Music Terms Flashcards
Ostinato
A simple, repeated melody
Bass riff
Similar to an ostinato, but more jazzy/funky (riff) and lower in pitch
Often changes with the chords/melody (i.e. in Drunken Sailor, the riff would go D minor, C major, D minor, C, D with the melody)
Sea shanty
A song that was sung at sea (by sailors) to keep the rhythm whilst working. It was lead by a shanty man.
Riff
Similar to a ostinato, but more jazzy/funky/stylish
Often changes with the chords/melody (i.e. in Drunken Sailor, the riff would go D minor, C major, D minor, C, D with the melody)
Texture
The way sounds/parts of a piece are woven together
OR
Number of layers in a piece of music
Melody
Main tune
Accompaniment
Goes with a melody, but not the main tune
Chords
2 or more notes play simultaneously
Triad
The first, third and fifth note in any scale played together
C,E,G - c major
F,A,C - f major
D, F, A - d minor
Countermelody
Different melody that works well with the original tune when played together
Sequence
A melodic pattern that is repeated in exactly the same way, except that the notes are all 1 more higher or lower than the original tune
Unison
All voices singing at the same time
Call and response
A soloist who is answered by another person/group of people
Pitch
How high or low a note sounds
Duration
The length of a note/piece
