Music Theory Flashcards
Pitch
The change in frequency. Different pitches are perceived as being “higher” or “lower” than one another
Volume
The change in amplitude
Music Theory
The study of musical concepts, and how they are manipulated by a composer
Frequency
Number of measurable sound waves
Duration
The length of the individual sound
Rhythm
Patterns of durations
Sound
A set of vibrations, which travel through a medium in wave form, to then be collected by a receiver
Music
The organization of sound to create emotion, convey mood, or tell a story
Amplitude
The size of measurable sound waves
Dynamics
Musical volume
Timbre
The change in the shape of the measurable sound waves. Sometimes called tone color, it refers to the sonic characteristics of an instrument or voice, which makes them unique
Articulation
The distinct attack or decay of a measurable sound wave
Note
A musical symbol. By itself, a not only shows a duration of sound
Beat
The pulse of music. Also, the way we measure duration of sound, as opposed to minutes and seconds
Meter
The grouping of beats
Tempo
The speed of beats
Tie
A curved line between two or more notes of the same pitch
Dot
After a note, it lengthens the note by half of its original value
Simple meter
Meter when the primary subdivision is 2.
Compound meter
Meter when the primary subdivision is 3
Interval
The distance between two pitches measured on the staff
Interval size
The number of lines and spaces between the two pitches on the staff (count the bottom note as 1)
Interval quality
The amount of half steps between the two pitches
Perfect interval notation
P[#] ex. P4
Major interval notation
M[#] ex. M7
Minor interval notation
m-[#], ex. m-3
Augmented interval notation
+[#] ex. +5
Diminished interval notation
°[#] ex. °8
Major triad notation
Capital letter ex. A = A Major triad
Minor triad notation
Lowercase letter followed by - sign
ex. a- = a minor triad
Augmented triad notation
Capital letter followed by + sign
ex. C+ = C Augmented triad
Diminished triad notation
Lowercase letter followed by ° sign
ex. c° = c diminished triad
Major triad
1st, 3rd, 5th scale degree of the named triad
or
Root, M3, P5
ex. F = F, A, C
Minor triad
Major triad with the 3rd of the triad lowered a half step
or
Root, m-3, P5
ex. f- = F, A♭, C
Augmented triad
Major triad with the 5th of the triad raised a half step
or
Root, M3, +5
ex. F+ = F, A, C♯
Diminished triad
Major triad with the 3rd and the 5th of the triad lowered a half step
or
Root, m-3, °5
ex. f° = F, A♭, C♭
Figured bass
A Roman numeral which tells us both the starting point within the scale and the quality of the triad or chord
Tonic triad
Triad built upon the first scale degree (Major)
Supertonic triad
Triad built upon the second scale degree (minor)
Mediant triad
Triad built upon the third scale degree (minor)
Subdominant triad
Triad built upon the fourth scale degree (Major)
Dominant triad
Triad built upon the fifth scale degree (Major)
Submediant triad
Triad built upon the sixth scale degree (major)
Leading tone triad
Triad built upon the seventh scale degree (diminished)
