• Sue Goodrich

• Music 1040

Ed Sheeran
 Singer &
Songwriter
Introduction Guitarist
for
Ed Sheeran

Record
Producer
 Personal
Biography
• Edward Christopher
Sheeran
• Born February 17, 1991
• Yorkshire, England, UK
• Released his first album at
age 15.
 Biography of
Ed Sheeran

• 2011 – Plus (+) released:

September 9
• Atlantic Label
• Reached #5 on US charts
• 5.2 million copies sold
worldwide
 Biography of
Ed Sheeran

• 2014 – Multiply (X) released:

June 20
• Atlantic Label
• Reached #1 on US charts
• 8.8 million copies sold
worldwide
 Biography of
Ed Sheeran

• released
• 2017 – Divide (÷) released:
March 3
• Atlantic Label
• Reached #1 on US charts
• 6.1 million copies sold
worldwide
 Biography of
Ed Sheeran

• 2019 – No. 6 Collaborations

Project releases: July 12
• Atlantic Label
• Reached #1 on US charts
• 5.2 million copies sold
worldwide
 DAMIEN RICE BOB DYLAN
Early
Influences

NIZLPOI EMINEM
 • E minor
• Tempo medium bright
/ 166 BPM
• Guitar & Vocals
• 3/4 simple triple meter

Listening Guide –
Masters of War
 0:00 Introduction The song begins with a strong guitar introduction. Repeated refrain.
Listening Guide – Basic ¾ beat. Acoustic with guitar. Powerful strumming of the guitar
to enforce the message of the song.
Masters of War
0:20 Verse 1 Distinct melody. Emphasis on “planes”. False rhyme on 2nd & 4th
lines.
0.34 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the
verse – “walls” & “desks”. Rhymes ending of second and third lines.

0.48 Verse 2 Same distinct melody. Emphasis on “world”. Rhyme on 2nd & 4th
lines.

1.02 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the
verse – “hand” & “eyes”. Rhymes ending of second and third lines.

1.14 Verse 3 Same distinct melody. Emphasis on “won”. Rhyme on 2nd & 4th
lines.

1.29 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the
verse – “eyes” & “brain”. Rhymes ending of second and third lines.

1.40 Verse 4 Same distinct melody. Emphasis on “watch”. Rhymes 2rd & 4th
lines.

1.52 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the
verse – “mansion” & “blood”. Rhymes ending of second and third
lines.
Listening Guide – 2.04 Verse 5 Same distinct melody. Emphasis on “hurled”. Rhymes 2rd & 4th lines.

Masters of War 2.18 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the verse –
“baby” & “unnamed”. False rhymes ending of second and third lines.
cont.
2.30 Verse 6 Increased emphasis on guitar. Shows power on the lines to come. Back to
same distinct melody. Emphasis on “young”. False rhymes 2rd & 4th lines.

2.45 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the verse –
“know” & “you”. Rhymes ending of second and third lines.
2.58 Verse 7 Increased emphasis on guitar. Shows power on the lines to come. Back to
same distinct melody. Emphasis on “forgiveness”. Rhymes 2rd & 4th lines.

3.12 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the verse –
“find” & “toll”. Rhymes ending of second and third lines. Increased
emphasis on guitar adding power after the message.

3.24 Verse 8 Increased emphasis on guitar. Shows power on the lines to come. Back to
same distinct melody. Emphasis on “casket”. Rhymes 2rd & 4th lines.

3.38 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the end of each line in the verse –
“lowered” & “deathbed”. Rhymes ending of second and third lines.

3.58 End of Song Pause for effect and then final strum of the guitar.
 • A Major
• Tempo fairly-slow / 63
BPM
• Guitar, keyboard,
violin, percussion,
vocals & harmony
vocals
• 12/8 compound
quadruple meter

Listening Guide –
Perfect
Listening Guide - 0:00 Introduction Slight keyboard playing softly in the background

Perfect 0:05 Verse 1 Tempo 12/8 set with strumming of a guitar. Same distinct
melody repeated. Vocal emphasis increased in the last line of the
verse.

0.31 Verse 2 Powerful vocals. Same distinct melody. Finger snapping added
on the 4-beat keeping tempo with the guitar. Rhyme in 2nd & 4th
lines.

1.02 Bridge Emphasis on the beginning, of the first 3 lines, in the bridge
verse. Into of background vocals along with increased strength in
vocals. Addition of violins to accompany the background
harmony.

1.35 Instrumental Bridge Violin solo with guitar accompaniment. Same distinct melody.

1.41 Verse 3 Same distinct melody. Drums added to keep tempo. Drawn out
emphasis on last word in 2nd & 4th lines of verse.

2.10 Verse 4 Same distinct melody. Symbols now added to drums. Drawn out
emphasis on last words in 2nd and 5th lines of verse.

2.40 Bridge Same repeated refrain. Emphasis on the beginning of the first 3
lines of the bridge verse. Increased strength in vocals. Raspy
voice showing increased emotion. Addition emphasis of
background keyboards.
Listening Guide –
Perfect cont. 3.14 Instrumental Acoustic guitar solo. Humming with
Bridge same distinct melody.
3.25 Bridge 2 Repeated refrain
4:00 Bridge 3 Instruments fade out. Only vocals and
guitar are heard.
4.23 Instrumental Violins and guitar fade out.
Bridge
4:19 End of Song
 • B Minor
• Tempo moderately
slow / 76 BPM
• Guitar, piano, violin,
bass guitar, percussion,
& vocals
• 4/4 simple quadruple
meter

Listening Guide –
I See Fire
Listening Guide – I 0:00 Introduction – Verse 1 Raw vocal prelude.

0.31 Tempo 4/4. Acoustic guitar keeping tempo.

See Fire 0.45 Bridge Vocal accompaniment added. Emphasis on “high”.

1.10 Verse 2 Same melody and tempo. Emphasis on “wine” & “sky” in verse.

1.48 Bridge Distinct refrain. Emphasis added to “fire” on 3rd & 4th lines.

2.17 Instrumental Bridge Same distinct tempo. Addition of violin with guitar.

2.27 Verse 3 Same distinct melody and tempo. Piano added. Violin and guitar
continue.

2.58 Bridge Distinct refrain. Emphasis added to “fire” on 3rd & 4th lines. Additional
background harmony.

3.29 Verse 4 Same distinct melody and tempo. Additional vocals added in
accompaniment.

3.55 Bridge Distinct refrain. Increased power and volume in vocals. Emphasis
added to “fire” on 3rd & 4th lines Same tempo, but increased guitar
volume. Building toward finale.

4.21 Bridge 2 Distinct additional refrain. “Fire” called out repeatedly in background
vocal lyrics.

4.45 End of Song

 Bibliography &
References
• All Music. n.d. web. 29 November 2019.
<https://www.allmusic.com/album/--mw0002187052/releases>.
• Biography.com editors. Ed Sheeran Biography. 9 September 2019.
web. 30 November 2019.
<https://www.biography.com/musician/ed-sheeran>.
• ChartMasters. n.d. 30 November 2019.
<https://chartmasters.org/2019/10/ed-sheeran-albums-and-songs-
sales-2/>.
• Google . n.d. 5 December 2019.
<https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=RBXuXaHsNY
a8sAWtzanACw&q=photo+ed+sheeran+perfect&oq=photo+ed+shee
ran+perfect&gs_l=img.3..0i8i30.62319.65815..66601...0.0..0.133.183
4.12j7......0....1..gws-wiz-
img.......0i30.U_kQCZ0ia3M&ved=0ahUKEwihnqngoajm>.
• K, Liduya. Ed Sheeran. 9 January 2018. web. 30 Novemver 2019.
<ttps://www.goalcast.com/2018/01/09/ed-sheeran-life-story-2/>.
• Music Notes. n.d. Web. 1 December 2019.
<https://www.musicnotes.com/search/go?w=perfect+ed+sheeran&f
rom=header>.
• Spotify. n.d. 7 December 2019. <https://www.spotify.com/us/>.