Musical Forms & Time Signatures

Music Tech || MT CA3 - Musical Elements, Style, and Technology

What is time signature?

• It tells us how many beats are in each bar of music

• In a piece of music it comes just after the clef

What is tempo?

How fast or slow the music is

What is 12 bar form?

A specific harmonic chord sequence using chords I, IV, and V

What is the harmonic structure for a 12 bar form?

• Chord I for 4 bars

• Chord IV for 2 bars

• Chord I for 2 bars

• Chord V for 1 bar

• Chord IV for 1 bar

• Chord I for 2 bars

What is through composed form?

Where new music is created for each section

What is a strophic form?

The harmony and melody are repeated throughout (AAA)

What is binary form?

A form that only has two sections, relatively long (AB)

What is ternary form?

A form that has three sections (ABA)

What is arch form?

A form that has three different sections and ends with section B and A (ABCBA)

What is rondo form?

Ternary with an added C section ending with the repetition of A (ABACA)

What does it mean if a note is dotted?

It means that the note now has the duration of itself plus half its value

Why are dotted rhythms used?

• Can add interest, tension, and release to your rhythmic or melodic lines.

• This is because it can create an upbeat into the following note.

What is syncopation?

When notes are accented that would usually not be accented

What are triplets?

A way of playing three notes in the time of two notes