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Music Elements
Testing your knowledge of music elements and concepts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| accompaniment | musical ideas/layers which provide rhythmic and/or harmonic support for main or subsequent subjects/themes |
| contrast | creating change by adding new ideas, patterns or musical elements |
| development | the transformation and restatement of initial musical ideas, repeated in different contexts or in altered forms |
| subject/theme | a recognisable melody, upon which part or all of a composition is based |
| transition | shift from one musical idea or section to another |
| unity | maintaining consistency by repeating similar ideas, creating a sense of cohesion and structure |
| variation | changes to established musical patterns when heard again |
| riff | a short, memorable tune or musical idea that continues or appears regularly in a piece of music while other parts change or are added (similar to ostinato, but used mainly when discussing non-classical pieces) |
| ostinato | a musical phrase or rhythm that is repeated many times in the course of a longer piece (similar to riff, but used mainly when discussing classical pieces) |
| orchestration | the arrangement of a piece of music to be played by an orchestra with care given to the qualities and blending potential of various instruments |
| rhythmic accompaniment | a rhythmic idea that supports a melody or theme |
| pedal point | a single low note that is held and stays the same while the music changes above it |
| harmonisation | the act of adding harmonies to a tune or melody |
| alberti bass | repeated accompaniment figure common in 18th-century keyboard music that usually consists of the notes of a triad played in steady eighth/quavers or sixteenth notes/semiquavers in the order lowest-highest-middle-highest |
| modulation | the change from one key to another |
| augmentation | augmentation is the lengthening of the time values of the notes of a melody |
| cross rhythm | the effect produced when two conflicting rhythms are heard together |
| poly-rhythm | when two or more rhythms with different pulses are heard together, e.g., where one is playing in triple time and another is playing in quadruple time - three against four |
| inversion | combining the same group of notes in a different order from the bottom to the top |
| arpeggiator (music technology) | a common synthesizer feature that plays an arpeggio when you press down a chord |
| similar motion | when more than one musical line moves in the same (or “similar”) direction—both up (by step or leap) or both down (by step or leap); similar motion is also called “direct” motion |
| word painting | |
| chordal extension | notes that are added beyond the basic triad, e.g., 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th |
| duration | the relative lengths of sounds and silences in music |
| expressive devices | ways of influencing mood and character of music |
| contrary motion | when the two musical lines move in opposite direction to each other by step or leap |
| pitch | the relative frequency of sound: • melody • harmony • tonality |
| melody | the horizontal arrangement of sound |
| texture | the density of sound |
| monophony | a texture comprising a single musical line |
| timbre | characteristic quality of sound sources, or tone colour |
| melodic shape and contour | the overall shape or trajectory of a melody as it moves through different pitches over time |
| consonance | when two or more tones complement each other to produce a sound that is pleasant to the ear |
| structure | the form and design of music |
| diminution | diminution is the shortening of the time values of the notes of a melody |
| arpeggio | when the notes of a chord are performed one after the other instead of all at the same time |
| dissonance | dissonance is when two or more tones clash and create a harsh, unpleasant sound |
| countermelody | a secondary melody that is sounded simultaneously with the principal one |
| cadence | a chord progression of at least two chords that ends a phrase or section of a piece of music |
| phrase | a musical idea that is typically four measures long and ends with a cadence that can be strong or weak |
| range | the distance between the highest and lowest notes of an instrument or voice |
| register | the specific parts of the range of an instrument or voice (e.g., upper register) |
| intonation | the accuracy of pitch and tuning, ensuring that the notes or harmonies played or sung match the desired pitch |
| motif | a short musical idea that is repeated throughout a song or composition and has a distinct identity |
| sampling (music technology) | sampling is the reuse of a portion (or sample) of a sound recording in another recording |
| filters (music technology) | control the audible harmonics of whatever signal it's applied to thus changing the timbre of the sound |
| vocoder (music technology) | an audio effect that lets you impose the dynamics and changing spectral content of one sound (the modulator) onto another (the carrier) |
| compression (music technology) | a music production tool used to control the dynamic range of a sound: to decrease the difference in volume between its loudest and softest parts |
| low-frequency oscillation (music technology) | an oscillator that vibrates at a frequency too low for human hearing, the signal of which can be used to modulate other sounds |
| homophony | a musical texture of several parts in which one melody predominates; the other parts may be either simple chords or a more elaborate accompaniment pattern |
| polyphony | a musical texture n which several different melodic lines are played or sung at the same time |
| heterophony | a musical texture involving the simultaneous performance of different versions of the same melody by different voices or instruments |
| homorhythm | a type of homophonic texture in which all voices move in an extremely similar or completely unison rhythm |
| dynamics | the variation in loudness between notes or phrases |
| contrast | the difference between parts of musical work |
| articulation | refers to the many different ways that notes can be played on an instrument; they can be given different lengths, volumes, styles of attack, and cut-offs, e.g., staccato, tenuto, marcato, etc. |
| tremolo | a music performance technique in which a performer plays an individual note or two alternating notes as fast as possible |
| mute | a device brass players use to lower the volume and/or alter the timbre (tonal quality) of the instrument |
| harmonic | used on string instruments and wind instruments as a way of producing sound on the instrument, particularly to play higher notes and, with strings, obtain notes that have a unique sound quality or "tone colour/timbre" |
| flutter tongue | a wind instrument tonguing technique in which performers flutter their tongue to make a characteristic "FrrrrrFrrrrr" sound |
| diatonic | a seven-note scale with a regular pattern of 5 whole and 2 half steps; diatonic intervals are found within this type of scale |
| chromatic | using pitches outside of a particular diatonic scale, or using a succession of half steps |
| bitonality | the simultaneous use of two key area |
| polytonality | the simultaneous use of two or more key areas |
| canon | one melody is strictly imitated by a second part after a delay in the entrance of the second part |
| call and response | a compositional technique, often a succession of two distinct phrases that works like a conversation in music |
| fragmentation | musical ideas that are broken up into smaller fragments and scattered throughout a composition |
| repetition | when sounds or sequences are used more than once during a piece |
| variation | a technique where material is repeated in an altered form |
| oblique motion | when one musical line stays the same while another moves up or down by step or leap |
| parallel motion | a specific type of similar motion that occurs when parts move in the same direction by the same interval |
| metre | the arrangement of its rhythms in a repetitive pattern of strong and weak beats |
| accent | an emphasis, stress, or stronger attack placed on a particular note or set of notes, or chord, either as a result of its context or specifically indicated by an accent mark |
| tempo | the speed or pacing of a piece of music |
| rhythm | the placement of sounds in time |
| pulse | a musical piece's either audible or implied series of uniformly spaced beats |
| beat | the unit we use to measure time in music |
| voice leading | the way that individual parts in a musical composition move, or “lead,” between different pitches and chords |
| risers | a type of sound effect that gradually increases in volume and pitch over a short period of time; they are typically used to create tension |
| breakdowns | a section where the kick/main bass are muted and the song goes back to being generally melody/chords led |
| sequence | where a passage of music is repeated at a higher or lower level of pitch |
| imitation | composing device where a melody is played/sung and then repeated in a different voice |
| ornamentation | musical flourishes—typically, added notes—that are not essential to carry the overall line of the melody |
| trill | a musical ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, usually a semitone or tone apart |
| grace note | a brief note which resolves into a main, or principal, note |
| accelerando | gradually getting faster |
| aria | a solo vocal piece, usually found in an opera or oratorio |
| atonal | no clear key is established; can sound dissonant |
| recitative | a moment where a solo voice sings in relatively free rhythm, usually preceding an 'aria' (the main song), and often used to illustrate plot and narrative in opera |
| chord | the sounding of two or more notes at the same time |
| concerto | a piece of instrumental music for soloist contrasted by an ensemble (either a small group of musicians or a full orchestra) |
| crescendo | a dynamic instruction meaning to gradually play louder |
| diminuendo or decrescendo | a dynamic instruction meaning to gradually play quieter |
| espressivo | (Italian: 'expressive') an instruction meaning that a passage should be played with expression, or expressively |
| forte | a dynamic instruction meaning the music should be played loudly |
| fugue | a form in which the composition is contrapuntal; a theme introduces the piece, which is then repeated at different pitches throughout the composition, set in counterpoint to other musical lines within the texture |
| glissando (gliss.) | From the French 'glisser', meaning to slide. An instruction to slide between a group of notes. On the piano, for example, the performer runs a finger down or up the keyboard. |
| legato | an instruction indicating that a sequence of notes should be played smoothly, or joined up, as opposed to disconnected |
| leitmotif | A short, recurring musical phrase, usually associated with a character, idea, event or object. This is the musical equivalent of branding. |
| octave | the interval of an eight, e.g.,: from the notes C3 to C4 or D3 to D4. |
| pizzicato (pizz.) | a direction to string instrument performers to pluck the strings, rather than using the bow to create sound |
| arco | a direction to string instrument performers to bow the strings (indication only used after a pizz. section) |
| poco a poco | a term that can preface and instruction meaning to follow it 'little by little', e.g., getting louder gradually, little by little |
| ritardando (rit.) Ritenuto (Italian: 'held back') An instruction to slow down. | (Italian: 'becoming slower') often abbreviated as 'rit.', is an instruction to gradually play slower |
| ritenuto | (Italian: 'held back') an instruction to slow down |
| rondo | a form with a recurring theme (e.g., ABACAD etc.) usually used as the final movement of a sonata or concerto. |
| rubato | an instruction to play with freedom; allows performers to deviate from strict tempo regularity, and can enhance expressive playing |
| sforzando (sf) | play with sudden and marked emphasis |
| soprano | the highest female voice |
| mezzo-soprano | a female voice range that is lower than the soprano |
| tenor | a male singing voice between baritone and countertenor; the highest of the ordinary adult male range |
| baritone | male singing voice in the middle range |
| bass | a type of classical male singing voice and has the lowest vocal range of all voice types |
| symphony | a large scale orchestral work, usually in four movements |
| unison | the sounding of the same note by two or more musicians or singers at the same time |
| vibrato | an expressive technique where a voice or instrument alternates subtly and very quickly between two pitches that are very close together |
| a cappella | without instrumental accompaniment |
| Baroque period | a musical period from 1600-1750, characterized by complex counterpoint and elaborate ornamentation; often has highly stylized forms and ornate arrangements |
| BPM | beats per minute; a measure of tempo |
| broken chord | a type of chordal accompaniment where the notes of the chord are played one at a time, rather than all together. |
| Classical period | ranging from 1730 to 1820 this era it maintained many styles of the previous tradition but placed new emphasis on elegance and simplicity |
| hook | a catchy musical phrase that is easy to remember |
| improvise | to make up music spontaneously |
| sequence | a musical technique in which a melodic or harmonic pattern is repeated at a higher or lower pitch |
| tritone | an interval of an augmented 4th or diminished 5th; three whole steps |
| an era of music roughly between the years of 1820 and 1900; compared to the previous period, this music favors drama, spirituality, self expression and a connection with nature | |
| woodwinds | a family of musical instruments made of wood or metal with a reed or mouthpiece, such as the flute, clarinet, and saxophone |
| brass | a family of musical instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, and tuba that use a mouthpiece that the player buzzes through |
| strings | the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass |
| percussion | a large family of instruments that are hit, shaken, or scraped |
Created by:
tcoelho
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