Chapter 4: The Organization of Musical Sounds

Question 1

Octave

Answer 1

Interval between two notes eight diatonic pitches apart; the lower note vibrates half as fast as the upper and sounds an octave lower. (page 16)

Question 2

Microtone

Answer 2

Musical interval smaller than a semitone (half step), prevalent in some non-Western musics and some twentieth-century music. (page 16)

Question 3

Sharp Sign

Answer 3

Musical symbol (♯) that indicates raising a pitch by a half step. (page 17)

Question 4

Flat Sign

Answer 4

Musical symbol (♭) that indicates lowering a pitch by a half step. (page 17)

Question 5

Whole Step

Answer 5

Interval consisting of two half steps. (page 17)

Question 6

Key

Answer 6

Defines the relationship of pitches with a common center, or tonic. Also a lever on a keyboard or woodwind instrument. (page 17)

Question 7

Major Scale

Answer 7

Scale consisting of seven different pitches that comprise a specific pattern of whole and half steps (W-W-H-W-W-W-H). Differs from the minor scale primarily in that its third degree is raised half a step. (page 17)

Question 8

Dominant

Answer 8

The fifth scale step, sol. (page 18)

Question 9

Minor Scale

Answer 9

Scale consisting of seven different pitches that comprise a specific pattern of whole and half steps (W-H-W-W-H-W-W). Differs from the major scale primarily in that its third degree is lowered half a step. (page 18)

Question 10

Diatonic

Answer 10

Melody or harmony built from the seven pitches of a major or minor scale. A diatonic scale encompasses patterns of seven whole steps and half steps. (18)

Question 11

Chromatic

Answer 11

Melody or harmony built from many if not all twelve pitches of the octave. A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending sequence of half steps. (page 18)

Question 12

Pentatonic Scale

Answer 12

Five-note pattern used in some African, Far Eastern, and Native American musics; can also be found in Western music as an example of exoticism. See also gapped scale. (page 18)

Question 13

Inflection

Answer 13

Small alteration of the pitch by a microtonal interval. See also in Chapter 56. (page 19)

Question 14

Active Chords

Answer 14

In the diatonic system, chords that need to resolve to the tonic chord. These include the dominant and subdominant chords (page 19)

Question 15

Rest Chord

Answer 15

A chord that achieves a sense of resolution or completion, normally the tonic. (page 19)

Question 16

Subdominant Chord

Answer 16

Chord built on the fourth scale step, the IV chord. (page 20)

Question 17

Modulation

Answer 17

The process of changing from one key to another. (page 20)

Question 18

Transposition

Answer 18

The shifting of a piece of music to a different pitch level. (page 20)

Question 19

Gapped Scale

Answer 19

A scale that lacks some pitches of the seven-note diatonic scale; for example, a five-note (pentatonic) scale has gaps.