Four Basic Properties of Sound
Pitch, Dynamics, Tone Color, Duration
Pitch
How high or low the the sound
Dynamics
How loud or soft the sound
Tone Color
Quality of sound
Duration
The length of sound
Definite Pitch
Musical tones that have regular predictable pulses (singable)
Indefinite Pitch
Noise-like sounds have irregular, unpredictable pulses (not singable)
Four pitch labels in order (highest to lowest)
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Dynamic labels in order (softest to loudest)
Pianissimo, Piano, Mezzo Piano, Mezzo Forte, Forte, Fortissimo
Crescendo
Gradually get louder
Decrescendo
Gradually get softer
Accent
emphasize a note by playing it louder
Woodwinds
Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon
Brass
Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba
Strings
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp
Percussion
Snare Drum, Timpani, Bass Drum, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Chimes, Cymbals, Tambourine, Tam-Tam
Whole Note carries…
4 notes
Half Note carries…
2 beats
Quarter Note carries…
1 Beat
Eighth Note carries…
1/2 Beat
Sixteenth Note carries…
1/4 Beat
Rhythm
Combination of long and short notes
Key
One central pitch of a piece that all the pitches gravitate towards
Interval
The distance between the notes
Scale
A series of eight pitches arranged in a pattern of half and whole steps
Whole Step
Two half steps
Major Scale
Eight consecutive pitches with half steps between 3 & 4 and 7 & 8
Minor Scale
Eight consecutive pitches with half steps between 2 & 3 and 5 & 6
Tonic
First degree of the scale
Dominant
Fifth degree of the scale
Staff
Five lines with four spaces which notes are written on
Treble Clef (g clef)
Higher pitches
Bass Clef (f clef)
Lower pitches
Sharp
Raises the note one half step
Half Step
From one note to the very next
Flat
Lowers the note one half step
Natural
Cancels the sharp or flat
Key Signature
Groups of flats or sharps placed at the beginning of the staff
Key Signature indicates…
1) Notes to be altered
2) Key or tonality of the piece or section
Tempo Markings (from slowest to fastest)
Largo, Adagio, Andante, Moderato, Allegro, Vivace
Largo
Very Slow
Adagio
Slow, leisurely
Andante
Slow to walking pace
Moderato
Moderate
Allegro
Fast or lively
Vivace
Very Fast
Accelerando
Gradually increase speed
Ritardando
Gradually decrease speed
Melody
Tune or series of single notes that add up to a recognizable whole
Legato
Notes that are smoothly connected
Staccato
Notes that are short and detached
Theme
Main melody
Motive
Short, musical idea of at least 2 notes, repeating fragment of the main melody
Harmony
The accompaniment of melody
Chord
Group of 3 or more notes sounding together
Rests
Symbols to indicate silence
Triplet
3 notes grouped together usually in one beat
Time Signature
Sign used to show how many pulses or beats per measure
Measure
Group containing a fixed number of beats between 2 lines
Duple Meter
2 beats per measure (S-W)
Triple Meter
3 beats per measure (S-W-W)
Quadruple Meter
4 beats per measure (S-W-S-W)
Sextuple Meter
6 beats per measure (S-W-W-S-W-W)
Tempo
Speed of the beat
Consonance
Stable and relaxed combination of notes
(3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th)
Dissonance
Tense and unstable combination of notes
(2nd, 4th, 7th)
Resolution
When a dissonance moves to a consonance
Phrase
Musical sentence containing melodies
Cadence
Stopping place at the end of phrases, like pauses
Incomplete Cadence
Sounds like a question mark or inconclusive
Complete Cadence
Sounds like periods, conclusive
Texture
Layers of sound (thick or thin)
Monophonic
Only one unaccompanied melodic line
Homophonic
2 lines with one melody with accompaniment
Polyphonic
Two or more melodies being sung or played together
Types of Textures…
Monophonic, Homophonic, Polyphonic
Pizzicato
Plucked string
Arco
When a bow is used