Musical Devices

Broken Chords/Arpeggios

• chords played as separate notes

• Arpeggio is a common type of broken chord

Alberti Bass

• Type of broken chord accompaniment

• Created by composer Domenice Alberti in 1788 - classical

Regular Phrasing

• balanced parts of a melody

• similar to phrases in a sentence

Motifs

• short melodic or rhythmic idea that has a distinctive character

Chord progressions

• series of chords related to each other in a particular way

• a strong chord progression is when a variety of chords sound well together

Cadences

a candace is 2 chords

• perfect = 5- 1

• imperfect = ? - 5

• interrupted = 5 - 6

• plagal = 4 - 1

Modulation

• The process of changing key

Repetition

• The exact repeat of a musical idea

Dotted rhythms

• gives a ‘jagged’ effect to the rhythm

Ostinato

• musical pattern repeated many times

• also known as a riff in modern music

Sequence

• repetition of a motif in the same part but at a different pitch

Syncopation

• off beat and accented notes on weak beats

Drone

• repeated notes held throughout a passage of music

Pedal

• held or repeated note against changing harmonies

Conjunct movement

• melody that moves mainly step to step

Disjunct movement

• melody leaps from one note to another

Anacrusis

• note played before the first strong beat

• known as the upbeat note

Imitation

• musical idea is copied in another part

Canon

• melody is repeated exactly in another part whilst the initial melody is still being played

Contrast

difference between parts or instrumental sounds like:

• dynamics

• key signature

• articulation

• instruments

• mood

• tempo

• hand on piano