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Music Theory Flashcards

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1
Q

Explain melodic elasticity.

A

A series of small steps is frequently followed by a large leap in the opposite direction, and vice versa.

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2
Q

What is a toch wave built up of?

A

Smaller waves that leave to a climax of rhythm / melody, then descends / relaxes.

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3
Q

Define a melodic wind-up.

A

A small wave starting with a leap is often preceeded by a series of small steps.

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4
Q

Define rhythmetic elasticity.

A

Slow rhythms are balanced by fast ones, and vice versa.

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5
Q

What is the traditional rule when it comes to repetitions in music?

A

Items should be repeated no more than two times after the original, and the second repeat should usually be modified in some way.

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6
Q

What are the two things that are manipulated to delineate a melody in a musical texture?

A

The control of dynamics + timber, in relationship to the rest of the componsition.

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7
Q

What are the two most important attributes of a memorable tonal melody?

A

It has frequent or strategically placed melodic leaps of at least a third, although a 4th or greater is better.

It outlines a triad, or an octave.

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8
Q

What are the five steps to building a memorable tonal memory?

A
  1. Dynamics / Timbre
  2. Repetition
  3. Rhythm
  4. Leaps Outlining Triads / Octaves
  5. Sustained note values
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9
Q

Which has better rhythmetic elasticity, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Row Row Row Your Boat?

A

Row Row Row Your Boat

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10
Q

Define the rule of two.

A

A majority of a pattern must be repeated exactly within 3 to 10 seconds.

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11
Q

The treble clef is sometimes referred to as…

A

The G Clef.

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12
Q

The bass clef is sometimes referred to as…

A

The F clef.

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13
Q

The alto and tenor clefs are sometimes referred to as…

A

C-clefs.

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14
Q

Which C appears in the middle of the tenor and alto clefs?

A

Middle C.

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15
Q

How do you tell the difference between an alto and tenor clef?

A

A tenor clef has more lines for bass notes below middle c.

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16
Q

Do treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs follow SATB in terms of their pitch placements?

A

Yes ish.

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17
Q

What is the symbol for ottava?

A

8^va

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18
Q

An 8^va symbol written above pitches means those pitches …

A

are to be played an octave higher.

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19
Q

An ottava symbol may be cancelled by the term …

A

loco

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20
Q

An ottava symbol written below the pitches means …

A

those pitches are to be played an octave lower.

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21
Q

What do the 8^ba or 8^vb notation mean?

A

ottava, an octave lower.

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22
Q

A quindecima sign is used whenever…

A

a passage is to be played two octaves higher.

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23
Q

What is the sign for quindecima?

A

15^ma.

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24
Q

What is the symbol for a double sharp?

A

x (but special)

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25
Enharmonic is the term that describes how the same pitch can be ...
expressed using two different names.
26
What is a chromatic half step?
A half step that does not change letter names.
27
What is a diatonic half step?
A half step in which we change letter names.
28
What is a natural pitch?
A pitch without a sharp or a flat.
29
Between what pitches occur the major scale half steps?
Between pitches 3 / 4 and 7 / 8.
30
What is the pattern of whole steps and half steps in major scales?
W W H W W W H
31
For flat keys, the () flat is the tonic (keynote)
next-to-last
32
For sharp keys, () from the last sharp provides the tonic (keynote)
moving up a half-step
33
What is the order of sharps mnemonic?
Father Christmas Gave Dad An Electric Blanket
34
What is the order of flats mnemonic?
Blanket Explodes And Dad Gets Cold Feet
35
Where does bVII originate from in a major key?
Borrowed from the parallel minor.
36
What is the function of bVIII ?
It is an alternative dominant.
37
What other chord besides V is most often used to cadence?
IV.
38
What is the most common 4 chord progression in pop?
I -> V -> vi -> IV
39
Scale degrees in the melody that coincide with the underlying harmony are called
stable scale degrees.
40
... refer to the scale degrees that are not contained in the underlying harmony.
Unstable scale degrees.
41
What is a passing note?
Unstable beats used on weak beats to link two stable scale degrees together.
42
Generally, when an unstable scale degree appears on a strong beat, at some point ...
the melodic line should resolve to the nearest stable scale degree.
43
What is a mnemonic that assists in discering which chords are more picky when it comes to accomondating unstable scale degrees?
The more ees a chord name has, the more pickee it is.
44
Which root position chord is least accommodating of unstable scale degrees.
iii (thrEE)
45
Which root position chords are second least accommodating of unstable scale degrees?
onE, fivE
46
Which root position chords are most accommodating of unstable scale degrees?
two, four, six
47
What is most often done in modified repetition in melodic repetition?
The melody is repeated, but modified slightly to fit more with the underlying chord.
48
What chords almost always follow a iii chord?
Almost always, IV or vi.
49
What chord almost always ends a typical four chord progression?
A cadence chord, such as IV or V.
50
What is one of the most common uses of ii?
As a substitute for IV.
51
What is one of the functions of the ii and IV chords?
As pre-cadence chords.
52
Does ii typically function as a cadence chord?
No, typically as a pre cadence chord.
53
What is the superscript for a first inversion chord?
6
54
What is the superscript for a second inversion chord?
6 4
55
First inversion chords are often described as having a ...
softer feel.
56
By using V^6 the usual strong tendency to ...
go back to I is significantly reduced.
57
Because of the presence of the third scale degree in the bass, I^6 is often paired with...
IV and ii.
58
What chord is used when you want V but don't want it to sound as cadential?
V^6.
59
What chord typically follows V^6?
vi.
60
The V^6 chord has what scale degree in the bass?
The seventh.

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