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GCSE Music Revision Key Terms A-C

Terms in this set (30)

accent
emphasis on a note or chord
acciaccatura
very short ornamental note played before principal melodic note
appoggiatura
An ornamental note that falls on the beat as a dissonance and then resolves by step onto the main note
alto
a low female voice
arpeggio
playing the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8ve notes of a chord
backbeat
emphasising beats 2 and 4 in pop music
baritone
a male voice between tenor and bass in pitch
bass
lowest male voice or the lowest pitched line in a piece of music. Forms the platform for the harmonies
beat
a regular pulse
binary form
a musical structure containing two contrasting sections (AB)
blue note
a note (usually the third, fifth, or seventh of the chord) flattened by a semitone (gives a moody effect)
bridge
a contrasting passage that connects two longer sections. Found in the large majority of songs.
broken chord
a chord where notes are played one after the other rather than sounding together (so, an arpeggio IS a ............. ........)
block chord
a chord where all of the notes are played together as a unit
perfect cadence
a full-close / musical full stop /
where the final 2 chords of a phrase consist of the dominant to tonic (V-I) (eg. in C major - chords G to C)
plagal cadence
a full-close / musical full stop / often used for 'A-men' /
where the final 2 chords of a phrase consist of the sub-dominant to tonic (IV-I) eg. in C major - chords F to C)
imperfect cadence
a half-close / musical comma
where the final 2 chords of a phrase consis of the 'something' to dominant (most popular is II-V) eg. in C major - chords Dm to G)
interrupted cadence
a dramatic & unexpected phrase ending
where the final 2 chords of a phrase consis of the dominant to submediant (V-VI) eg. in C major - chords G to Am)
call and response
a pair of phrases, where the second phrase is heard as a reply to the first
chorus
another word for refrain / the main repeated part of a song / also a digital effect that layers & thickens the sound
chromatic
notes that don't belong in the key signature are
coda
a section of music that ends a piece. The tailpiece.
compound time
a metre in which the main beat is sub-divided into three equal portions. eg. 6/8 and 9/8 time
consonance
notes that sound pleasing together (opposite of dissonance)
continuo
an accompanying part (instrumental) from the baroque period. Usually bass (cello) + harmony (harpsichord)
contrapuntal
music that uses counterpoint has a ........... texture
countermelody
a second melody in a piece, at same time as a main melody, to provide contrast
counterpoint
two or more melodic lines, played together at the same time (polyphonic)
crescendo
a gradual increase in dynamic
cross rhythm
use of conflicting rhythms (groups of threes at the same time as groups of two)
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