Chapter 3 and 4 Vocabulary + Study Guide

instruments of the string family

the violin, viola, cello, and double bass

resonator

a device that naturally vibrates at certain frequencies that is used to amplify sound waves at those frequencies

instruments of the woodwind family

flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and basson

aerophone

any musical instrument that creates sound when a column or mass of air vibrates

instruments of the brass family

trumpet, french horn, trombone, and tuba

membranophones

any musical instrument that makes sound primarily by vibrating a stretched skin or membrane

pitched percussion

any percussion instrument that produces definite pitches

unpitched percussion

any percussion instrument that does not produces definite pitches

keyboard instruments

any musical instrument played by pressing a row of keys, buttons, or levers with the fingers, such as pianos, organs, accordions, or a synthesizer

electroacoustic instruments

an acoustic musical instrument that uses electronic devices to amplify, modify, or enhance its sound, such as an electric guitar or modified orchestral instruments

brass, flutes, and reeds vs lutes, zithers, harps

brass, flutes, and reed are wind instruments (aerophones), which produce sound by vibrating a column of air inside a tube. On the other hand, lutes, zithers, and harps are strong instruments who produce sound through the vibration of strings

idiophone

a musical instrument that creates sound primarily through the vibration of the entire instrument body itself, without using strings, air flow, or stretched membranes

rhythm

the arrangement of musical sounds in time

BPM

beats per minute; the numerical measurement of a song’s temp or speed

Beat

one unit of the steady pulse that determines temp and meter

Metronome

a mechanical or digital practice tool that produces a steady, regulated pulse or click at a user-defined tempo, measured in beats per minute (BPM)

Syncopation

a disruption in the regular pattern of accented and unaccented beats, such as offbeat accents, a missed downbeat, or anticipation

compound meter vs simple meter

a compound meter is divided into equal thirds while a simple meter is divided into equal halves

Rubato

the deliberate, small scale distortion of tempo, such as when a performer flexibly speeds up and slows down the temp for expressive purposes.