AP music theory unit 1 terms - rhythm/meter

accent

loud attack and emphasis

anacrusis

one or more unstressed notes before the first full bar of music

asymmetrical meter

containing beats of different lengths

bar line

division between measures of music

beat

steady, underlying pulse that keeps time in a song

beat unit

note that gets the beat

beat division

how beat is divided

dot/double dot

increasing the notes value by ½/¾

dotted rhythm

rhythmic pattern where one+ notes are held for more than half their original length

downbeat

first beat of the measure

duplet

indicates beat should be subdivided into two

duration

length of time sound or silence occurs

meter

corresponds to consistent pattern of strong or weak beats

note value

length of time a note is held in relation to a piece’s tempo and time signature

offbeat

a rhythmically weak or unaccented beat

pulse

main felt of unit or silence in a piece of music, sets tempo

rhythm

patterns of sounds and silence within a pulse

swing rhythm

rhythmic pattern where the beat is unevenly emphasized

tempo

the speed of a beat

tie

a curved line connecting two notes

time signaure

simple: how many beats per bar/note that makes beat, compound: how many divisions per bar/note that makes beat

triplet

beat should be subdivided in three