Elements of Music
Pitch- relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound.
Tone- sound that has a definite pitch.
(For example striking a bat against a ball does not produce a D# but striking a D#
on a piano does)
Dynamics- the degree of loudness or softness in music
pp pianissimo /very soft
p piano /soft
mp mezzo-piano /medium-soft
mf mezzo-forte /medium-loud
f forte /loud
ff fortissimo /very loud
When dynamics are altered in a piece of music, they are termed as follows:
decrescendo/ diminuendo gradually softer
crescendo gradually louder
Timbre/Tone Color- the character or quality of a sound.
dark, bright, mellow, cool, metallic, rich, brilliant, thin, etc.
Rhythm- a) the flow (or pattern) of music through time. b) the particular arrangement of
note lengths in a piece of music.
Syncopation- An accent placed on a beat where it is not normally expected.
Beat- the steady pulse in a piece of music.
Downbeat- the first or stressed beat of a measure.
Meter- the pattern in which beats are organized within a piece of music.
Examples:
3/4= three beats per measure
4/4= four beats per measure
6/8= six beats per measure
*In some musics, meter is not present- this is termed non-metric.
(Ex: Chant, some 20th century genres, world musics).
Melody- a series of single notes that add up to a recognizable whole.
*A melodic line has a shape -it ascends and descends in a series of continuous pitches.
Sequence- a repetition of a pattern at a higher or lower pitch.
Phrase- A short unit of music within a melodic line.
Cadence- The rest at the end of a musical phrase. Think of this as a musical period at the
end of a sentence.
Harmony- A) How chords are constructed and how they follow each other. B) The
relationship of tones when sounded in a group.
Chord- a combination of three or more tones sounded at once.
Consonance- a stable tone combination in a chord
Dissonance- and unstable tone combination in a chord; usually, an expected
and stable resolution will follow.
Tonic- a) the main key of a piece of music. b) the first note of a scale
Key- the central tone or scale in a piece of music.
(example: A major, b minor)
Modulation- a shift from one key to another within the same piece of music.
Texture- layering of musical sounds or instruments within a piece of music.
Monophonic- single, unaccompanied melodic line.
Homophonic- a melody with an accompaniment of chords.
Polyphonic- th.
Elements of MusicPitch- relative highness or lowness that we .docx
1. Elements of Music
Pitch- relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound.
Tone- sound that has a definite pitch.
(For example striking a bat against a ball does not produce
a D# but striking a D#
on a piano does)
Dynamics- the degree of loudness or softness in music
pp pianissimo /very soft
p piano /soft
mp mezzo-piano /medium-soft
mf mezzo-forte /medium-loud
f forte /loud
ff fortissimo /very loud
When dynamics are altered in a piece of music, they are termed
as follows:
decrescendo/ diminuendo gradually softer
crescendo
gradually louder
Timbre/Tone Color- the character or quality of a sound.
dark, bright, mellow, cool, metallic, rich, brilliant,
thin, etc.
Rhythm- a) the flow (or pattern) of music through time. b) the
particular arrangement of
note lengths in a piece of music.
2. Syncopation- An accent placed on a beat where it is not
normally expected.
Beat- the steady pulse in a piece of music.
Downbeat- the first or stressed beat of a measure.
Meter- the pattern in which beats are organized within a piece
of music.
Examples:
3/4= three beats per measure
4/4= four beats per measure
6/8= six beats per measure
*In some musics, meter is not present- this is termed
non-metric.
(Ex: Chant, some 20th century genres, world musics).
Melody- a series of single notes that add up to a recognizable
whole.
*A melodic line has a shape -it ascends and descends in a
series of continuous pitches.
Sequence- a repetition of a pattern at a higher or lower pitch.
Phrase- A short unit of music within a melodic line.
Cadence- The rest at the end of a musical phrase. Think of this
as a musical period at the
end of a sentence.
Harmony- A) How chords are constructed and how they follow
each other. B) The
relationship of tones when sounded in a group.
Chord- a combination of three or more tones sounded at once.
Consonance- a stable tone combination in a chord
3. Dissonance- and unstable tone combination in a chord; usually,
an expected
and stable resolution will follow.
Tonic- a) the main key of a piece of music. b) the first note of a
scale
Key- the central tone or scale in a piece of music.
(example: A major, b minor)
Modulation- a shift from one key to another within
the same piece of music.
Texture- layering of musical sounds or instruments within a
piece of music.
Monophonic- single, unaccompanied melodic line.
Homophonic- a melody with an accompaniment of chords.
Polyphonic- the layering of two or more different
melodic lines.
Tempo- the speed of the beat in a piece of music. These are in
Italian:
Largo very slow
Grave solemn
Adagio slow
Andante moderate speed (to walk)
Allegro fast
Vivace lively
Presto very fast
Prestissimo super fast
*When the tempo in a piece of music is altered, it is termed
4. as follows:
accelerando - becoming faster
ritardando - becoming slower
*“Families” of musical instruments: brass, percussion, strings,
woodwinds
