Elements of Music

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the elements of music, including rhythm, pitch, volume, and more.

Rhythm

The temporal aspect of sound, representing the pattern of 'on' and 'off' states as time passes.

Pulse

A sequence of regularly-spaced sounds representing a basic rhythmic unit.

Tempo

The speed or pace of a musical piece, often determined by the frequency of the pulse.

Meter

The organization of pulses into groups, creating strong and weak beats, defining measures or bars.

Pitch

The 'highness' or 'lowness' of a sound, determined by the frequency of sound waves.

Melody

A sequence of pitches that forms the main musical theme, typically what is sung or remembered.

Harmony

The combination of multiple pitches sounded simultaneously, forming chords.

Volume

The loudness or softness of a sound, determined by the amplitude of the sound wave.

Articulation

How pitches are begun, sustained, and released, affecting the character of the sound.

Timbre

The quality or color of a sound that distinguishes different instruments or voices.

Texture

The way different musical lines interact, described as monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, or heterophonic.

Crescendo

A gradual increase in volume in music.

Decrescendo

A gradual decrease in volume in music.

Chords

Two or more pitches sounded simultaneously, forming the basis of harmony.

Scale

A set of seven pitches.

Key

A scale starting on a specific pitch. For example, pitches from the A major scale means the music is in the key of A major.