|
DEVICE |
DESCRIPTION |
|
|
arco |
Played
with the bow after plucking the strings |
|
|
arpeggios |
Notes
from chords played in succession to form a melody. |
|
|
augmentation |
Doubling
the value of each note of a tune. |
|
|
cadence |
The
end of a musical phrase. It may leave the melody sounding
finished or unfinished. |
|
|
col
legno |
With
the wood. An instruction to the string player to hit the strings
with the wood instead of the hair of the bow. |
|
|
con
sordino |
with
mute |
|
|
diminished |
reduced.
The term applies mainly to a type of chord. |
|
|
diminution |
taking
a melody and halving its time values |
|
|
double
stopping |
playing
two notes at the same time on a bowed string instrument |
|
|
fifths |
Parallel
fifths gives the music a medieval or Renaissance in
character |
|
|
figured
bass |
A
Baroque method of providing information about chords
for the Harpsichord (continuo) accompanist. |
|
|
ground
bass |
A
repeated bass tune with changing parts above it,
used in Baroque music |
|
|
imitation |
One
part copying another or the same part copying an
earlier version. |
|
|
imperfect
cadence |
An
ending sounding unfinished with the chord
progression I V |
|
|
interrupted
cadence |
An
ending which gives the impression of a
definite ending until the last chord changes
it. The
chord progression is often V VI |
|
|
inversion |
Turning
the pitch of a stated tune upside down. |
|
|
major |
A
tune based on the major scale. |
|
|
minor |
A
tune based on the minor scale. |
|
|
modulation |
Movement
from one key to another in a
composition |
|
|
octaves |
two notes 8 notes of a major or minor scale apart played together |
|
|
pedal
bass |
A
long bass note with moving
harmonies above. |
|
|
perfect
cadence |
the
end of a phrase with a strong
finish. Chords V I |
|
|
plagal
cadence |
A
finishing chord sequence
chords VI
I ( A-men) |
|
|
riff |
A
jazz term for an ostinato
or repeated musical
accompanying phrase. |
|
|
sequence |
A
short melodic phrase
repeated higher or lower
once or a number of
times. |
|
|
syncopation |
Off
beat accents
associated with Jazz
styles. |
|
|
thirds |
A
tune with a parallel
part a third above
or below. |
|
|
unison |
Where
different players
or singers are
using the same
notes of the
melody together. |
|
|
variation |
Decoration
of an already
stated theme or
chord sequence. |
|
|
walking
bass |
A
melodic bass
part
associated
with Jazz and
'pop' styles. |
|