 3rd string of the 2nd fret. The ring finger should be on the 2nd string of the 3rd fret and the middle finger on the 1st string of the 2nd fret. Once your fingers are in position, you can strum the strings.
Bm chord
The Bm chord is also pretty simple. All you need to do is ensure that your fingers are in the right place. The chord can be played on three strings, and you should start by placing the index finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st E string. The middle finger should be positioned on the 3rd fret of the 2nd B string. The third finger should be on the 4th fret of the 3rd G string.
Gm chord
The easiest version of playing the Gm chord is by placing your first finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string. The second finger should be on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string and the third finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string. You can then strum the strings.
Once you learn the basics and especially on the chords used in playing Once Upon a Time in The West, things will be easier for you. You only need to get an excellent instructor, and you will boast being an instrumentalist for one of the most popular soundtracks in the industry.
