Musical Concepts: Structure, Harmony, and Techniques

Binary (AB)

A song structure consisting of two repeated sections.

Cadential Expansion

The extension of a cadence (adding notes after the end).

Coda

A section that concludes an entire piece or a major movement.

Codetta

A brief, concluding section of a musical piece, similar to a coda, but on a smaller scale.

Contour

The general shape of the music.

Countermelody

A secondary melody played in conjunction (stepwise) with the main melody.

Period

A group of phrases. First, the antecedent phrase plays, and the consequent phrase resolves it.

Rounded Binary (ABA, but A2 has minor variations)

A modified binary form.

Strophic

A verse with a hook but no chorus.

Ternary (ABA)

A three-part song structure.

Turnaround

A short musical passage used to transition between sections of a song.

Authentic Cadence

Ends on I chord.

Conclusive Cadence

Ends on tonic triad.

Deceptive Cadence

V ends on something other than I.

Half Cadence

Ends on V.

Imperfect Authentic Cadence

Ends on I chord but inverted.

Pivot Chord Modulation

Using a chord in both the original and destination keys to smoothly transition between them.

Phrase Modulation

A type of key change where a phrase ends in one key, and the next phrase immediately begins in a different key.

Plagal Cadence

Moves from IV to I.

Retrogression

A harmonic progression that moves backward in harmonic function.

Tonicization

Using applied chords to make a non-tonic chord sound like a temporary tonic.

º7

Fully-diminished seventh chord.

Augmentation

Increasing the value of something, typically the duration of notes in a melody or the size of intervals.

Conjunct

Melodic movement where notes move close together in pitch, or stepwise.

Disjunct

A melody that moves with large intervals or 'leaps' rather than stepwise.

Fragmented Motive

Taking a motive (melody) and repeating it multiple times.

Motive

A short, recognizable phrase that is repeated throughout the song.

Motivic Transformation

Changing or developing a short musical idea (a motive) throughout a composition.

Octave Displacement

A note or series of notes in a melody is moved to a different octave to create variety.

Retrograde

A melody is played in reverse order right after the original.

Rhythmic Transformation

Altering the time and duration of notes and rests within a melody.

Sequential Repetition

Repeating a musical pattern at a different pitch.

Appoggiatura

A type of grace note that is approached by a leap and resolved by a step in the opposite direction.

Embellishment

Notes added to a melody or harmony to decorate it.

Escape Tone (Échappée)

A note that doesn't belong in the current chord.

Preparation

The consonant pitch or chord that precedes a dissonant nonharmonic tone.

Candential Extension

Lengthening of a phrase before its conclusion.

Internal Expansion

Adding or repeating material within the phrase itself to extend it, rather than before or after.

Phrase Elision

Joining two phrases together in an overlapping manner.

Phrase Extension

Technique that makes a phrase last longer than expected.

Agogic Accent

Emphasizes a note by prolonging its duration.

Anacrusis

One or more unstressed syllables at the beginning of a verse.

Hemiola

Two groups of three beats are replaced by three groups of two beats.

Ostinato

A continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm.

Pedal Point

A note sustained in one part (usually the bass) through successive harmonies.

Ritardando

Gradual decrease in speed.

Alberti Bass

Outlining a bass line with only chord tones.

Basso Continuo

One playing a bass line, and another improvising harmonies above it.

Canon

A melody is presented and then imitated by one or more voices or instruments.

Canon at the Octave

A melody is imitated exactly at the octave interval.

Canonic Imitation

A polyphonic technique where a melody is imitated after a specified delay (not necessarily exact).

Direct 5th

Two voices move in the same direction, arriving at a perfect fifth.

Heterophonic Doubling

The same melody is played simultaneously with variations.

Homophonic Doubling

The movement of accompanying parts in the same rhythm as the melody.

Imitative Counterpoint

Involves the repetition of a main melodic idea across parts.

Imitative Polyphony

A texture with two or more equally prominent, similar melodic lines.

Non-Imitative Polyphony

Multiple independent melodic lines heard simultaneously.

Tutti

All voices or instruments are played together.

Walking Bass

The bass instrument plays a steady quarter-note rhythm.