Theory Key Words Flashcards
Compound Time
Time signatures which are divided into three sections, as opposed to two, and have a 1,2,3 rhythm. (BAR 3/4)
6/8
12/8
9/4
Guiro
Wooden percussion instrument which you strike with a wooden stick.
Hemiola rhythm
Syncopated rhythm with three beats in the time of two or two beats in the time of 3.
Dynamic Markings
pp --> pianissimo p --> Piano mp --> Mezzo Piano mf --> Mezzo Forte f --> Forte ff --> Fortissimo fp --> Fortepiano sfz --> Sforzando
Chromatic
Musical scale of every note every semitone so black and white keys, leaving no gaps.
Pentatonic
A scale of five notes.
Modal
A seven note scale.
Augmentation (rhythmic device)
Melody parts with longer note values than previously played.
Diminution (rhythmic device)
Longer notes in a melody, divided into shorter notes.
Inversion
Rearrangement of parts in a chord.
Harmonic Devices
Diatonic and chromatic Consonant and dissonant Pedal and drone Cadences Major minor etc.
Key Modulations
A change of key to relative major or minor typically.
Dominant Seventh
A weird type of chord.
Anacrusis
1+ unstressed notes before the first bar of a piece of music.
Tremolando
Wavering effect on a note.
Ensemble Types
What/who is in it i.e. a string quartet.
Strophic
Verse of a song is sung in the same music.
Polyrhythm
Two or more rhythms simultaneously.
Scotch Snap
Dotted note preceded by a shorter, stressed note.
Rubato
Disregarding of a strict tempo.
Arch Shape
A sectional structure for a piece of music.
Contrapuntal
Polyphonic texture.
Tempo Names
Lento --> Slowly Largo --> Slow and stately Adagio --> Leisurely Andante --> Walking Pace Allegro --> Fast Vivace --> Lively Presto --> Very Quickly
Triadic
A group of three.
Glissando
A continuous slide upwards or downwards on an instrument, mainly on a piano.
Mordent
Rapid alteration of note with a note immediately above or below it.
Retrograde
Backwards and upside down.
Accelerando
Gradually increase the tempo of a song.
Antiphonal
Usually in church, played or sung alternately by to groups.
Pedal
A sustained note/same note repeated in bass throughout entirety of the song
Drone
Note or chord continually sounded throughout a piece of music.
Satar
Indian instrument heard in almost every piece.
Imitative
Part imitating another part.
Sarangi
An Indian bowed string instrument.
Agogo Bells
African metal instrument which looks like cow bells.
Dhol
Double headed Indian drum.
Dotted Rhythms
Rhythm where beat is unequally divided into short and long notes.
Pause
An interval of silence.
Alberti Bass
Broken chord where notes are ordered lowest, highest, middle, highest.
Detached Chords
Triads, sub-dominant and dominant.
Chord Sequence Names
Numbered chords in a piece of music.
Turn
Ornament a line and are fast notes.
Circle Of Fifths
D minor and F major A minor and C major E minor and G major B minor and D major F# minor and A major C# minor and E major G# minor and B major Eb minor and F# major Bb minor and Db major F minor and Ab major C minor and Eb major G minor and Bb major
Diatonic
Pattern with no chromatic interruption.
Sequence
Replayed pattern at a higher or lower pitch.
Arpeggio
Notes of a chord that are played in rising or descending order.
Ostinato
Repeated part at the same pitch.
