music
sound organized in time
frequency
in acoustics, the speed or rate of the vibrations in a sound production
timbre
quality of sound
pitch
quality of highness or lowness of sounds
interval
the difference or distance between any two pitches
dynamics
the volume of sound
scale
pool of pitches available for the making of music
diatonic scale
the set of 7 pitches originally used in western music, made up of an arrangement of whole and half steps
octave
when the first 7 pitches of a scale is repeated at a higher level
Chromatic Scale
a later expansion of the diatonic scale where 5 more pitches were added between certain of the 7 members of the diatonic scale, making it 12 tones
half step
the smallest interval
whole step
the interval equivalent to two half steps
rhythm
the aspect of music having to do with the duration of notes in time
beat
the pulse underlying most music
accent
the stressing of a note
meter
recurring pattern of strong and weak beats
measure
the unit of meter consisting of a principal strong beat and one or more weaker ones
bar lines
measures are indicated by these vertical lines
duple meter
meter in which beats are grouped in twos
triple meter
meter in which beats are grouped in threes
quadruple meter
meter in which beats are grouped in fours
compound meter
in simple meter beats are divided into two, four, subsidiary beats. in compound meter beats divide into 3 parts.
syncopation
the accenting of certain beats of the meter that are ordinarily unaccented
tempo
the speed of music
accelerando
getting faster
ritardando
slowing down
rubato
free rhythm made by stretching beats
melody
a coherent succession of pitches played or sung in a certain rhythm
tune
a simple, easily singable melody
phrase
a section of melody or tune
sequence
musical building blocks
climax
in a melody or tune, a distinct high point
cadence
the notes or chords ending a section of music with a feeling of end.
motives
a short fragment of melody or rhythm used in constructing a long section of music
theme
the basic subject of a piece of music
texture
the blend of the various sounds and melodic lines occurring simultaneously ina piece of music
homophony
one melody, with chords to add depth
counterpoint
the technique of writing melodies so that they fit together in a satisfactory way
imitative polyphony
this occurs when the lines sounding together use the same or similar melodies at staggered time intervals
harmonize
to provide each note of a melody with a chord
harmony
having to do with chords
consonance
intervals or chords that sound relatively stable and free of tension
dissonance
intervals or chords that sound relatively tense and unstable
resolve
to process form a dissonant harmony to consonance
tonality
the feeling of centrality of one note to a passage of tonal music.
modality
the different ways of organizing the diatonic scale.
major mode
the diatonic scale with the tonic pitch C
minor mode
the diatonic scale with the tonic pitch A
Keys
one of the various positions for the major and minor mode scales
modulation
changing key within a piece of music