Melody/ Harmony Flashcards
What is meant by mode/modal?
Term used to describe music based on a mode. There are a number of different modal patterns which were later refined and developed into our modern major and minor scale structures. Like a scale, modes can be built on any note.
What is a relative major?
Each major key has a relative minor which shares the same key signature. If we picked a major key, such as C Major for example, to find its relative minor key we would move down three semitones, which would take us to A Minor.
What is a relative minor?
If we were in a minor key and wanted to modulate (change key) to the relative major, we would move up three semitones. For example, if we were in E minor, an upwards movement of three semitones would take us to G Major.
What is an interval?
The distance in pitch between two notes, e.g. ‘C’ - ‘F’ is a 4th.
What is meant by an obbligato (instrumental)?
A prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music.
What is an acciaccatura?
An ornament which sounds like a crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it.
What is a mordent?
An ornament which sounds the main note, the note above and then the main note again.
What is a plagal cadence?
A cadence is formed by two chords at the end of a phrase. A plagal cadence is the subdominant to tonic chords ( IV–I ).
What is a interupted cadence?
A cadence is formed by two chords at the end of a phrase. An interrupted cadence is usually formed by the chords V–VI.
What is meant by a tierce de picardie?
The final chord of a piece of music in the minor key is changed to major.
What is meant by the dominant 7th chord?
Chord built on the dominant (5th) note of a key which adds the 7th note above its root.
What is meant by the diminished 7th chord?
A diminished 7th chord consists of four notes built one on top of the other. It is built up using intervals of a minor 3rd - a minor 3rd describes two notes which are 4 semitones apart.
What is meant by an added 6th chord?
This describes a note ‘added’ to the familiar Chord structure (root, 3rd and 5th). So for the Chord of C which includes the root (C), 3rd (E) and 5th (G) notes, the addition of the 6th note (A) creates the Chord C6.
What is meant by a harmonic minor scale?
A scale is a series of notes. The harmonic minor scale is formed using the following pattern: tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a half, semitone.
What is meant by a melodic minor scale?
A scale is a series of notes. The melodic minor scale is formed using the following patterns:
tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, tone, semitone (when ascending)
tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone (when descending)
