Music Theory Crash Course!

~Music isSOUND organized in TIME~

Elements of Sound Pitch- How high or low; frequency Pitch- How high or low; frequency Duration- How long or short it lasts Duration- How long or short it lasts Dynamics- How loud or soft; amplitude Dynamics- How loud or soft; amplitude –Goes from Fortississimo to pianoississimo Articulation- Quality as sustained Articulation- Quality as sustained –Common Articulations: Staccato, Legato, Accent Timbre- Color of tone; waveform Timbre- Color of tone; waveform

Types of Timbre/Textures Homophonic- All use similar rhythm Homophonic- All use similar rhythm Polyphonic- Independent musical parts overlap Polyphonic- Independent musical parts overlap Monophonic- Only one musical line Monophonic- Only one musical line Accompianmental- Exactly what it says on the tin; accompanying a clear melody Accompianmental- Exactly what it says on the tin; accompanying a clear melody

More Vocab! Yayy Range- Spectrum of pitch an instrument can play Range- Spectrum of pitch an instrument can play Equal Temperament Tuning- all half steps equal distance from each other Equal Temperament Tuning- all half steps equal distance from each other –Used in Romantic Era as common tuning standard Expression Marks- Indicate articulations, setting the mood Expression Marks- Indicate articulations, setting the mood

Rhythmic Notation

Moar Rhythmic Notation

Even MOAR vocab: Aka, I’m too lazy to type DemiDec stuff

Time Signatures Top number- Beats per measure Top number- Beats per measure Bottom number- Length of the beat Bottom number- Length of the beat Simple meter= top number 2 [duple],3 [triple], 4 [quadruple] Simple meter= top number 2 [duple],3 [triple], 4 [quadruple] Compound is everything else; divides beats into parts Compound is everything else; divides beats into parts

Accidentals # = Sharp, raises pitch by a half step # = Sharp, raises pitch by a half step ♭ = Flat, lowers pitch by half step ♭ = Flat, lowers pitch by half step ♮ = Natural, cancels sharps and flats ♮ = Natural, cancels sharps and flats Half step- two consecutive keys Half step- two consecutive keys The key signature provides set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a line of music. The key signature provides set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a line of music. –indicates which notes the main scale of the piece alters.

Scales (PREPARE YOURSELVES) Tonic- Name of scale, usually 1 st note Tonic- Name of scale, usually 1 st note Dominant- 2 nd most important, 5 th note Dominant- 2 nd most important, 5 th note Leading Tone- Half step below tonic Leading Tone- Half step below tonic Diatonic- Within the Scale Diatonic- Within the Scale Chromatic- Outside of the scale Chromatic- Outside of the scale

Minor Scales

Comparing Major and Minor Relative- Same key signature, same sharps and flats Relative- Same key signature, same sharps and flats Parallel- Same tonic Parallel- Same tonic

Chords

Instruments- Technical Boring stuff time! Classifications Classifications CHORDOPHONES CHORDOPHONES –Vibrating Strings (violin) AEROPHONES AEROPHONES –Vibrating column of air (tuba) MEMBRANOPHONES MEMBRANOPHONES –Vibrating stretched membrane across frame (drum) IDIOPHONES IDIOPHONES –Body itself vibrates (xylophone)

Instrument Families Strings- Chordophones; plucked, bowed, struck Strings- Chordophones; plucked, bowed, struck Brass- Metal Aerophones; caused by buzzing lips Brass- Metal Aerophones; caused by buzzing lips Woodwinds- Aerophones; breath alone vibrates Woodwinds- Aerophones; breath alone vibrates Percussions- Membranophones/Idiophones Percussions- Membranophones/Idiophones Keyboards- Self explanatory :P Keyboards- Self explanatory :P