AP Music Theory Vocabulary List

Chromatic alteration

Changing the pitch with an accidental

Double flat

lowers the pitch by two half steps

Enharmonic Equivalent

Two notes that sound the same but are spelled differently

Flat

lowers a note by a half step

interval

The distance between two notes

double sharp

raises the pitch by two half steps

Accidentals

Generic name for signs used to change a pitch

Sharp

Raises a note by a half step

Half step

Smallest distance between two notes

Simple meter

Any time signature with a 2,3, or four on top

asymmetrical meter

Any time signature with 5 or 7 on top

compound meter

Any time signature that has a 6,9, or 12 on top

quadruple meter

Top number can be divided by 4

Syncopation

emphasis on the off beat

Hemiola

Feeling of 2 against 3

Cross rhythm

Simultaneous use of two conflicting rhythms

Tritone

A4 or d5

simple interval

interval smaller than an octave

compound interval

an interval larger than an octave

perfect interval

an interval of a unison, 4th, 5th, or octave

consonant intervals

Interval that sounds pleasing to the ear

Diatonic

notes within a given scale or key

Triple meter

Top number can be decided by three

duple meter

Top number can be divided by 2 ( unless it can be divided by 4)

augmented

Major or perfect Interval that is made larger by a half step

Diminished

Minor or perfect interval made smaller by a half step

minor interval

Major interval that is made smaller by a half step

pentatonic scale

5 note scale

Chromatic scale

A series of half steps

whole tone scale

Scale formed by all whole steps

Harmonic Minor Scale

a minor scale with a raised 7th scale degree

Dorian scale

Major scale with Lowered 3 and 7th

Natural Minor

Minor scale with no alterations

Lydian scale

major scale with raised 4

Melodic Minor Scale

Minor scale with raised 6th and 7th and natural in the way down

Myxolydian Scale

Major scale with lowered 7th

aeolian scale

natural minor scale

Tonic

1st scale degree

Supertonic

2nd scale degree

Mediant

3rd scale degree

Subdominant

4th scale degree

dominant

5th scale degree

Submediant

6th scale degree

leading tone

7th scale degree

Subtonic

Seventh degree of scale of natural minor

Deceptive Cadence

Ends with a iv

Plagal cadence

IV-I

Perfect authentic cadence

V-I with tonic in soprano and bass

Imperfect Authentic cadence

V-I with tonic only in either soprano or bass

Authentic Cadence

V-I

Half Cadence

ends with the V chord

Phrygian Half Cadence

Ends on the V chord in minor

7th Chord

4 notes stacked in thirds

root

Bottom note of a root position triad

4-3 suspension

Suspension where there is a 4th above the bass note going to a third above the bass note

Third

Middle note of a root position triad

5th

Top note of a root position triad

Dominant 7th chord

major triad, minor 7th

Triad

3 notes stacked in thirds

Fully diminished 7th chord

diminished triad, diminished 7th

Major 7th chord

major triad, major 7th

Minor 7th Chord

minor triad, minor 7th

Half diminished seventh chord

diminished triad and minor seventh

third inversion

4/2

2nd inversion

6/4 4/3

1st inversion

6 or 6/5

Chordal 7th

Top note of a root position 7th chord

Passing 6/4

I V6/4 I6

Pedal 6/4

I-IV6/4-I

unaccented passing tone

A passing tone that occurs on the off beat

Trill

A rapid alternation between two adjacent notes

Neighbor tones

Tone that is a step above or below the two surrounding notes

Retardation

Tone that resolves upward by step after chord change

Suspension

Tone that resolves down after chord change

Accented passing tone

Passing tone that occurs in the beat

passing tone

Tones that go by step

Anticipation

A tone that moves to a new tone before the rest of the chord is played

Escape tone

approached by step, resolved by leap

Cambiata

Approached by leap resolves by step

Contrary motion

voices moving in opposite directions

oblique motion

one voice stays the same, the other moves

Parallel motion

Voices moving in same direction by the same interval

similar motion

Voices moving in same direction by different intervals

Parallel fifths

Interval of a p5 followed by another p5

voice crossing

a lower voice sings a higher pitch than a higher voice

voice overlap

when a voice crosses above or below a pitch that was just used by another voice

spacing error

Over an octave between any adjacent upper voice.

Fa

Mi

Extension

Thematic material added at the end of a phrase or song

Ti

Do

Canon

Two or more voices sing the same melody but at different times

Polyphonic

Two or more different melodies played at the same time

Melismatic

many notes per syllable

Syllabic

one note per syllable

Monophonic

one melody

Homophonic

Melody with accompaniment

Heterophonic

Single melody embellished in other voices

Imitation

When a melody copies a previous melody

Countermelody

accompanying melody sounding against the principle melody

Picardy third

suddenly ending a minor composition in a major triad