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Definition
The sequential arrangement of the notes of the scale into a coherent pattern.
(The primary/lead/front-line notes played, not part of the background/rhythm section). |
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| Texture arises out of the sum total of all the different sounds you hear - the number and kind of instruments playing and the manner in which they are being played. |
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| Three or more notes being played simultaneously as one. Chords are the basic unit of harmony. |
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A steady pulse (like a heartbeat) in music.
Also could refer to, a single instance of rhythm. |
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The experience of music through time (vague much?).
Paraphrased definition: The flow of music, its characteristics, and its patterns as time passes.
Alternative definition (to help better get a grasp on what rhythm is): the pattern of regular or irregular pulses caused in music by the occurrence of strong and weak melodic and harmonic beats. |
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| The speed of the music's beat, ordinarily ranging from forty to two-hundred beats per minute. |
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The organization of music into regular groups of beats representing strong and weak pulses.
A group of beats.
Duple Meter is when music alternates between two types of pulses; strong and weak (such as ONE!-two, ONE!-two). Or, in one common form of duple meter, music features four pulses with the first and pulse receiving the strongest accent and third pulse receiving a strong pulse than that of two and four (i.e. - ONE!-two-THREE-four).
Triple meter is when two weak pulses separate a single strong pulse (i.e. ONE-two-three).
Most music has meter. |
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| Bar (also called a Measure) |
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| Single instance of the meter. |
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Defined by the way in which larger sections of music are organized.
For example: 32-bar AABA form has four sections: A, A, B, and A. Each section is 8 of the 32 total bars. The A sections are musically similar or identical, while the B section is performed differently. |
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| Comprised of a large set of measures and can be divided further into smaller sets/groups of measures called phrases. |
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| A small set of measures/bars that often correlates to a complete single line of music on a page. |
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Notes or chords played at the end of a section or phrase which are played with the intention of instilling a feeling of closure for that section or phrase.
Also can refer to a common closing chord progression. |
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| The very beginning of a piece of music which sets up an entrance into the melody and first section. |
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| Presents the melody in four sections labelled A,A,B, and A; each section is eight bars long, totaling 32 bars. |
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| Describes the A section or principal melody of a song. |
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| Describes the B-section of a song (as opposed to the Head or A-section of a song). |
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Prime
(Represented on music sheets by the ' character.) |
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Definition
Is added to a section's letter and indicates that the repeated section will be modified in its form.
For example: in 32-bar AABA form, if it is written as AA'BA"; this indicates that the first repeating of the A section (represented by A') is modified in some way and the second repeating of section A (represented by A") indicates that it will be repeated in yet another separate modified way. |
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A performance group mode up of piano, bass, and drums.
An alternative is piano, bass, and guitar. |
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Is what defines a chord, generally a group of three or four notes played simultaneously.
Additional Definition: The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect. |
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| Improvisation (also called an Improvised Solo) |
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| A performance technique in which the improviser/soloist spontaneously creates a melody that fits the form and harmony of the piece. |
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