Mode/modal
system of scales before major/minor
major
happy
take away three semitones to get minor
minor
sad
add three semitones to get to major
intervals
space between notes
obligato
a prominent solo instrument in vocal music
acciacatura
crushed note just before or on the beat
mordent
-_- (upside down)
trill
------_
perfect cadence
ends nicely
imperfect cadance
sounds like there should be more
tierce de picardie
minor piece ending it major chord
harmonic minor scale
a minor scales that’s notes are the same ascending and descending
melodic minor scale
a minor scales that’s notes are different ascending and descending
natural
A minor (if G#)
C major
B flat
F major
F sharp
G major
atonal
no feeling of key
inverted pedal
repeated or sustained high note while piece develops underneath
chromatic
increases by a semitone
whole tone scale
scale that contains no semitones
glissando
sliding from one note to another
modulation
change of key
syllabic
each syllable is given one note only
melismatic
several notes sung to one syllable
counter melody
a second melody heard at the same time as main melody
pitch bend
changing a pitch of notes (holding guitar string upwards)
tone
interval of two semitones
semitone
smallest possible distance between two notes