What chords are the basis for a 12-bar blues sequence?
I, IV, V
Antiphony
musical ideas are passed between different groups of instruments
Aria
composition for solo voice, may be accompanied by instruments/full orchestra, part of larger work, usually following a recitiative
Augmentation
widening an interval or lengthening time value of melody notes
Automated Double Tracking
imitates doubled voices/instruments using double tracking, no need for overdubbing
Balance
relative volume levels between instruments to acheive clarity (as used in music production)
What is the blues scale and what example notes make it up?
six-note minor pentatonic scale (added flattened fifth); in C would be C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb
What notes make up the pentatonic scale?
1, 2, 3, 5, 6 (flat 3 and 7 in minor)
Blues Note
flattened, typically 3rd or 7th
Break
short instrumental solo, often improvised, used in pop and jazz
Cadenza
towards end of (solo) piece, elabourate flourish
Call and Response
leader plays melody and rest of instruments respond
Canon
melody is imitated after short delay, contrapuntal technique as melodic lines move indepedently of each other
Ceilidh
a social gathering of music and dance, associated with Celtic folk music
Chorus
repeated refrain or large group of singers in choral work/opera
Clave
Cuban popular music rhythm (CATerpilLAR tadPOLE tadPOLE FROG)
Compound Time
metre (time signature) that can be subdivided into three
Contrapuntal
two or more intertwining independent melodies
Consonant
notes that sound “pleasing” when played simultaneously
Continuo
barroque, accompanying part including bassline and harmonies, typically a keyboard instrument accompanied by a bass instrument
Countermelody
secondary melody in counterpoint to original
Counterpoint
relationship between two or more harmonically interdependent and rhythmically/melodically independent lines
Cross Rhythm
effect of two or more conflicting rhythms heard together
Cyclic
musical theme is heard in more than one movement
Distortion
sounds created to alter the sound of amplified electric indtruments
Drone
two notes continuously sounding
Fugue
contrapuntal composition of two or more voices, built on initial theme which is then frequently used in imitation
Grounf Bass
short bass theme which constantly repeats with changing harmonies
Grove
rhythm that deviates from straight beat of the music
Hammer-on
guitar technique, finger is hammered on a fretboard which causes note to sound
Heterophonic
two identical melodies played similtaneously, one is a decoration of the other
Imitation
melody is copied in a different instrument
Inversion
melody turnes upside-down; chord with note other than root in bass
Middle Eight
bridge or middle section in song form, typically 8 bars
Minimalism
style based upon simple repeated patterns and rhythms
Mode
combination of tones and semitones; modes rather than scales
Trill
a note with a long/short duration that temporarily displaces and then resolves onto a main note
Turn
decoration, four notes: above, note itself, below, note itself
Acciaccatura
crushed note, played as quickly as possible before the note that follows
Mordent
note, note above, note
Ostinato
melodic, rhytmic or chordal phrase repeated continuously through section/piece
Pedal Note
single note sustained/repeated in nass against changing harmonies in other parts, normally tonic or dominant, inverted pedal is sustained/repeated note in high register
Phasing
same part on two instruments in a steady but not identical tempo
Pitch Bend
bowed and electronic instruments, player bends the pitch of the note
Polyrhythm
two or more rhythms played simultaneously while moving at the same tempo
Polyphonic
texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody
What styles are encompassed in popular music?
pop, jazz, musical theatre, post-1960 gaming music
Power Chord
selected to sound good when loud and distorted
Pull-off
lightly pulling string (that is already ringing) while removing the finger holding down the note, new note can be played without need of re-picking, opposite of hammer on
Raga
scale pattern/melodic motif used as basic for melodic improvisation in Indian classical music
Recitative
vocal writing, music follows rhythm of speech, in oratorios/operas is a short section for solo voice to move the story along
Requiem
sacred composition in context of funeral service
Reverb
persistence of sound after it has been produced
Scotch Snap
rhythmic pattern of a short note followed by a long note
Sequence
restatement of melodic or harmonic passage at a lower pitch
Skanking
reggae technique, strumming pattern in which the upbeat is more prominent than the down stroke
Slide Guitar/Bottleneck
metal or glass tube on finger slides across the frets to create a glissando effect
Sonata
composition for one or more solo instruments, usually consisting of 3/4 independent movements of varying key, mood and tempo
Sonata Form
structure consisting of an exposition, a development, and a recapitulation
Strophic
verse or passage repeated; in a strophic song, every verse or chorus is sung to the same music
Tabla
pair of different-sized hand drums used in Indian music, play the tala/tal (rhythm)
Tambura
long-necked, plucked, plays drone in Indian music
Tonal Ambiguity
largely tonal but not in one specific key
Vamping
repeating musical figure used as repeated accompaniment in intros or solos, used in jazz, musical theatre etc.
Walking Bass
baseline of non-syncopated notes of equal value, often found in jazz and baroque