Music listening - key terms Flashcards by Thomas Jia

What is a conjunct melody

notes are next to each other, like a scale

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What is a disjunct melody

large leaps(opposite to conjunct)

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What is a triadic melody

melody that uses notes that belong to a triad

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What is a scalic melody

a melody made of notes that follow the order of a particular scale

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What are passing notes

a note in a melody that connects two notes from the same harmony(e.g. D between C and E)

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What are acciaccaturas

notes which are played as quickly as possible before a note

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What are appogiaturas

takes part of the main note’s value(grace note)

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What is the meaning of diatonic

music stays in the home key

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What is the meaning of chromatic

doesn’t stay in the home key(has extra accidentals)

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What is a pentatonic chord

5 notes chord used in asian music(sounds country like)

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What is an augmentation

A melody repeated using notes of a longer duration

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What is a dimination

A melody repeated using notes of a shorter duration(opposite of augmentation)

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What is a sequence

melody is repeated at a different pitch(higher = ascending sequence, lower = descending sequence)

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What is a inversion

melody is inverted(notes which rise now fall)

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What is a glissando/slide

sliding from one note to another

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What is a trill

playing the note and the one above, alternating quickly

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What is a mordent

note, note above/below, note

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What is an ostinato/riff

short phrase or pattern that is repeated(riff for pop music)

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What is a pitch bend

raised or lowered in pitch slightly

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What is a polyphonic texture(2)

many interweaving lines playing at the same time

multiple melodies

(also known as contrapuntal)

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What is a monophonic texture

one line of music(could be different instruments all playing the same line)

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What is a homophonic texture

parts are played together but playing different notes(e.g. melody and accompaniment)

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What is imitation(2)

one part copies another part

played one after another

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What is canon(2)

same melody is began in different parts successively, making the imitations overlap

creates a polyphonic texture

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What is a heterophonic texture

two or more parts that are elaborating upon the same melody

What is mixing

tracks with similar BPM are mixed together to create a longer, continuous track

What is scratching

moving records back and forth rhythmically

What is sampling

taking samples(e.g. riffs, bassline) from other tracks and using effects to change it

What is looping

short patterns of notes/rhythms repeated to make longer patterns

What are digital effects

special effects used to add interest(e.g. reverb, echo)

What is quantising

computers shifting notes to the nearest semiquaver to create perfect time

What is sequencing

building up a song by layering tracks on top of each other

What are some vocal techniques(5)

a capella, vibrato, falsetto, portamento, melisma

What is a capella

singing with no instrumental backing

What is vibrato(2)

voice wobbling up and down slightly in pitch creates a warmer, more expressive sound

What is falsetto

men singing really high pitched

What is portamento

sliding from one note to another

What is melisma

decorating and adding notes to the tune

How may backing singers sing(4)

in harmony, in unison, descent, call and response

What is singing in harmony

all singing different notes at the same time

What is singing in unison

all singing the same note at the same time

What is descent

sang higher, but in time with the main tune

What is call and response

repeating what the lead singer sings or answering with another tune

What is simple duple

2/4

What is simple triple

3/4

What is simple quadruple

4/4

What is compound duple

6/8

What is compound triple

9/8

What is compound quadruple

12/8

What is a turn

note above, note, note below, note

What is an anacrusis

one or more unstressed notes before the first bar line of a piece or passage

What is an up-beat

an unaccented beat preceding an accented beat

What is a cross rhythm

two conflicting rhythms are heard together

What is a dissonant harmony

harmony that does not sound right

What is an atonal harmony

harmony that lacks a clear tone

What is a perfect cadence(2)

Sounds finished V(dominant) - I(tonic)

What is an imperfect cadence(2)

Doesn't sound finished | anything) - V(dominant

What is a plagal cadence(2)

IV(subdominant) - I(tonic)

What is a interrupted cadence(2)

Switches to relative minor V(dominant) - vi

What is pizzicato

Plucking the strings of a stringed instrument

What is tremolo

Wavering effect in a musical tone

What is in the string family(4)

Violin, viola, cello, double bass

What is in the woodwind family(4)

Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon

What is in the brass family(4)

Trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba

What is in the percussion family(4)

Xylophone, snare/bass drum, gongs, piano

What is ternary form

ABA

What is binary form

AABB

What is a ground bass

a short theme, usually in the bass, which is constantly repeated as the other parts of the music vary

How can you describe the texture

Thick or thin