The Rhythmic Beast of Rock
"Money" is one of the most recognizable songs in history, largely due to its iconic opening loop of cash registers and coins. Released on Pink Floyd's seminal 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, it presents a unique challenge for vocalists: the 7/4 time signature.
Unlike standard pop or rock songs written in 4/4 time, "Money" has a "staggered" feel. To sing this effectively, you cannot just focus on pitch; you must lock your internal metronome to Roger Waters' bass riff. You need the grit of a blues singer and the timing of a jazz musician.
AI Coach Tip: Don't Rush
The 7/4 groove has a "laid back" feel. Beginners often rush the vocal entry on "Money, get away." Listen for the snare drum hit and lean back into the rhythm rather than pushing forward.
Phase 1: The Verse (Attitude & Tone)
The song stays in B Minor. The opening line "Money, get away" requires a punchy, cynical delivery. David Gilmour uses a lot of chest resonance here, often adding vocal fry at the beginning of phrases to convey weariness and greed.
The Trap: Singing too cleanly. If you sing this with a pure, operatic tone, it will sound wrong. You need to flatten your vowels slightly and add a "sneer" to your tone to match the lyrical content.
Phase 2: The High Belt ("I'm all right Jack")
As the verse progresses, the melody jumps up. The lines "Don't give me that do goody good..." require a strong chest mix up to F#4 and G4. This is where you need good breath support.
- Resonance: Keep the sound forward in the "mask" (the front of the face) to cut through the mix.
- Vowel Modification: On higher notes, modify "Jack" towards "Jeck" slightly to keep the throat open and prevent straining.
- Grit: Apply safe distortion by compressing the airflow, not by squeezing your throat.
Phase 3: The Structure Change
While the verses are in 7/4, the guitar solo switches to a standard 4/4 time signature to make it easier to rock out. However, the vocals never enter during the 4/4 section. When the vocals return for the final verse, the band snaps back into the tricky 7/4 groove. Be ready for this transition; it catches many singers off guard.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted chest note in the main melody is around G#4. There are ad-libbed falsetto screams that go much higher (up to E5), but these are stylistic embellishments.
The verses are in 7/4 (seven beats per measure), which is very unusual for a hit radio song. The guitar solo switches to 4/4.
Yes, but you will need to work on adding "texture." Try practicing vocal fry in your lower range to get used to the feeling of grit before applying it to the melody.
