Melody Flashcards
interval
the distance between two pitches
conjunct
a melody that moves by step
diatonic
mainly based on major or minor scales
atonal
not based on any key or tonal centre
disjunct
a melody which moves in leaps, using larger intervals than a 2nd
chromatic
using notes from outside the key
broken chord
alternating the notes of a chord, such as a triad
difference between a major and minor scale
A minor scale has a flattened 3rd (mediant), 6th (submediant) and 7th (leading note, except in harmonic minor).
notes in a major pentatonic scale
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th
notes in a minor pentatonic scale
1st, min 3rd, 4th, 5th, min 7th
notes in a whole tone scale
1st, 2nd, 3rd, aug 4th, aug 5th, aug 6th
raga scale
There are hundreds of these Indian scales, and the notes on the way up can differ from those on the way down. Some also include microtonal intervals.
circle of fifths
a circular sequence generated by moving between keys in 5ths
What do musical phrases often end with?
cadences
word-painting
when the lyrics being sung are taken literally for the shape of the melody - i.e. the word “descending” is set to a descending scale and vice versa
imitation
when one part copies another, usually with a time difference
sequence
a pattern of notes that are repeated, moving up or down a scale
balanced phrase
a question phrase answered by a phrase of similar length and rhythm
leitmotif
a recurring musical theme representing a person, place, mood or emotion
mordent
when a note is played, then the note above, then the original note
trill
when two adjacent notes are played rapidly, alternately
turn
when the note above the written note is played, followed by the written note, then the one below, then the written note again
can be reversed
acciaccatura
a grace note played quickly as a lead-in to another note
appoggiatura
a grace note which delays the next note of the melody
types of melody used in 20th century music
impressionism
minimalism
expressionism
serialism
