GSCE Keywords Checklist

Question 1

melody

Answer 1

the main tune

Question 2

conjunct/disjunct

Answer 2

con- notes near each other

dis- notes with (a) step(s) between

Question 3

interval

Answer 3

the distance between 2 notes

Question 4

harmony

Answer 4

notes which compliment the main melody

Question 5

chromatic

Answer 5

a 13 note scale where every step is a semitone

Question 6

diatonic

Answer 6

notes which fit in the correct key

Question 7

tonic

Answer 7

chord I

Question 8

subdominant

Answer 8

chords IV

Question 9

dominant

Answer 9

chord V

Question 10

cadence

Answer 10

what chord/ how the song ends in regards to the tonic

Question 11

allegro

Answer 11

fast

Question 12

crescendo/diminuendo

Answer 12

getting louder/getting quieter

Question 13

continuo

Answer 13

instruments which provide a rhythmic backing for a solo instrument

Question 14

concerto gross

Answer 14

a baroque concerto for a small group of soloists and orchestra

Question 15

scat

Answer 15

‘ba do da dee’ in blues, jazz and rock and roll

Question 16

syllabic

Answer 16

every syllable of the text is sung to as single note

Question 17

melismatic

Answer 17

the opposite of syllabic- a single syllable is sung over a succession of notes

Question 18

sequence

Answer 18

where a melodic phase is immediately repeated at a different pitch, often by step

Question 19

riff

Answer 19

repeating sequence, often on (bass) guitar

Question 20

texture

Answer 20

how thick/thin the music is

Question 21

timbre

Answer 21

instruments

Question 22

bridge

Answer 22

leading into the chorus

Question 23

middle 8

Answer 23

the different bit between the second and third chorus

Question 24

falsetto

Answer 24

men singing high

Question 25

portamento

Answer 25

vocal slide in blues

Question 26

backbeat

Answer 26

drum emphasis on 2nd and 4th beat