🎶 Unit 2: Scales, Keys, Intervals, and Texture

Minor Scale

A scale with lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees (in natural form).

Natural Minor

Follows the pattern W

Harmonic Minor

Raises the 7th degree of the natural minor to create a leading tone.

Melodic Minor

Raises the 6th and 7th degrees ascending, returns to natural minor descending.

Relative Keys

Major and minor keys that share the same key signature (C major ↔ A minor).

Parallel Keys

Major and minor keys that share the same tonic (C major ↔ C minor).

Closely Related Keys

Keys that differ by one accidental in the key signature.

Distantly Related Keys

Keys with several differences in sharps or flats.

Chromatic Scale

A scale made entirely of half steps.

Whole

Tone Scale

Pentatonic Scale

A five

Interval

The distance between two pitches.

Perfect Interval

Unison, 4th, 5th, and octave; considered stable.

Major Interval

Found in major scales (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th from tonic).

Minor Interval

One half step smaller than a major interval.

Augmented Interval

One half step larger than a perfect or major interval.

Diminished Interval

One half step smaller than a perfect or minor interval.

Inversion (of an interval)

Flipping the order of two pitches; the lower becomes the higher.

Compound Interval

An interval larger than an octave.

Transposing Instrument

An instrument that sounds a different pitch than written (e.g., B♭ clarinet).

Concert Pitch

The actual pitch that is heard.

Timbre

The tone color or quality of a sound; distinguishes instruments.

Range

The span between the lowest and highest notes in a melody or instrument.

Register

The general height (low, middle, high) of pitches being played or sung.

Tessitura

The most comfortable and frequently used pitch range of a voice or instrument.

Melody

A sequence of single pitches perceived as a coherent musical line.

Conjunct Motion

Stepwise melodic movement.

Disjunct Motion

Movement by leaps.

Sequence

Repetition of a melodic pattern at a different pitch level.

Texture

The combination and relationship of melodic lines and accompaniments.

Monophonic Texture

A single melody without accompaniment.

Homophonic Texture

Melody with harmonic accompaniment.

Polyphonic Texture

Multiple independent melodic lines sounding together.

Imitative Polyphony

One voice imitates another, entering with the same melody.

Texture Device

A compositional method that affects how musical layers interact (e.g., canon, imitation).

Syncopation

Accenting weak beats or offbeats.

Hemiola

Temporary shift between duple and triple metric feels.

Anacrusis

Pickup note(s) before the first full measure.

Agogic Accent

Emphasis created by duration rather than dynamic.