Chapter 1 Flashcards
Accidental
A symbol that raises or lowers a pitch by a half to whole step
Augmented
An interval modifier used when a perfect or major interval is made a half step larger without changing its numerical name
Bass
Informally the lowest voice in a vocal or instrumental texture
Circle of Fifths
A diagram arranged like the face of a clock that aids in the memorization of key signatures. Moving clockwise around the circle, each new key begins on the 5th of the previous key while, moving counterclockwise around the circle, each new key begins on the 4^ of the previous key.
Clef
Symbol that appears at the beginning of the staff indicating which pitches are to be associated with which lines and spaces
Compound Intervals
Intervals larger than and including the 8ve
Consonant
A quality ascribed to an interval that is pleasing to the ear (including major and minor 3rds and 6ths, perfect 4ths [when they do not occur harmonically above bass], perfect 5ths and perfect 8ths) (Triads are also considered this when their bass note forms only this with the upper notes)
Diminished
An interval modifier used when a perfect or minor interval is made a half step smaller without changing its numerical name
Dissonant
A quality ascribed to an interval that is not pleasing to the ear (including major and minor 2nds and 7ths, perfect 4ths[when they occur above the bass], tritones, and all augmented and diminished intervals),(Triads and other chords are also considered this when at least one of this is formed with their bass note)
Double Flat
Lowers a note a whole step
Double Sharp
Raise a note a whole step
Enharmonic
Notes that have the same pitch but are spelled differently. Keys can be this as well
Flat
Lower a note a half step
Grand Staff
A combination of two staves joined by a brace, with the top and bottom staves typically using treble and bass clefs respectively
Half Step
The distance from a key on a piano to the very next key, white or black. This is typically the smallest interval encountered in tonal music
Harmonic Interval
The distance between two pitches that are sounded simultaneously
Harmonic Minor Scale
A minor scale type, which can be thought of as a natural minor scale with raised 7^ or as a major scale with lowered 3^ or 6^
Interval
The measurement of the distance in pitch between two notes
Interval Inversion
A procedure wherein the lower note of an interval is shifted up one or more octaves to a point immediately above the upper note (or vice versa)
Key
The scale used in a piece (or some portion of a piece) identified according to its most important pitch—the scales first degree (ex: D major)
Key Signature
A pattern of sharps and flats corresponding to a key that appears at the beginning of a staff and indicates that certain notes are to be consistently raised or lowered.
Ledger Lines
Used to extend the staff both above and below the standard five-line format
Major Scale
A specific pattern of half steps and whole steps encompassing an octave; (wwhwwwh)
Melodic Interval
The distance between two pitches that are sounded successively
Melodic Minor Scale
A minor scale type with both an ascending and descending form. The ascending form can be thought of as a natural minor scale with raised 6^ and 7^, or as a major scale with lowered 3^. The descending form is the same as the natural minor scale.
Minor Pentachord
The minor scale pattern (whww)
Natural
Cancel a previous accidental
Natural Minor Scale
A specific pattern of half steps and whole steps (whwwhww) encompassing an octave. This is like a major scale with lowered 3, 6^, and 7^.
Octave
The interval between any note and the next highest or lowest note of the same letter and accidental. This term is used instead of 8th and can also be written as 8ve.
Octave Register
A collection of pitches from one C up to, but not including, the next C (ex C4-B4). Each such register is given a numerical label that can be shown after the letter name.
Parallel Keys
Major and minor keys that share the same starting note
Perfect
An interval modifier used only in connection with unisons, 4ths, 5ths, 8ves, and their compounds (11ths and so on)
Pitch
The highness or lowness of a sound
Relative Keys
Major and minor keys that share the same key signature. The relative major of any minor key starts on 3^ of the minor, while the relative minor of any major key begins on 6^ of the major scale.
Sharp
Raises a note a half step
Simple Intervals
Intervals smaller than an 8ve
Staff
An arrangement of five lines and four spaces used to indicate the precise pitch(es) desired; this can be extended through the use of ledger lines
Tetrachord
A four-note scalar pattern spanning a perfect 4th
Transpose
To write or play music in a key other than the original
Tritone
The term used for the interval of the +4 or its enharmonic, the degree 5
Unison
The interval formed between pitches with the same note name in the same octave register, this term is used instead of 1st
Whole Step
The distance between two pitches that are separated by a single key, white or black. This interval is equivalent to the combined distance of two half steps
