Melody

Anacrusis

note or series of notes that precedes the first beat of a bar, pick up

Conjunct

Stepwise motion, melody that moves up or down a scale

Disjunct

Angular movement, moves in leaps of jumps

Arpeggio / Broken chord

Notes of a chord played in either ascending or descending order

Scalic

Related to a musical scale

Range

Distance between lowest and highest note that a voice/instrument can sing/play

Sequence

Melody/Motif that is repeated in the same part at a lower or higher pitch

Imitation

The repetition of a melody played in a different part

Contrast

Difference between parts or different instrument sounds

Motif

Short musical idea

Leitmotif

Recurring melody that is associated with a character/place/emotion

Octave

Interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency

Semitone

smallest interval used in western classical/popular music

Tone

2 semitones

Major 3rd

interval of 4 semitones

Perfect 4th

interval of 5 semitones

Perfect 5th

interval of 7 semitones

Major 6th

interval of 9 semitones

Major 7th

interval of 11 semitones

Microtone

interval smaller than a semitone (not common in western music)

Chromatic movement

Movement to another note that is not in the diatonic scale e.g. C→ C#

Pentatonic

5 note scale, usually major with 4th and 7th omitted (left out)

Blue note

minor interval where major would be expected, (used especially in Jazz)

Trill

Rapid alternation between 2 adjacent notes

Ornamentation/Decoration

Notes which are added to the main notes in order more make it more interesting

Counter-melody

secondary melody played at the same time as the main melody

Answering phrase

technique used to complete a short melody, the answering phrase will usually sound finished

Thematic

melodic ideas

Fanfare

Short musical flourish, usually played by brass instruments like trumpets