Timbre
The combination of qualities of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume.
Conjunct
Of or relating to successive tones of the scale, moving step by step.
Range
The gamut of tones that a voice or instrument is capable of producing.
Disjunct
Relating to progression by intervals larger than major seconds.
Cadence
The measure or beat of movement, as in dancing or marching.
Countermelody
A secondary or supplemental melody played simultaneously with the primary melody.
Meter or Time signature
The time signature is a notational device representing the meter, an auditory feature of the music
Downbeat
The first beat of a measure
Chord
A combination of three or more pitches sounded simultaneously.
Major
...
Minor
...
Tonality
the arrangement of pitches and/or chords of a musical work in a hierarchy of perceived relations, stabilities, attractions and directionality.
Dissonance
A harsh, disagreeable combination of sounds; discord.
Consonance
- Close correspondence of sounds
- The repetition of consonants or of a consonant pattern, especially at the ends of words, as in blank and think or strong and string.
Transposition
In music, the act or process of changing a piece or passage from one tonality to another; transposition.
Modulation
the change from one tonality to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature
Monophonic
Having a single melodic line.
Polyphonic
Having a multiplicity of sounds.
Homophonic
Having or characterized by a single melodic line with accompaniment.
Strophic
Having the same melody used for each strophe.
Strophe: The first of a pair of stanzas of alternating form on which the structure of a given poem is based.
Improvisation
The act of improvising; the act of composing poetry or music extemporaneously.
Dynamics
the variation in loudness between notes or phrases
Syllabic
lyrics written in the form of one syllable of text per musical note
ex: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Neumatic
The earliest neumes were inflective marks that indicated the general shape but not necessarily the exact notes or rhythms to be sung
Melismatic
single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession.
Word-painting
The act of describing or depicting in words graphically or vividly.