Harmonic

Question 1

Accompanied

Answer 1

When a solo instrument or voice plays alongside an accompanying instrument. This is often a piano, but may be a guitar, harp, organ, harpsichord or small ensemble of instruments.

Question 2

Cadence

Answer 2

The final two chords which form a conclusion to a musical phrase or passage. There are four common cadences; Perfect / Imperfect / Plagal / Interrupted

Question 3

Change of Key

Answer 3

When music moves deliberately from one key to a different key. This process is more correctly known as modulation.

Question 4

Chord

Answer 4

A group of notes played at the same time.

Question 5

Chord Change

Answer 5

A move from one chord to a different chord.

Question 6

Consonance

Answer 6

Notes which sound well together. The opposite of dissonance.

Question 7

Contrary Motion

Answer 7

This is when two or more parts are moving in opposite directions in pitch - either away from each other or towards each other.

Question 8

Discord / Dissonance

Answer 8

Notes which don’t sound well together - notes which clash. The opposite of consonace.

Question 9

Drone

Answer 9

i. One or more notes held on in the bass part whilst the melody and harmony move above.

ii. The three low-pitched notes on the bagpipes which sound continuously and come from the three upright pipes over the piper’s shoulder.

Question 10

Imperfect Cadence

Answer 10

A cadence of two chords at the end of a musical phrase or sentence which has any chord moving to the 5th chord of the key.

? - V

This often leads to modulation to the dominant.

Question 11

Major

Answer 11

A major tonality. All the notes of a piece come from a major scale and the key chord is a major triad. The triad is made up of a major third and a minor third. The third of the scale is major.

Question 12

Minor

Answer 12

A minor tonality. All the notes of a piece come from a minor scale and the key chord is a minor triad. The triad is made up of a minor third and a major third. The third of the scale is minor.

Question 13

Modulation

Answer 13

To change key. When music changes key as it is going along it modulates. Modulation is a change of key.

Question 14

Perfect Cadence

Answer 14

A cadence of two chords at the end of a musical phrase or sentence which ends with the chords V - I or V^7 - I. In C major this would be a chord of G major with or without a seventh, followed by a chord of C major. The music always sounds finished at perfect cadence.

Question 15

Tonal / Tonality

Answer 15

Based on a key. There are two main tonalities, major and minor. Tonality is to do with keys and the relationships between keys.

Question 16

Vamp

Answer 16

A rhythmic accompaniment with a bass note played on the strong beats and a harmony chord played on weaker beats.

Question 17

Added 6th

Answer 17

A chord where the sixth note of the scale is included as an added note. e.g. in C major the notes C/E/G/A. These chords are very common in jazz and swing/big band music.

Question 18

Da Capo Aria

Answer 18

Arias in Ternary (ABA) form were common in the Baroque Period. This is where the opening section is repeated after the middle section.

Question 19

Diminished 7th / Diminished Chord

Answer 19

A chord or arpeggio consisting of a series of minor third intervals. e.g. C - Eb - F# - A - C

Question 20

Dominant 7th

Answer 20

Where the flattened seventh note is added to a chord built on the dominant. e.g. in C major: G / B / D / F

Question 21

Interrupted Cadence

Answer 21

A cadence of two chords at the end of a musical phrase or sentence which ends on the chords V - VI. The music always sounds unfinished at an interrupted cadence.

Question 22

Modal / Mode

Answer 22

A term used to describe music which is neither major nor minor,
but built on one of the very early scales or modes. Renaissance
music is modal as the major and minor tonalities did not exist then.
Modes are often used in jazz for improvising.

Question 23

Plagal Cadence

Answer 23

A cadence of two chords at the end of a musical phrase or
sentence which ends with the chords IV – I. In C Major this would
be a chord of F major followed by a chord of C Major. The music
always sounds finished at Plagal cadence.

Question 24

Tierce De Picardie

Answer 24

A major chord at the end of a piece which has been in a minor key.