AP Music Theory Final Review

Ionian

• starts on DO

• Major

• “happy/vanilla”

Dorian

• starts on RE

• natural Minor

• la/#6

• “Zelda/jazzy/folksy”

Phrygian

• starts on MI

• natural Minor

• ra/b2

• "exotic"

Lydian

• starts on FA

• Major

• fi/#4

• "Disney/magic/dreamy"

Mixolydian

• starts on SOL

• Major

• te/b7

• "rock/jazz/80s/bluesy"

Aeolian

• starts on LA

• natural Minor

• "sad/normal minor"

Locrian

• starts on TI

• diminished (natural Minor)

• ra/b2 & se/b5

• "gross/dark/tense"

Antecedent

• question

• inconclusive cadence

• sets up an expectation for resolution.

Consequent

• answer

• conclusive cadence

• follows antecedent phrase, providing resolution.

Interlude

• musical passage between sections or movements, often providing contrast or transition.

• like a bridge, but with no lyrics

Bridge

• a contrasting section that connects two sections of a song, often altering the musical direction.

• usually 2/3 of the way through a piece

• vocal

Verse

• repeated music with different lyrics

• vocal

Refrain

• repeated fragment of music

• mini chorus

• usually vocal

Chorus

• a repeated section that typically contains the main theme or message of the song, often featuring the same lyrics and melody each time.

Coda

• end of a piece of music

Codetta

• end of a section of music

Strophic

• verses/lyrics lead into the chorus

Intervallic Sequence

• when transposed, intervals in a sequence are kept the exact same, regardless of the key.

Tonal Sequence

• when transposed, intervals keep general feel, but are not exactly the same. notes are kept within the key.

Ornaments

• anything that “decorates” a melody

• typically a grace note

Chain of Suspensions

• the resolution of one suspension sets up the next suspension

• offset

Passing Tone

• typically unaccented

• approached by step

• resolved by step (in the same direction)

• non-chordal tone

Neighbor Tone

• usually unaccented

• approached by step

• resolved by step (in the opposite direction)

• can be upper or lower

• non-chordal tone

Anticipation

• unaccented

• approached by skip (or step, if dissonant)

• resolved by common tone

• non-chordal tone

Appoggiatura

• accented

• approached by skip

• resolved by step (in the opposite direction)

• non-chrodal tone

Escape Tone

• usually unaccented

• approached by step

• resolved by skip (in the opposite direction)

• non-chordal tone

Suspension

• usually accented

• approached by common tone

• resolved down by step

• non-chordal tone

Retardation

• usually accented

• approached by common tone

• resolved up by step

• non-chordal tone

Pedal Point

• a sustained note that remains constant while harmonies change above it - typically found in the bass voice

Changing Tone

• a non-chordal tone that is approached by step, then skips in opposite, and finally resolves by step to a chord tone.

• ex: do-ti-re-do / do-re-ti-do