Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

wavelength

Answer 1

distance between one wave and the next

Question 2

frequency

Answer 2

rate of vibration measured in Hertz (times per second)

Question 3

wave height/dynamic

Answer 3

the amplitude/height of a wave that determines loudness

Question 4

timbre

Answer 4

the unique qualities of sound produced by the shape of the waveform

Question 5

envelope

Answer 5

sound composed of a sound’s attack, sustain, and release

Question 6

articulation

Answer 6

the manner in which we begin the note, sustain it, and end the note

Question 7

duration

Answer 7

the length of time sound and silence last

Question 8

staff

Answer 8

what most music is written on (5 lines and 4 spaces)

Question 9

Soprano

Answer 9

highest female voice

Question 10

Mezzo

Answer 10

moderately high femalte voice

Question 11

Alto

Answer 11

low female voice

Question 12

Tenor

Answer 12

high male voice

Question 13

Baritone

Answer 13

low male voice

Question 14

C Clef (movable C Clef)

Answer 14

used for all vocal ranges and shows where middle C is located

Question 15

treble clef

Answer 15

clef commonly used for right hand on piano; “G” Clef placed on the second line of the staff

Question 16

bass clef

Answer 16

clef commonly used for left hand on piano; “F” clef placed on fourth line of staff

Question 17

Grand Staff

Answer 17

combination of both treble and bass clefs used by the piano

Question 18

system

Answer 18

multiple staves connected together by bar lines, a bracket, or a brace

Question 19

ledger lines

Answer 19

lines that locate notes that are located above or below the staff

Question 20

interval/half step

Answer 20

the smallest distance between two adjacent notes

Question 21

sharp (#)

Answer 21

raises pitch one half step above its natural pitch

Question 22

flat (b)

Answer 22

lowers pitch one half step below its natural pitch

Question 23

enharmonic equivalent

Answer 23

notes that are written differently but sound the same

Question 24

whole step

Answer 24

two half steps

Question 25

double sharp (x)

Answer 25

raises pitch by two half steps

Question 26

double flat (bb)

Answer 26

lowers pitch by two half steps

Question 27

natural

Answer 27

symbol that cancels out a flat or sharp

Question 28

note head

Answer 28

body of the note

Question 29

stem

Answer 29

part of note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than the whole note

Question 30

flag

Answer 30

part of note common to all note types shorter in duration than a quarter note

Question 31

bar line

Answer 31

vertical line that divides the staff into measures

Question 32

measure

Answer 32

the unit of space between the bar lines

Question 33

double bar line

Answer 33

two lines that signal the end of a section of music

Question 34

final bar line

Answer 34

indicates the end of the piece of composition

Question 35

cautionary accidental

Answer 35

used for when there is an accidental early in a measure for later placement of the same accidental