Nat5 - popular+world

• Blues music


  Originated as songs that slaves sang about their freedom in southern America. Today blues music still references the themes of slavery and spreads out the discrimination experienced by the people of African American heritage. Blues music is normally played at a slow tempo and can used a scale called 'blues scale' which has some sharpened and flattened notes.
• Ragtime music


  Well known for using syncopation. Popularly played on the piano but can be performed on other instruments such as the guitar.
• Jazz music


  Jazz can cover many types of music but it has things in common such as: improvisation, instruments like the piano/sax/trumpet/clarinet/double bass, scat singing, syncopation.
• Improvisation


  A chance for a instrumentalist to make up the music as they go along and lots take the chance to show off.
• Jazz trio


  • piano, drum kit, double bass
• Larger jazz ensemble


  • saxophone, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar, occasionally other instruments
• Scat singing


  It's used in Jazz music and is when the singer uses nonsense words or makes up words.
• Con sordino


  When jazz trumpet and trombone players play with a mute, to give a very characteristic lily 'jazzy' sound.
• Swing music


  It emerged from Jazz. It used two sections in its 'swing bands': rhythm section which includes the guitar, piano, drums, and bass, and front line/horns which includes the saxophone, trumpets and trombones.
• Gospel music


  Developed from negro spirituals, but maintains a strong emphasis on Christian beliefs, while incorporating elements of blues and jazz. It's a distinct style wildly used in churches across the USA. It often features a large gospel choir sining in harmony with one or more soloists. Often featuring the organ which can even be played with a glissando.
• Words used in gospel music


  • Hallelujah, holy lord, praise, god, worthy, Jesus
• Glissando


  Sliding from one note to another.
• Harmony


  The sounding at the same time of different pitches in grouping called chords
• Solo


  One instrument/voice performing alone.
• Rock and roll music


  Music developed from jazz and blues but with more emphasis on lead and rhythm guitars with the horn section used less. (Trumpets, sax, trombone)
• Walking bass


  It can be used in meany styles especially those related to jazz. It plays a different note on each beat and can follow an ascending and then descending pattern.
• Distortion


  It's an electronic effect on the electric guitar which changes the sound of the guitar to become more 'crunchy' or 'fuzzy'.
• Riff


  It's often used in rock and pop music and is a repeated melody.
• Pitch bend


  When you can hear the note 'sliding' up as the guitarist bends the string with his left hand.
• Drum fill


  When a drummer breaks from their drumming pattern at the end of a section of music, often to transition into another style.
• Reverb


  An effect which makes the voice sound like it has a slight echo.
• Strophic


  Strophic form is when a song has repeated sections. Each verse has the same music (most common form of song)
• Verse


  Always a similar melody but with different lyrics.
• Chorus


  Same music and words.
• Middle eight


  Contrasting section of music usually eight bars.
• Backing vocals


  Sung by singers other then the main singer. They can be sung to lyrics or to 'oohs' or 'aahs' and can be sung in unison, harmony or in imitation.
• Coda


  A section at the end of the piece that finishes the song off .
• Unison


  When you play or sing the same notes.
• Ostinato


  A pattern that is repeated continuously throughout a section of music.
• Modulation


  When the music changes key.
• Anacrusis


  The first string beat before the phrase.
• Vamp


  A pattern consisting of a bass note and then a chord repeatedly.
• Syncopation


  When the melody uses notes that are off the beat.
• Tabla


  Small pair of Indian drums
• Sitar


  Indian string instrument that plays the 'raga'
• Raga


  The melody
• Drone


  Low note(s) played continuously throughout