key music terms

Question 1

melody

Answer 1

• a single line sequence of sounds
• can be conjunct (small steps between notes, common in pop music) or disjunct (lots of jumps between notes

Question 2

rhythm

Answer 2

timing of music and breakdown of beats

Question 3

texture

Answer 3

the layering of melodies/instruments and their unique roles in the music

Question 4

timbre

Answer 4

• quality of sound, described in adjectives like soft, thick, scratchy, brassy, etc.
• explains why two instruments playing the same note sound different

Question 5

form

Answer 5

the organization/structure of a song and its various sections (eg. verse-chorus; AABA)