All Flashcards
What is a natural minor scale?
A minor scale with the pattern Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole.
What is a harmonic minor scale?
A natural minor scale with a raised 7th degree.
What is a melodic minor scale?
Ascending: raised 6th and 7th. Descending: Same as natural minor.
Define relative keys.
Keys sharing the same key signature but different tonics, a minor third apart.
Define parallel keys.
Keys sharing the same tonic but different modes (major/minor).
Define chromatic scale.
A scale with 12 pitches, all a half step apart.
What is a whole-tone scale?
A scale with all whole steps, containing 6 notes.
Define minor pentatonic scale.
1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th of a natural minor scale.
Define major pentatonic scale.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th of a major scale.
What is timbre?
The unique sound quality of an instrument or voice.
Define monophony.
One single melody.
Define homophony.
Melody with accompaniment.
Define polyphony.
Multiple independent melodies at once.
What is syncopation?
Accents on off-beats.
What are polyrhythms?
Conflicting rhythms played simultaneously.
What is syncopation?
Accenting normally weak beats
What are polyrhythms?
Simultaneous use of conflicting rhythms
What is Hemiola?
Feeling of a change in meter, often 3 in the space of 2, or vice versa
What is agogic accent?
Emphasis on a note through duration
What is a fermata?
A symbol indicating a note should be held longer than its written value
What is the preferred motion in counterpoint?
Contrary/oblique motion.
What type of intervals should be avoided in counterpoint?
Tritones.