ap music theory

scale degree 1

tonic

scale degree 2

supertonic

scale degree 3

mediant

scale degree 4

subdominant

scale degree 5

dominant

scale degree 6

submediant

scale degree 7

leading tone

major scale

wwhwwwh

minor scale

whwwhww

conjuct

When the melody uses stepwise motion

disjunct

When the melody uses skipwise motion

fragmentation

When a portion of a motif or a larger musical idea is used, often repeated, and/or varied

melodic sequence

A form of variation that refers to repeating the original motif starting on a different pitch

melodic inversion

The imitation of the melody performed upside down from the original melody - It moves in the opposite direction by the same diatonic interval

mirror inversion

If the inverted intervals are exact

retrograde

When the melody is played backwards

retrograde inversion

It plays the pitches of the original motif backwards and inverted

rhythmic augmentation

note values are made longer (equally)

diminution

note values are made shorter (equally)

rhythmic displacement

Keeps the original rhythmic structure intact but moves it to a different place in the measure

monophonic texture

Has only one melodic line with no harmony or counterpoint

homophonic texture

Has one melodic line that draws your attention. The other parts provide accompaniment

chordal homophony

Every line or voice moving together with exactly the same or nearly the same rhythm

ostinato

Short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout an entire composition or some portion of a composition

heterophonic texture

There’s only one melody but different variations of it are being sung or played at the same time

alberti bass

An accompaniment figure played on a keyboard instrument with the left hand. The chords are played as arpeggios

polyphonic texture

If more than one independent melody is occurring at the same time

imitative

If the individual lines are similar in their shapes and sounds

fugue

A form of composition popular in the Baroque era, in which a theme or subject is introduced by one voice and is imitated by other voices in succession

nonimitative

If the voice shows little or no resemblance to each other

countermelody

A secondary melody or line written to be played simultaneously with a more prominent melody

motive

Short melodic or rhythmic idea that is repeated and developed throughout a piece of music

exact transposed motives

The same motive played in a different key, but with no alteration to the intervals between the notes

chromatic transposed motives

The same motive played in a different key, but with some alteration to the intervals between the notes

motive inversion

When a motive is played upside down, so that the intervals between the notes are reversed

extended motive

When a motive is repeated and extended beyond its original length

Truncated motive

When a motive is shortened by removing some of its notes

Fragmented motive

When a motive is broken up into smaller pieces and used in different parts of the music

monte

The chords move upwards in pitch creating a sense of tension and anticipation

fonte

The chords move downwards in pitch creating a sense of release and relaxation, as the progression resolves at a lower pitch

ponte

The chords neither ascend nor descend, but instead move in a circular or meandering pattern creating a sense of ambiguity and unpredictability

period

A group of phrases that form a complete musical idea

antecedent phrase

The first phrase in a period

consequent phrase

The second phrase in a period

parallel periods

Two musical phrases that have the same or similar melodic and rhythmic structure

contrasting periods

Two musical phrases that have different melodic and rhythmic structures

modulating period

Two musical phrases that start in one key and end in a different key

asymmetrical periods

Two musical phrases that have different lengths or structures

double period

Four musical phrases that are grouped into two pairs, with each pair having a similar or contrasting structure