Texture
Scales
Rhythm
Key Relationships
Intervals
Composition
100
Describes music with two or more
simultaneous lines of independent
melody rather than harmony.
Polyphonic
100
A scale formed by lowering the 3rd and
6th degrees of a major scale, producing
a distinctive sound often used in classical
music.
Harmonic Minor
100
A symbol indicating that a note should
be held longer than its written value,
adding expressive depth to the
performance.
Fermata
100
Keys that start on the same note but
have different key signatures,
showcasing different tonal relationships.
Parallel Keys
100
An interval that spans more than one
octave, creating a broader range in
musical composition.
Compound Interval
100
The comfortable range within which
most notes lie on a specific instrument.
Tessitura
200
A texture where one melody
predominates while other parts play
either single notes or an elaborate
accompaniment, providing harmonic
support.
Homophonic
200
A scale created by lowering the 3rd, 6th,
and 7th degrees of a major scale,
resulting in a different tonal quality.
Natural Minor
200
A pick-up note or partial measure that
leads into the main theme or melody.
Anacrusis
200
Describes keys that differ by only one
sharp or flat in their key signatures,
facilitating transitions in music.
Closely Related
200
The distance between two notes that are
heard separately, fundamental in melody
construction.
Melodic Interval
200
The relationship between two or more musical lines which are harmonically interdependent yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour.
Counterpoint
300
Two instruments performing the same part in ensemble playing
Doubling
300
Ascending: lowers the 3rd of the major
scale; descending: follows the natural
minor scale.
Ascending: lowers the 3rd of the major
scale; descending: follows the natural
minor scale.
300
A rhythmic technique where various
rhythms are played together, making
parts of the music off-beat and creating
a lively effect.
Syncopation
300
Keys that start on different notes but
share the same key signature, allowing
for smooth modulations in compositions.
Relative Keys
300
The distance between two notes
sounded simultaneously, essential for
chord formation.
Harmonic Interval
300
A piece where voices or instrumental
parts sing or play the same music
starting at different times, creating a
layered effect.
Canon
400
A single-line texture or melody without
accompaniment, representing the
The simplest form of musical texture.
Monophonic
400
A scale comprising only half-steps (minor
2nds) across an octave, enriching the
harmonic palette.
Chromatic Scale
400
When two conflicting rhythmic patterns
are present simultaneously, creating
complex rhythmic textures.
Polyrhythm/Cross-Rhythm
400
Keys differing by two or more sharps or
flats in their signatures, often requiring
more complex modulations.
Distantly Related
400
The distance between two notes when
the lower note is moved to the top,
altering the interval's quality.
Inverted Interval
400
The repetition of a melody in a polyphonic texture shortly after its first appearance in a different voice.
Imitation
500
The type of bass movement heard in this exerpt.
Walking Bass
500
scale degrees that sound as if they are pulled towards others
Active Tones
500
A shift in rhythmic pulse from a division
of 2 to a division of 3, or vice versa, often
seen in time signatures like 6/8
transitioning to 3/4.
Hemiola
500
These are 4 of the 5 closely related keys to Bb Major
Gminor, Fmajor, Dminor, Eb Major, Cminor
500
The interval heard between the first two notes of this Debussy exerpt.
Minor Third
500
Indicates a broken chord style in
keyboard accompaniments, typically
following a bottom-top-middle-top
pattern.
Alberti Bass
600
The texture heard in this Bach Concerto Grosso.
Polypony / polyphonic
600
What scale is this melody derived from?
Major pentatonic
600
An accent created by duration, rather than loudness or metrical position, recieves more emphasis
Agogic accent
600
The key relationship between F# Major and C#minor?
Distantly related.
600
The interval heard between the second and third notes in this exerpt.
Major 6th
600
The compositional device heardmin this Chopin piece.
Ostinato