Chapters 1-3 Tonal Harmony Terms Flashcards
Augmentation Dot
increases note duration by half a beat
Tenuto Tie
a line that merges multiple notes of the same pitch
Semitone
one half step
Tone, Whole Tone
2 half steps
Accidental
a sign used to raise or lower the pitch of a note
Flat (b)
lowers the pitch by a half step
Sharp (#)
raises the pitch by a half step
Double flat (bb)
lowers note by a whole step
Double sharp (𝄪)
raises note by a whole step
Natural
cancels out any accidental
Meter
number of beats in a measure
Duple
two beats in a measure
Triple
three beats in a measure
Quadruple
four beats in a measure
Simple
each beat can be broken into two notes
Major Scale
a specific pattern of semitones and whole tones encompassing an octave
Major Scale Pattern
WWhWWWh
Tetrachord
two identical four-note patterns separated by a whole step
Key
used to identify the first degree of a scale
Enharmonics
notes that have the same pitch but different names
Transpose
write or play in a key other than the original
Natural minor scale
a major scale with a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th
Harmonic minor scale
natural minor scale with a raised 7th
Melodic minor scale (ascending)
natural minor scale with a lowered 6th and 7th or major scale with a lowered 3rd
Melodic minor scale (descending)
natural minor
Interval
measurement of distance between two notes
Harmonic Interval
happens when notes are played at the same time
Melodic Interval
occurs when notes are played successively
Numerical interval modifier
measurement of how far apart the notes are vertically (regardless of accidentals)
Simple interval
intervals smaller than an octave
Compound intervals
intervals including an octave (separated by 8 or more letter names)
Perfect
a modifier used only in connections with unisons, 4ths, 5ths, octaves, and their compounds
Major and Minor (M & m)
a modifier used only in connection with 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths
Minor interval
major intervals made a semitone smaller without changing the numerical name
Augmented interval (+)
a perfect or major interval made a half step larger without changing the numerical name
Diminished interval (°)
a perfect or minor interval made a semitone smaller without changing its numerical name
Tritone
term used for augmented 4th or its enharmonic diminished 5th
Interval Inversion
flipping an interval upside down (ex. major 3rd C-E, inverting it would make it a minor 6th (E-C)
Constant Interval
two notes that are pleasing to the ear
Dissonant Interval
two notes that are unpleasant to the ear
Parallel Minor
begins on the same note as the major scale but with a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th
Relative Key
major and minor scales that share the same key
Parallel Keys
major and minor keys on the same tonic note
Triad
three note chord consisting of a 5th divided into two superimposed chords
Superimposed Chord
chords played on top of original chords OR when other chords are played instead of the original chord
Tertian Chord
chords built of 3rds
Seventh Chord
a four note chord with the top note (7th) being 4 semitones (2 whole tones) above the 5th of the triad
Root Position
having the root of the chord as the bass position
First Inversion
having the third of the chord as the lowest tone
Second Inversion
having the fifth of the chord as the lowest tone
Third Inversion
having the seventh of the chord as the lowest tone
Inversion
transfer of lowest note to any high octave
Figured bass
also known as thorough bass; a system of numbers derived from the Baroque system
Bass-position Symbols
bass symbols that have been adopted for use in harmonic analysis to distinguish between figured bass
Lead-sheet Symbols
appear with a melody and indicate the chords that are constructed below
Pitch Class
term used to group together all pitches that have an identical sound or that are identical except for the octave(s) that separate them
