Music Theory Flashcards
Notes, Textures, Structure
Give the definition of the stave
The five lines which musical notes are written on
The treble clef is for higher pitched melody instruments. Name some (bonus points for vocal range(s) too)
Flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, trumpet, horn
Soprano and Alto voices
The bass clef is for low pitch instruments. Name some (bonus points for vocal range(s) too)
Tuba, trombone, bassoon, cello, double bass
Bass voices
Give the term for this description:
These indicate the length of a phrase, and look like a bracket on its side over the top of the stave. They help the performer know where to breathn
Phrase marks
What does a tie look like, and what does it mean?
A tie is a curved line that joins two notes together of the same pitch, and they’re played so it sounds like one note
A trill is when you rapidly play the note given and the:
a) note above it
b) note below it
for the duration of the note
a) note above it
The symbol is either the letters -tr- above it, or a zigzag line
What is the difference between a turn and a mordent?
A turn is written with a sideways S/ an incomplete infinity sign, and it means you play the note above the one on the score, the note on the score, the note below then the note itself again (4 semiquavers).
A mordent is written as a small zigzag line a single rapid alteration with the note above (upper mordent) or the note below (lower mordent - with a line vertical through the zigzag line)
The lower mordent is written as a short zigzag line with a vertical line going through it, above the affected note
The higher mordent is written as a short zigzag line, above the affected note
True or false?
True
What is the difference between acciaccatura and appogiatura? (both of these are ornamantations/ decorations)
Acciaccatura (sometimes called a crushed note, as it is played very quickly) is a tone or a semitone above or below the melody note. Written as a small note(s - as sometimes there’s 2) before a melody note)
Appogiatura is similar, only the small note written before the melody note is played for half of the melody note. Then, the remainder of the melody note is played.
For example, if there was a small F note then an E minim as the melody note, the F would be played as a crotchet, then the E would be played as a crochet too
“To lean upon” is the English translation of what Latin term?
Appogiatura
p. p p What is this dotted rhythm like?
L_=l l
Co - co - nut
p. p p. p What is this dotted rhythm like?
L_=L_L_=l
av - o - ca - do
What is the fancy words for “off beat”?
Syncapation
What is a hook?
A catchy part of a song (normally a chorus). Can be a melodic hook or a rhythmic hook
Name the 5 textures you have to know
Monophonic
Homophonic
Polyphonic
Heterophonic
Name the 4 structures you have to know
Binary
Ternary
Rondo form
Theme & variations
What pattern is rondo form?
ABACA - The Indiana Jones Theme shows this
Give the pattern of ternary form and an example of this
ABA - Star Wars Theme tune
What does monophonic mean?
There is only one melody (or one layer).
In an intro with just two singers (one singing an octave above), a guitarist playing the same melody as the singers and a drummer, what texture is this?
Monophonic - the drums DO NOT count as a melody, and all the melodies are the same (octaves & instruments make no difference)
What is the difference between homophonic and heterophonic?
Homophonic has a harmony in the background with the main tune along with chords - Tune & Chords
Heterophonic has 2 or more variations of the same melody at the same time (one line often has more notes)
Theme and variations means what?
Having a tune, then repeating it with a variation as many times as you want
What types of alteration can you have with theme and variations?
You can alter - the key, the timing, the rhythm, the dynamics, the instruments
What is a pedal point?
An ongoing note (normally a bass note) that stays the same, even with chord changes
Give the definition of polyphonic texture
When there are 2 or more different melodies at the same time (a round is an example). There are many layers here
What is a fancy word for a round?
Cannon
Give the binary form and its structure, with an example
ABAB - Greensleeves
What is rhondo form?
ABACA
ABA refers to what type of structure?
Ternary
What happens in the structure theme and variations?
There’s a tune, and it repeats with an alteration (this can happen a lot).
Also, it can repeat the original
What can be altered to the tune in the theme and variations structure?
Key Rhythm Genre Timing Instrumentation
What do these words mean (Game music):
a) Inversion (chord)
b) Retrograde
c) Augmentation
d) Diminution
a) Inversion (chord) - Using a chord in a position other than its root position
b) Retrograde - Version of a tune where the composer takes all the notes and puts them in reverse order
NOTE - Retrograde inversion is a thing too, which is just both of them
c) Augmentation - Increasing the length of notes to make the music sound slower
d) Diminution - Shortening the length of the notes to make it sound quicker
What chords does a plagal cadence go to? What does it sound like?
IV - I (4 to 1) - full stop (not a strong as perfect)
Sounds like “Amen”
What chords does an imperfect cadence go to?
Any chord (normally I, II or IV) to I - comma
What chords does an interrupted cadence go to?
V - VI (Dominant to subdominant, 5 to 6) - A surprise cadence, and a comma.
It is a cadence of opposites - if it is in a major key it goes to a minor chord and vice versa.
What chords does a perfect cadence go to?
V - I - full stop, as it goes from dominant to the tonic
What is the tonic?
The root note of the key you’re in
What is the opposite of playing a chord in an arpeggio?
Chordal (or chord blocks) - holding the chord down until the next one
“Playing a chord sequence to an interesting rhythm on the piano” - what is this the definition for?
Comping (i think it’s normally jazz)
What are these chords?
a) Tonic
b) Sub-dominant
c) Dominant
a) Chord I - the home chord
b) Chord IV - a primary chord
c) Chord V - a primary chord
Give the opposite of diatonic, and what they mean
Diatonic - harmony using normal notes from the scale
Atonal - harmony using notes outside the key, creating clashes (often for suspense or tension)
Talk about the following scales:
a) Major
b) Minor
c) Chromatic
d) Blue
a) Happy sounding - tone, tone, semi, tone, tone, tone, semi,
b) Sad sounding - tone, semi, tone, tone, semi, tone, tone
c) 13 note scale where every note is a semitone (every note until octave above starting note)
d) Major scale but with a flattened third and seventh note replacing the second and sixth notes
