"The Elements of Music"
An Introduction
The Elements of Music
The Elements of Music
• Rhythm = the relationship of
sounds in time
The Elements of Music
• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in
time
• Melody = pitch line + rhythm
The Elements of Music
• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in
time
• Melody = pitch line + rhythm
• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding
of pitches
The Elements of Music
• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in
time
• Melody = pitch line + rhythm
• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding
of pitches
• Form = the architecture or structure of
a piece of music
The Elements of Music
• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in
time
• Melody = pitch line + rhythm
• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding
of pitches
• Form = the architecture or structure of
a piece of music
• Timbre = the color or quality of sound
in music
The Elements of Music
• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time
• Melody = pitch line + rhythm
• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding of
pitches
• Form = the architecture or structure of a piece
of music
• Timbre = the color or quality of sound in music
• Dynamics = the gradations of loudness and
softness in music
Rhythm
• The relationship of sounds in time
Rhythm - Tempo
• The pace (speed) of music
Rhythm - Meter
• Organization of rhythm into beats,
groups of beats, and divisions of
beats.
• Meters may be duple, triple,
quadruple, mixed, or odd.
• Each of these may be simple (two
divisions per beat) or compound
(three divisions per beat).
Rhythm - Meter Signature
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2/4
3/4
4/4
4/4 6/8
6/8
9/8
12/8
5/4
duple-simple
triple-simple
quadruple-simple
mixed meter
duple-compound
triple-compound
quadruple-compound
odd meter
Rhythm - Syncopation
• The emphasis of off-beats or of
beats that are not usually
accented.
• (Off-beats occur not at the
beginning of a beat, but on a
division of the beat.)
Melody
• Pitch line and rhythm
Melody
• Pitch line = the sequence of pitches in
a melody. Combined with a specific
rhythm, the pitch line forms the
melody.
• Contour = the shape of a melody, as
determined by aspects of
ascending/descending motion,
conjunct/disjunct motion, and melodic
climax.
Melody
• Motivic development = taking a
small idea (motive) and working
with it to create an integrated
melody.
• Range = the distance (interval)
from the lowest note to the
highest note of a melody.
Melody
• Melodic climax = the highest
note of the melody.
• Scale content = the scales or
modes used to create a melody
(for example, major, melodic
minor, pentatonic).
Melody
• Scale tones = the notes of a
scale, identified as root, second,
third, etc.
• Consonance/dissonance = the
balance of notes in a melody that
create moments of relative tension
and resolution.
Harmony
• The simultaneous sounding of
pitches
Harmony
• Interval = the relationship
between two pitches, as defined by
quality (for example, major,
diminished) and quantity (for
example, third, fifth).
• Chord = three or more different
pitches sounded together.
Harmony
• Triad = a three-note chord,
containing a root, third, and fifth.
• Seventh chord = a four note
chord, containing a root, third,
fifth, and seventh.
Harmony
• Functional harmony = the system by
which different chords relate to each
other in a particular key. Chords in a
key are defined by Roman numeral (for
example, I, ii, iii).
• Chord progression = the movement
of chords as they change during a piece
of music.
Form
• The architecture or structure of a
piece of music
• Form is rhythm at its largest level
Form
• Repetition/contrast = the alternation
of elements that are familiar versus
new (for example, melodic themes).
• Phrase = a short part of a piece of
music, usually equivalent to what a
person can sing or play in one breath.
Form
• Section = two or more phrases
that combine to make a musical
statement.
– In classical music, this may be
referred to as a period.
– In pop music, this may be referred to
as a verse, a chorus, or a bridge.
Form
• Form model = any of the
standard forms used to define the
overall architectural structure of a
piece of music.
– In classical music, these include
rondo and sonata-allegro form.
– In pop music, these include AB and
AABA.
Timbre
• The tone color or quality of sound
in music
Timbre
• Vibration = the back-and-forth
movement of anything that
produces sound.
• Frequency = the rate (speed) of
vibration.
Timbre
• Fundamental = the basic, lowest
frequency in a musical sound,
which defines the pitch.
• Overtones = the frequencies
above the fundamental that
determine the color (timbre) of a
sound.
Timbre
• Instrumentation (a.k.a.
orchestration) = the specific
combination of instruments and/or
voices used in a piece of music.
• Texture = the interrelationship of the
different parts in a piece of music, in
terms of melody, accompaniment, bass
line, etc.
Dynamics
• The gradations of loudness and
softness in music
Dynamics
• piano = soft
• forte = loud
• mezzo = medium
• crescendo = getting louder
• decrescendo (diminuendo) =
getting softer