AP Music Theory

Vocab Words

4/4

Simple Quadruple

3/4

Simple Triple

3/8

Simple Triple

3/2

Simple Triple

2/4

Simple Duple

6/8

Compound Duple

9/8

Compound Triple

12/8

Compound Quadruple

Hemiola

two groups of three beats get replaced by three groups of two beats

Timbre

The “color” of sound

Alla breave

Cut Time (2/2)

Ionian

C, first mode

Dorian

D, second

Phrygrian

E, third

Lydian

F, fourth

Mixolydiian

G, fifth

Aeolian

A, sixth

Locrian

B, seventh

Anacrusis

Pick-up notes

Tonic

1st degree

Supertonic

2nd degree

Mediant

3rd degree

Subdominant

4th degree

Dominant

5th degree

Submediant

6th degree

Leading Tone

7th degree

Natural Minor

normal minor key

Harmonic Minor

Minor with a raised 7th

Melodic Minor

Raised 6th and 7th (ascending), Natural minor descending

Relative minor of C

a minor

Relative minor of G

e minor

Relative minor of D

b minor

Relative minor of A

f# minor

Relative minor of E

c# minor

Relative minor of B

g# minor

Relative minor of F#

d#

Relative minor of Gb

eb minor

Relative minor of Db

Bb minor

Relative minor of Ab

f minor

Relative minor of Eb

c minor

Relative minor of Bb

g minor

Relative minor of F

d minor

Whole Tone Scale

Tonality

Pitch center

Parallel keys

Major and minor keys with the same tonic

Solmization

System of designating notes with solfege scale

Harmonic Interval

an interval played at the same time

Melodic interval

an interval played in succession (as a melody)

Diatonic

notes within the scale (of the tonic)

enharmonic

notes that sound the same but are spelled different

Compound Intervals

Intervals more an octave

Consonant intervals

Pleasant sounding intervals, stable, P1, P5, P8, M3, m3, M6, m6, sometimes P4

Dissonant Intervals

Harsh, tension intervals, M2, m2, M7, m7, sometimes P4, all augmented and diminished intervals

Major seventh

Major triad + Major seventh

Dominant seventh / Major-minor seventh

seventh on So, Major triad + minor seventh

Minor seventh

minor triad+ minor seventh

Half-diminished seventh

diminished triad + minor seventh,°

Fully-diminished seventh

diminished triad + diminished seventh

Seventh Chord first inversion

6/5, second at the top

Seventh chord second inversion

4/3, second in the middle

Seventh chord third inversion

4/2 or 2, second at the bottom

where does the fully-diminished seventh chord occur

on the leading tone in harmonic minor

Function

the placement of a chord within a key

Tonic chord examples

I, i , vi, VI

Subdominant or Predominant chord examples

IV, iv, ii, ii°

Dominant chord examples

V, vii°

Common-practice style harmonic progressions

T-PD(or S)-D-T

Perfect Authentic Cadence

V-I both in root position

Imperfect Authentic Cadence

V-I not both in root position

Plagal Cadence

IV-I

Deceptive Cadence

V- anything other than I, usually to VI

Half Cadence

ending on a V chord

Phrygian Half Cadence

iv⁶- V, only in minor keys

Contrary motion

Oblique motion

Similar motion

Parallel motion

Circle progression

chordal motion where the root is a diatonic fifth above the next chord

Progression by Thirds

Chordal motion where the root is a third up or down

Progression by seconds

Chordal motion where the root is up or down by a second

Types of second inversion chords

passing, pedal, arpeggiated, cadential

Retrogression

T-D-PD-T (harmonies moving backwards)

Passing role

a chord/note to create a smooth connecting line by moving a step in the bass

Pedal tones

the same note multiple times as a constant

Arpeggiated

when there is an arpeggio

Neighbor role

a chord/note that goes a step above or below to go back to the original again

Fragmentation

Dividing a musical idea into smaller segments

Antecedent-consequent

musical “question and answer”

Period

An antecedent and consequent together (a “question and answer together)

Embellishing/ornamental notes

non-chord tones to create temporary dissonance

Appoggiatura

grace note

incomplete neighbor

note approached by a leap and left by a step

Escape tones

note approached by a step, left by an opposite skip

Suspension

suspending a note, prolonging a constant note

Retardation

a note from the chord before that is held over, a non-chord tone on a downbeat, opposite of a suspension

Anticipation

A note of a chord played early

Homophonic Texture

A main melody accompanies by chords, chords have the same rhythm as the melody

Polyphonic Texture

The harmony and rhythm intertwine, counterpoint, the left hand is like its own melody

Monophonic Texture

All parts play in unison or the same pitch

Homophonic

One main melody with backup