Beatles Key Terms

Question 1

Antiphonal

Answer 1

A musical texture where the musical material is sung/played by alternate groups.

Question 2

Automatic Double Tracking (ADT)

Answer 2

Creating a double tracking effect through the use of tape delay. Can now be done digitally.

Question 3

BPM

Answer 3

The number of beats per minute.

Question 4

Bridge

Answer 4

A contrasting section performed before returning to a verse of chorus. Can sometimes be called a middle 8.

Question 5

Celeste

Answer 5

A keyboard like instrument where hammers strike metal plates of different pitch.

Question 6

Concept Album

Answer 6

A studio recording with thematic unity, purpose or artistic cohesiveness.

Question 7

Contrapuntal

Answer 7

A texture where two or more melodic lines are performed at the same time.

Question 8

Call and Response

Answer 8

A musical texture where one musician or group makes a musical statement and it’s then immediately answered by another musician or a group of musicians.

Question 9

Dilruba

Answer 9

A bowed string instrument found throughout the Indian sub-continent.

Question 10

Double Tracking

Answer 10

Recording the same instrument or vocal part twice to achieve a chorus type effect.

Question 11

Drone

Answer 11

A harmonic effect where a single note or chord is sustained throughout a musical phrase. Often appears as a perfect 4th/5th.

Question 12

Harpsichord

Answer 12

A keyboard instrument where the strings are plucked rather than struck.

Question 13

Imperfect Cadence

Answer 13

A cadence that finishes on the dominant (V) that makes an unfinished sound.

Question 14

Inversions

Answer 14

An inverted chord is one where any note from the chord appears as the lowest pitch other than the root note.

Question 15

Lesley Speaker

Answer 15

A loudspeaker and amplifier with a rotating drum producing a fluttering effect.

Question 16

Mixolydian

Answer 16

Can refer to the Greek, medieval or modern mode.

Question 17

Modulation

Answer 17

Process of changing from one key to another.

Question 18

Ostinato

Answer 18

A constantly repeated musical phrase.

Question 19

Overture

Answer 19

Opening section to a piece of music, usually an instrumental introduction.

Question 20

Passing notes

Answer 20

Melodic notes that do not form part of the essential harmonic structure but ‘pass’ between one chord and another.

Question 21

Perfect Cadence

Answer 21

A progression from V to I in both major and minor keys. It gives the musical phrase a sense of finish.

Question 22

Pizzicato

Answer 22

Plucking rather than bowing a stringed instrument such as a violin or cello.

Question 23

Root

Answer 23

The note from which the chord grows. ie The first note.

Question 24

Segue

Answer 24

A smooth, uninterrupted transition from the end of one piece of music into another piece.

Question 25

Sequence

Answer 25

Repetition of a music motif or melodic phrase at a higher/lower pitch.

Question 26

Shuffle Beat

Answer 26

Commonly found in rock, jazz and blues with an eight beat rhythm sub-divided into triplets.

Question 27

Sitar

Answer 27

A plucked string instrument found mainly in Indian music.

Question 28

Stepwise

Answer 28

Refers to melody in most cases where the movement is largely by step.

Question 29

Swarmandal

Answer 29

An Indian harp or zither.

Question 30

Syncopation

Answer 30

Refers to stresses in the rhythmic flow that appear to be off the main beats in the pulse.

Question 31

Tabla

Answer 31

An Indian drum where the pitch can be altered by pressing on the skin.

Question 32

Tala

Answer 32

A repeated rhythmic pattern found in Indian music. Played by the Tabla.

Question 33

Tambura

Answer 33

A lute like stringed instrument producing a drone.

Question 34

Tie

Answer 34

Two or more notes held/ tied together.

Question 35

Transition

Answer 35

A transition is a section of music that links one main idea to another. For example, between a verse and a chorus.

Question 36

Word Painting

Answer 36

A compositional technique whereby the sound of the music reflects the lyrical content thereby literally ‘painting’ the words.