AP Music Theory Exam Terms and Symbols

These flashcards cover key terms and symbols relevant to the AP Music Theory Exam, focusing on essential concepts and definitions.

Cadence

A melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of resolution.

Coda

A concluding passage of a piece of music that brings it to an end.

Countermelody

A secondary melody that complements the main melody.

Elision

The overlapping of phrases where one phrase ends and another begins.

Fragment

A small part of a musical idea or motif.

Jazz and pop: Bridge

A contrasting section that prepares for the return of the original material.

Augmentation

The expansion of a musical idea by lengthening the note values.

Diminution

The division of a longer note into shorter notes, often used in embellishment.

Inversion

A rearrangement of the notes in a musical idea or chord.

Melodic transformation

A process that alters a melody in a significant way, such as changing its rhythm or contour.

Seventh Chord

A chord that consists of a triad plus an additional note that is a seventh above the root.

First inversion triad

A triad where the third of the chord is the lowest note.

Suspension

A musical device where a note from a previous chord is held over into the next chord, creating tension.

Ternary form

A three-part musical form where the first section is followed by a contrasting section and then a return to the first section.

Theme

The main melodic idea of a composition, often developed throughout the piece.