Pitch Flashcards
Definitions for different Pitch terms
Melody
A pattern of high and low notes
Harmony
The combination of different musical notes played or sung simultaneously
Interval
The distance between two pitches
Tonality
The organization of music around a central pitch (tonic); describes whether a piece is in a major or minor key
Cadence
A progression of chords that concludes a musical phrase
Perfect Cadence
Moving from chord V to chord I to create a sense of closure at the end of the piece (common in pop music)
Plagal Cadence
Moving from chord IV to chord I to create a sense of closure at the end of the piece (common in hymns)
Tonic
The first note of a scale; the home pitch around which a piece is centered
Chromatisism
The use of notes outside the standard scale of a piece, often creating tension and color
Modulation
The process of changing from one key to another
Slide/glissando
A technique used to create a smooth transition between pitches
Consonance
When two or more notes compliment each other and sound pleasing
Dissonance
When two or more notes clash and sound unpleasant
Atonal
Music that gives equal importance to all 12 pitches, meaning there is no tonal centre or tonality
Melodic Contour
The shape of a melody as it moves up and down
