ap music theory units 1-3 terms

Staff

The five lines and four spaces used to notate pitch.

Clef

A symbol that assigns pitches to lines and spaces on the staff.

Treble Clef

Clef that places G4 on the second line.

Bass Clef

Clef that places F3 on the fourth line.

Alto Clef

C clef centered on the middle line.

Tenor Clef

C clef centered on the fourth line.

Grand Staff

Treble and bass clefs joined together.

Ledger Lines

Short lines added above or below the staff to extend pitch range.

Pitch

How high or low a sound is perceived.

Accidentals

Marks that raise or lower a pitch (♯, ♭, ♮, 𝄪, 𝄫).

Enharmonic

Two notes that sound the same but are spelled differently.

Octave Designation

Numbering system indicating pitch register (ex: C4 is middle C).

Beat

The steady pulse of the music.

Tempo

The speed of the beat.

Rhythm

Patterns of long and short sounds.

Meter

The organization of beats into recurring groups.

Simple Meter

Meter where the beat divides into two equal parts.

Compound Meter

Meter where the beat divides into three equal parts.

Asymmetric Meter

Meter with irregular beat groupings like 5/8 or 7/8.

Time Signature

Numbers showing beats per measure and beat value.

Measure

A group of beats bounded by barlines.

Barline

A vertical line that divides measures.

Downbeat

The first beat of the measure.

Upbeat (Anacrusis)

A pickup note before the first full measure.

Subdivision

Dividing the beat into smaller units.

Note Values

Notation symbols that indicate duration.

Rests

Symbols indicating silence for a specific duration.

Dot

Adds half the value of a note.

Double Dot

Adds three-fourths the value of a note.

Tie

Connects two notes of the same pitch into one sound.

Slur

Indicates notes to be played smoothly.

Syncopation

Accents on weak beats or off-beats.

Whole Step

Two half steps.

Half Step

The smallest interval in Western music.

Major Scale

Pattern of W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

Natural Minor Scale

Pattern of W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

Harmonic Minor

Natural minor with raised 7th.

Melodic Minor

Natural minor with raised 6 and 7 ascending; natural minor descending.

Scale Degree

The position of a note in a scale (1–7).

Scale Degree Names

Tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading tone.

Key Signature

Sharps or flats indicating the key.

Circle of Fifths

Diagram showing key relationships.

Parallel Keys

Major and minor keys with same tonic.

Relative Keys

Major and minor keys with same key signature.

Tonality

Music organized around a tonic.

Atonal

Music without a tonal center.

Interval

The distance between two notes.

Interval Quality

Perfect, major, minor, augmented, diminished.

Consonance

Stable-sounding interval.

Dissonance

Unstable-sounding interval.

Compound Interval

Interval larger than an octave.

Melodic Interval

Notes sounded one after another.

Harmonic Interval

Notes sounded at the same time.

Inversion

Flipping an interval so the bottom note moves to the top.

Melodic Contour

The shape of a melody.

Conjunct Motion

Stepwise melodic motion.

Disjunct Motion

Melodic motion by leaps.

Motive

A short musical idea.

Phrase

A musical “sentence.”

Cadence

A point of melodic or harmonic closure.

Sequence

Repeating a motive at a different pitch.

Repetition

Exact reuse of musical material.

Ornamentation

Decorative musical embellishments like trills and turns.

Monophonic

One melody without accompaniment.

Homophonic

Melody with chordal accompaniment.

Polyphonic

Two or more independent melodies.

Homorhythmic

All voices share the same rhythm.

Heterophonic

Simultaneous variations of one melody.

Timbre

The tone color or quality of a sound.

Instrument Families

Groups: strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, voices.

Register

The relative high or low range of pitches.

Triad

A three-note chord built in thirds.

Root

The fundamental pitch of a chord.

Third

The middle note of a triad.

Fifth

The highest note of a basic triad.

Major Triad

Triad with major third + perfect fifth.

Minor Triad

Triad with minor third + perfect fifth.

Diminished Triad

Triad with minor third + diminished fifth.

Augmented Triad

Triad with major third + augmented fifth.

Root Position

Triad with the root in the bass.

First Inversion

Triad with the third in the bass (6).

Second Inversion

Triad with the fifth in the bass (6/4).

Seventh Chord

A triad with a seventh above the root.

Major Seventh Chord

Major triad + major seventh.

Dominant Seventh Chord

Major triad + minor seventh.

Minor Seventh Chord

Minor triad + minor seventh.

Half-Diminished Seventh

Diminished triad + minor seventh (ø7).

Fully Diminished Seventh

Diminished triad + diminished seventh (°7).

7th Chord Inversions

Root (7), first (6/5), second (4/3), third (4/2).

Roman Numeral Analysis

System identifying chords by scale degree and quality.

Figured Bass

Numbers showing intervals above the bass note.