Musical Experience

pitch

Highness or lowness of a note, depending on the frequency

frequency

Rate of vibration of a string or column of air, which determines pitch

note

A musical symbol denoting pitch and duration

staff

The five parallel lines on which notes are written

notation

The practice of writing down music, as opposed to oral tradition

duration

Length of time something lasts; e.g., the vibration of a musical sound

volume

Degree of loudness or softness of a sound; also amplitude. See also dynamics

tone color

See timbre

timbre

The quality of a sound that distinguishes one voice or instrument from another. Also tone color

melody

Succession of single pitches perceived by the ear as a unity

range

Distance between the lowest and highest pitches of a melody, an instrument, or a voice

contour

The overall shape of a melodic line. It can move upward or downward or remain static

interval

The distance and relationship between two pitches

conjunct

Smooth, connected melody that moves principally by small intervals

disjunct

Disjointed or disconnected melody with many leaps

phrase

A musical unit; often a component of a melody

cadence

Resting place in a musical phrase; musical punctuation

countermelody

An accompanying melody sounded against the principal melody

rhyme scheme

The arrangement of rhyming words or corresponding sounds at the end of poetic lines

climax

The high point in a melodic line or piece of music, usually representing the peak of intensity, range, and dynamics

rhythm

The controlled movement of music in time

beat

Regular pulsation; a basic unit of length in musical time

accent

The emphasis on a beat resulting in its being louder or longer than another in a measure

meter

Organization of rhythm in time; the grouping of beats into larger, regular patterns, notated as measures

measure, or bar

Metric grouping of beats, notated on the musical staff and separated by vertical bar lines

bar (or measure) lines

Vertical lines on a staff that separate measures; each measure gets a specific number of beats

downbeat

First beat of the measure, the strongest in any meter.

duple meter

Basic metrical pattern of two beats to a measure

triple meter

Basic metrical pattern of three beats to a measure

quadruple meter

Basic metrical pattern of four beats to a measure. Also common time

simple meter

Meter in which the beat is divided into two, as opposed to compound meter

compound meter

Meter in which each main beat is divided into three rather than two

sextuple meter

Compound metrical pattern of six beats to a measure

upbeat

Last beat of a measure, a weak beat that anticipates the downbeat

syncopation

Deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse through a temporary shifting of the accent to a weak beat or an offbeat.

offbeat

A weak beat or weak portion of a beat.

polyrhythm

The simultaneous use of several rhythmic patterns or meters, common in twentieth-century music and certain African musics

nonmetric

Music lacking a strong sense of beat or meter, common in certain non-Western cultures.

harmony

The simultaneous combination of notes and the ensuing relationships of intervals and chords

chord

Simultaneous combination of three or more pitches that constitute a single block of harmony

scale

Series of pitches in ascending or descending order, comprising the notes of a key

octave

Interval between two notes eight diatonic pitches apart; the lower note vibrates half as fast as the upper and sounds an octave lower

triad

Common chord type, consisting of three pitches built on alternate notes of the scale (e.g., steps 1–3–5, or do–mi–sol).

tonic

The first note of the scale, or key; do.

tonality

Principle of organization around a tonic, or home, pitch, based on a major or minor scale

dissonance

Combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable, in need of resolution

consonance

Concordant or harmonious combination of pitches that provides a sense of relaxations and stability in music

drone

Sustained sounding of one or several pitches for harmonic support, a common feature of some folk musics