Musical Elements & Instruments

Question 1

Pitch

Answer 1

Relative highness or lowness of sound determined by vibrating air.

• Fast vibration high pitch
• Slow vibration low pitch
• Used horizontally to create melodies

Question 2

Timbre

Answer 2

Quality of sound that identifies and distinguishes sounds

Ex: a piano sounds different from a flute

Question 3

Time

Answer 3

The temporal manifestation of sound

Question 4

Beat (Time)

Answer 4

A regular recurring pulse

Ex: Ticking clock

Question 5

Meter ( Time)

Answer 5

Organizations of the beat into groupings of stressed and unstressed beats; patterns of sound
Ex: two beats one stressed Du0ple meter
Ex: four beats 1st & 3rd stressed Quadruple meter

Question 6

Rhythm (Time)

Answer 6

The organization of the duration of individual sounds; ordered flow of music through time

Question 7

Syncopation (Time)

Answer 7

Interruption of the regular flow of rhythm; sometimes called off beat rhythm

Question 8

Tempo (Time)

Answer 8

The relative rate of speed of the beat

Question 9

Swing (Time)

Answer 9

Used to describe the sense of propulsive rhythmic Feel or groove

Question 10

Groove

Answer 10

General term for overall rhythmic flow of music

Ex: swing funk shuffle Latin rock

Question 11

Free rhythm (Time)

Answer 11

Music with no regular pulse or meter

Question 12

Harmony aka Chord

Answer 12

The simultaneous sounding of different pitches creates a chord; Different pitches at the same time; Chords played in background to support melody

Question 13

Triad ( Harmony)

Answer 13

a three-note chord, the most common configuration; most western music

Question 14

Chordal extension (Harmony)

Answer 14

additional pitch (es) added to a triad

Question 15

Harmonic progression (Harmony)

Answer 15

Fixed series of interrelated chords ( usually repeated) played in a strict sequence

Question 16

Cadence (Harmony)

Answer 16

“endpoint” at the conclusion of a musical phrase when

a chord progression comes to rest on a stable chord.

Question 17

Consonance (Harmony)

Answer 17

a stable chord that creates a sense of “agreement” and repose

Question 18

Dissonance (Harmony)

Answer 18

an unstable chord that creates a sense of tension & disagreement

Question 19

Scale (Pitch)

Answer 19

Collection of pitches ( ordering of pitches)

- Blue Scale : pitch from Africa

Question 20

Melody (Pitch)

Answer 20

series of pitches typically recognized

Ex: Twinkle Twinkle little star (Horizontal)

Question 21

Texture

Answer 21

Relationship among different musical sounds occurring simultaneously ; Blend

Question 22

Monophony ( Texture)

Answer 22

One melody no chords

• Rare in Jazz but found in early jazz breaks
• Can be used to begin or end a piece of music
• Can have more than one singer

Question 23

Polyphony ( Texture)

Answer 23

two or more independent but equally important melodies occurring at the same time
- regularly

Question 24

Homophony (Texture)

Answer 24

Single melody accompanied by chords; different pitches occurring at the same time

• Most common
• Big (swing) bands are typically homophonic

Question 25

Dynamics

Answer 25

Volume; relative loudness or quietness of sound; amplitude

Ex; The weather because it’s changeable

Question 26

Form

Answer 26

Structure and design of a piece of music 
Aspects of form include
- repetition
- contrast
- variation 
- Development