AP Music Theory Ultimate Guide (copy)

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351 Terms

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Articulation

________ can also be indicated by symbols such as dots, lines, and accents placed above or below the note.

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exact interval size

The ________ is described by quantity and quality.

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Rhythmic patterns

________ should be grouped with the beam to indicate beat units.

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intervals

All ________ built from the tonic up to notes within a major scale are either major or perfect.

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compound meter

In ________, the time signature represents the subdivision, not the beat.

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key signature

The ________ is always written on the staff between the clef and the meter signature.

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interval

A minor ________ is one- half step smaller than major.

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Pitch

The highness or lowness of a sound

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System

When multiple staves are connected together by bar lines, brackets, or a brace

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Neutral clef

Used for rhythm only or for pitchless or untuned instruments such as triangle, cymbals, or tambourine

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Staf (Staves)

Where most music is written

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Clefs

What determines the names of the lines and spaces used

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C clef

Sign used for all of the previously mentioned vocal ranges

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Movable C clef

The clef that locates middle C and moves around from line to line to designate range

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Alto clef

When the C clef is placed on the third line of the staff

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Tenor clef

When the C clef is placed on the fourth line of the staff

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Treble clef

When the G clef is placed on the second line of the staff

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Bass clef

When the F clef is placed on the fourth line of the staff

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Ledger lines

Small lines that extend the staff while still keeping the five lines and four spaces intact

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Half step

The smallest space or distance between notes

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Sharp

Raises the pitch one-half step above its natural pitch

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Flat

Lowers the pitch one-half step below its natural pitch

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Natural

The musical symbol that cancels out a flat or a sharp

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Double sharp

Musical symbol used to raise a pitch by two half steps

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Double flat

Musical symbol that lowers the pitch by two half steps

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Dot and tie

Two symbols that extend the length or duration of a note

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Dot

Used to extend the value of a single note by one-half of its original value

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Double dot

Lengthens the dotted note value by half the length of the first dot

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Tie

It combines the durational values of two or more notes of the same pitch using a curved line

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Half step

The smallest space or distance between notes

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Whole step

The distance between two notes that are two semitones or two half steps apart

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Interval

The distance between two pitches

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Quality

Expressed by a number and determined by counting the distance between one letter name and the next letter name

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Diminished interval

An interval that is one-half step smaller than perfect or minor

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Augmented interval

An interval that is one-half step larger than major or perfect

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Enharmonic intervals

They sound the same but are spelled differently and function differently

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Doubly augmented interval

When a major or perfect interval is made one whole step larger without changing the letter names of the pitches

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Doubly diminished interval

When a minor or perfect interval is made one whole step smaller without changing the letter names of the pitches

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Consonant intervals

Stable

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Dissonant intervals

Unstable, the impression of activity or tension

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Major scale

Created using a pattern for whole and half steps

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The circle of fifths

Demonstrates the relationship of the tonal centers to each other

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Key signature

A form of shorthand that dispenses with the writing of accidentals (sharps and flats) for the notes affected by the pattern

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Common time

Represented by a lowercase c, it is used to represent 4/4

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Alla breve (Cut time)

Designated by a c with a line going through, is a substitute of 2/2

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Asymmetrical meters

Meters that have beat units of unequal length

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Meter

The organization of musical time into recurring patterns of strong and weak beats

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Duple (Strong weak)

Two beats per measure

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Triple (Strong weak weak)

Three beats per measure

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Quadruple (Strong weak less strong weak)

Four beats per measure

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Downbeat

The first beat of the measure

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Anacrusis

Songs that begin with one or more notes that precede the first full measure

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Syncopation

The rhythmic displacement of the expected strong beat created by using dots, rests, ties, accent marks, rhythm, and dynamics

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Hemiola

A special type of syncopation where the bead is temporarily regrouped into twos

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Cross-rhythm

Metric device where the rhythmic relation of three notes occurs in the time of two

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Note head

Body of the note

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Stem

Part of a note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than the whole note

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Flag

Part of the note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than a quarter note

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Bar line

The vertical line that divides the staff into measures

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Measure

The unit of space between the bar lines

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Double bar line

Two lines that signal the end of a section of music

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Final bar line

Indicates the end of the piece or composition

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Tempo

The speed of the beat

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Absolute dynamics

Refers to the specific volume level indicated by the symbol or word

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Relative dynamics

Refers to the change in volume level from one symbol or word to another

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Articulation

The way in which notes are played or sung

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Dynamics

The volume or intensity of a musical performance.

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Sharps

________ are used for the ascending scale.

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Enharmonic equivalent flats

________ are used for the descending scale.

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exact interval size

The ________ is described by quantity and quality.

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Natural minor scale

The sixth scale in the rotation of church modes

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Three forms of minor

Natural, harmonic, and melodic

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Minor pentachord

Same first five notes that the three forms of minor start with

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Natural form of minor

No alterations to the key signature

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Harmonic form of minor

The 7th scale degree is raised both ascending and descending

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Melodic form of minor

The 6th and 7th scale degrees are raised

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Scale degree

Each step of the scale

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Tonic

The beginning pitch of the scale

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Scale degree 1

The tone on which the scale is built, the tonal center

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Scale degree 2

Above the tonic

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Scale degree 3

Halfway between the tonic and dominant

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Scale degree 4

A fifth below the tonic

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Scale degree 5

Perfect fifth above the tonic

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Scale degree 6

In between the subdominant and the tonic

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Scale degree 7

Half step below Do

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Relative keys

Major and minor scales that have the same pitches and key signature

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Three forms of minor

Natural, harmonic, and melodic

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Natural form of minor

No alterations to the key signature

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Harmonic form of minor

The 7th scale degree is raised both ascending and descending

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Melodic form of minor

The 6th and 7th scale degrees are raised

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Parallel keys

Keys that share the same tonic note but have different key signatures

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Closely related keys

Keys that have a small number of differences in their key signatures

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Distantly related keys

Keys that have a large number of differences in their key signatures

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Chromatic scale

Symmetrical scale with all pitches spaced a half step apart

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Heptatonic scales

There are seven tones in the scale

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Hexatonic scale

There are six tones in this scale

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Whole-tone scale

Each pitch is a whole step apart

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Pentatonic scale

Has five tones

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Major pentatonic

To build it, in the Circle of Fifths, start from C up to 5 consecutive pitches

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Relative minor pentatonic

It uses the same pitch as the C pentatonic but it starts on A