Music key words

• What is a major scale?

  A major scale is a melody that sounds bright
• What is a minor scale?

  A minor scale is a melody that sounds dark
• What is a diatonic melody?

  A diatonic melody uses only notes from the scale
• What is a chromatic melody?

  A chromatic melody moves in semitones
• What is a pentatonic (or hexatonic) melody?

  A pentatonic (or hexatonic) melody uses notes from a 5 (pent) or 6 (hex) note scale
• What is a passing note?

  A passing note is a note played off the beat, that allows the melody to move from one note in the chord to the next
• What are blue notes?

  Blue notes are flattened notes to give a bluesy feel to the melody
• What is an appoggiatura?

  An appoggiatura is similar to a passing note, but played in time (no line through smaller note)
• What is a whole tone melody?

  A whole tone melody uses notes from a whole tone scale, moving in tones with no semitones
• What is a trill?

  A trill is a decoration of the melody, moving back and forth between 2 next door notes very fast
• What is a modal melody?

  A modal melody uses mainly notes from a particular mode/scale
• What is a turn?

  A turn is a decoration of the melody, quickly moving up a note, returning to the first note, then down a note and returning
• What is a conjunct melody?

  A conjunct melody moves in mainly steps or small jumps
• What is a disjunct melody?

  A disjunct melody moves in wide or irregular jumps
• What is a wide/narrow range melody?

  A wide/narrow range melody refers to how small or large the interval is between the lowest and highest notes
• What is an acciaccatura?

  An acciaccatura is a grace/crushed note, where the notes are played together quickly making a small dissonance
• What is a pitch bend?

  A pitch bend is usually on a string instrument, sometimes on a wind one, playing all the micro frequencies between two or more notes
• What is a glissando?

  A glissando is sliding from one note to another, playing each note in between
• What is a theme in music?

  A theme is the opening musical idea, often representing a place or emotion in film music
• What is a motif (or hook) in music?

  A motif (or hook) is the catchy part of a popular piece of music, often found in the chorus
• What is a sequence in music?

  A sequence is taking a small melodic idea and repeating it up or down a note
• What is a leitmotif in film music?

  A leitmotif is a melodic idea that represents a character in film music
• What is an inversion in music?

  An inversion is when you turn the melody upside down
• What is a riff in popular music?

  A riff is a short, catchy repeated melodic phrase, usually on guitar
• What is improvisation in music?

  Improvisation is making up the melody on the spot
• What is portamento in music?

  Portamento is a type of pitch bend, sliding from one note to another but hitting all the micro-frequencies between the notes
• What is a motif in music?

  A motif is a small collection of notes that capture the essence/idea of the piece
• What is articulation in music?

  Articulation refers to whether the melody is played smooth (legato) or detached (staccato)
• What is a triadic melody?

  A triadic melody moves in triads
• What is a scalic melody?

  A scalic melody moves in scales, or scalic passages
• What is a lyrical melody?

  A lyrical melody is written in a singing style
• What is a fragmented melody?

  A fragmented melody is broken up, often across multiple instruments
• What are the key differences between major and minor scales?

  • Major scales sound bright, while minor scales sound dark
  • Major scales are made up of whole steps and half steps, while minor scales have a different pattern of whole and half steps
  • Major scales are associated with happy, upbeat emotions, while minor scales are associated with sad, melancholic emotions
• What are the differences between conjunct and disjunct melodies?

  • Conjunct melodies move in mainly steps or small jumps
  • Disjunct melodies move in wide or irregular jumps
  • Conjunct melodies have a smoother, more connected sound
  • Disjunct melodies have a more fragmented, disconnected sound
• What are the differences between themes, motifs, and leitmotifs in music?

  • Themes are the opening musical ideas, often representing a place or emotion in film music
  • Motifs (or hooks) are the catchy, repeated melodic phrases, often found in the chorus of popular music
  • Leitmotifs are melodic ideas that represent a specific character in film music
• What are the differences between triadic, scalic, and fragmented melodies?

  • Triadic melodies move in triads
  • Scalic melodies move in scales or scalic passages
  • Fragmented melodies are broken up, often across multiple instruments
  • Triadic and scalic melodies have a more connected, flowing sound
  • Fragmented melodies have a more disjointed, disconnected sound
• What are the differences between articulation types in melodies?

  • Legato articulation means the melody is played smoothly, with notes connected
  • Staccato articulation means the melody is played in a detached, separated manner
  • Legato melodies have a more flowing, connected sound
  • Staccato melodies have a more choppy, disconnected sound
• What are the differences between ornaments like trills, turns, and appoggiaturas?

  • Trills are rapid alternations between two adjacent notes
  • Turns quickly move up a note, return to the original note, then move down a note and return
  • Appoggiaturas are similar to passing notes, but played in time (not crushed)
  • These ornaments add decoration and embellishment to the melody
• What is diatonic music?

  Music using only notes from the scale/key the piece is in
• What is chromatic music?

  Music moving in semitones