Music key terms

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Time signature
How many beats there are in a bar
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Metre
The pattern the beats make
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Syncopation
Where strong beats are moved away from the strong beats of a bar to the weaker beats of a bar
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Triplet
Three notes played in the space of two
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Hemiola
Where 2 bars of simple 3 time are played as if they were 3 bars of simple 2 time
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Polyrhythms
When 2 or more different rhythms are played at the same time
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Cross-rhythms
When 2 or more rhythms that don't fit together are played at the same time
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Diatonic harmony
When the notes belong to the main key of the piece
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Chromatic harmony
When the notes don't belong to the main key of the piece
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Drone
A long held note, usually in the bass
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Modulation
A change of key
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Tierce de Picardie
When a minor piece ends on a major chord
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Imitation
A repeated phrase with slight changes
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Canon
The same melody is played in different parts
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Unison
More than one instrument playing the same melody at the same pitch
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Octaves
More than one instrument playing the same melody, but at a higher or lower octave
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Homophonic
When each part moves at the sma etime, but at different pitches (chordal)
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Antiphonal
For example, 2 choirs singing at different times
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Polyphonic
More than one part playing different melodies at the same time (interweaving)
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Conjunct melody
Moves in a step-wise movement
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Disjunct melody
Melody that jumps around
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Triadic melody
Melody that uses the notes of a triad
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Scalic melody
Melody that uses the notes of a scale
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Blues scale
The 3rd and 7th note of any major scale is flattened. The second and 6th notes are often left ou
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Walking bass
Moves in steady one beat notes up and down the notes of the chords
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Glissando
A slide between notes
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Phrase
A "musical sentence" that is often 2, 4 or 8 bars long
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Stacatto
Short or detatched notes
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Improvisation
Where the musician makes up the music on the spot
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Djembe
An African drum from Guinnea and Mali
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Mbira
An African thumb piano. It has a twangy sound
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Sitar
A large, long necked string instrument from India. It usually plays the melody
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Tambura
Similar to the sitar, but it is smaller and used as a backing instrument
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Tabla
A pair of Indian drums
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Bongos
A pair of drums played with the hands, commonly used in Caribbean music
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Guiro
Makes a scrapy noise, often used in Caribbean music
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Timbre
The type of sound that differnt instruments make
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Distortion
Distorts the sound
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Reverb
Adds echo to the sound
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Chorus
Creates a slightly delayed copy of the original sound and combines the 2 together, making it sound as if there's more than 1 player
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Phaser
Creates a 'whooshing' effect
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Flanger
Similar to a phaser but makes a more intense sound. It is used a lot in sci-fi
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Pitch shifting
Used to bend the natural not or add another harmony
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Octave effects
Creates octaves above or below the note being played
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Crescendo
Getting louder
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Dimminuendo
Getting quieter
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Sforzando
A sudden, loud accent
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Pianissimo
Very quiet
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Piano
Quiet
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Mezzo piano
Moderatley quiet
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Mezzo forte
Moderately loud
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Forte
Loud
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Fortissimo
Very loud
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Ternary
In 3 parts (ABA)
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Call and response
LIke a question and answer. One musicin will play or sing a short phrase and others will then "answer"
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Theme and variation
Where the melody (or theme) is varied by adding or removing notes, changing the metre, adding a counter melody, changing the tempo, changing the key or tonality, or changing the accompaniment
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Continuo
A continuous bass part taht is often played by a harpsichord and a cello. It is used in Baroque music
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Ground bass
A repeated bass part
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Cadenza
A section that is played by a soloist in the middle of a concerto where they can show off
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The pattern the beats make

Back

Metre

Card 3

Front

Where strong beats are moved away from the strong beats of a bar to the weaker beats of a bar

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Three notes played in the space of two

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Where 2 bars of simple 3 time are played as if they were 3 bars of simple 2 time

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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