Week 1 Basic terminology Flashcards
Distinct parts or sections of the song
Form
The sources of the vocal and/or instrumental sounds you hear – how many of each and what kinds – and to describe their tone qualities (i.e. warm, brassy, nasal, reedy, thick, metallic, harsh, bright, clear, etc)
Timbre
A song’s regular beat, which can be described in terms of: Tempo, Meter, Ostinato, and Polyrhythm
Rhythm
Overall shapes of phrases or short passages. (e.g. smooth/jagged, busy/sparse)
Contour
Can you hear a major or minor tonality?
Scale
Is the melody composed of short distinct ideas? Varied or repeated? Call & response?
Phrases/Motives
What is the relationship between text (if any) and tune?
Text-Setting
How fast is it? Does it speed up or slow down?
Tempo
Does a pattern of accents group the beats into 2’s, 3’s, 4’s etc.? Are the main beats subdivided in halves, thirds, quarters, etc.? Are these subdivisions even (straight/rock) or uneven (swing)?
Meter
Are there any repeated rhythmic patterns (e.g. bass-line, guitar lick, sax riff, piano vamp)?
Ostinato
are there two or more interlocking rhythmic patterns?
Polyrhythm [if present]
As you sing/hum along with the main vocal/instrumental lines, try to note if/how they are varied or repeated, and whether they sound composed (e.g. repeated or played by more than one) or improvised (e.g. instrumental solo)
Melody
Just about all rock music can be considered (broadly) homophonic in texture insofar as the vocal and instrumental melodies are harmonized, and generally feature relatively short repeating chord progressions (often coinciding with and/or defining the various sections)
Texture
one single melody (performed unharmonized in unison or octaves)
Monophonic
single (unharmonized) melody in different simultaneous interpretations
Heterophonic
