Scales

• A scale is a collection of arranged pitches used as the basis for music

• The distance between any two pitches is an interval

• An octave is an interval between two pitches where they sound very similar, just higher or lower. the frequencies are related in a 2:1 ratio

• The diatonic scale is the Western music set of seven pitches which make up the octave (eight span), as the first is repeated (just the white keys)

• The chromatic scale is the 12 pitches, including the diatonic scale and the five in between (white and black keys)

• Diatonic pitches are notated on lines and spaces in the staff

• Chromatic pitches are notated with either flat (b) or sharp (#)

• A half step (semitone) is the smallest easily identifiable interval (C to C#, B to C, E to F, etc.)

• A whole step is two half steps, and the distance between two white keys which are separated by a black key

Melody

• A melody is an organized series of pitches built from any scale

• Pitches can be organized in a melodic line

• A tune is a simple, easily singable, catchy melody (a special, relatively short, kind of melody)

• Motives and themes are like the tunes of longer pieces?

• Phrases are typically 2, 4, or 8 bars long, sometimes longer, but balanced!

• Balance between phrases can be strengthened with parallelism (same notes, different words)

• Sequence is the duplication of a phrase at 2+ different pitch levels

• A climax is a distinct high point

• A cadence is a stopping or pausing place

• The distinctive fragment of melody repeated in a composition is its motive

• A theme (topic) is the basic subject matter of longer pieces