Music Theory Crash Music Theory Crash Course!Course!

~Music ~Music isSOUND isSOUND

organized in organized in TIMETIME~~

Elements of SoundElements of Sound

Pitch- How high or low; frequencyPitch- How high or low; frequency Duration- How long or short it lastsDuration- How long or short it lasts Dynamics- How loud or soft; amplitudeDynamics- How loud or soft; amplitude

– Goes from Fortississimo to pianoississimoGoes from Fortississimo to pianoississimo Articulation- Quality as sustainedArticulation- Quality as sustained

– Common Articulations: Staccato, Legato, Common Articulations: Staccato, Legato, AccentAccent

Timbre- Color of tone; waveformTimbre- Color of tone; waveform

Types of Timbre/TexturesTypes of Timbre/Textures

Homophonic- All use similar rhythmHomophonic- All use similar rhythm Polyphonic- Independent musical Polyphonic- Independent musical

parts overlapparts overlap Monophonic- Only one musical lineMonophonic- Only one musical line Accompianmental- Exactly what it Accompianmental- Exactly what it

says on the tin; accompanying a says on the tin; accompanying a clear melodyclear melody

More Vocab! YayyMore Vocab! Yayy

Range- Spectrum of pitch an Range- Spectrum of pitch an instrument can playinstrument can play

Equal Temperament Tuning- all half Equal Temperament Tuning- all half steps equal distance from each othersteps equal distance from each other– Used in Romantic Era as common tuning Used in Romantic Era as common tuning

standardstandard Expression Marks- Indicate Expression Marks- Indicate

articulations, setting the moodarticulations, setting the mood

Rhythmic NotationRhythmic Notation

Moar Rhythmic NotationMoar Rhythmic Notation

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

stuffstuff

Time SignaturesTime Signatures Top number- Beats per measureTop number- Beats per measure Bottom number- Length of the beatBottom number- Length of the beat Simple meter= top number 2 Simple meter= top number 2

[duple],3 [triple], 4 [quadruple][duple],3 [triple], 4 [quadruple] Compound is everything else; divides Compound is everything else; divides

beats into partsbeats into parts

AccidentalsAccidentals # = 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 keysHalf step- two consecutive keys The key signature provides set of The key signature provides set of

sharps or flats at the beginning of a sharps or flats at the beginning of a line of music. line of music. – indicates which notes the main scale of indicates which notes the main scale of

the piece alters. the piece alters.

Scales (PREPARE Scales (PREPARE YOURSELVES)YOURSELVES)

Tonic- Name of scale, usually 1Tonic- Name of scale, usually 1stst note note Dominant- 2Dominant- 2ndnd most important, 5 most important, 5thth

notenote Leading Tone- Half step below tonicLeading Tone- Half step below tonic Diatonic- Within the ScaleDiatonic- Within the Scale Chromatic- Outside of the scaleChromatic- Outside of the scale

Minor ScalesMinor Scales

Comparing Major and MinorComparing Major and Minor

Relative- Same key signature, same Relative- Same key signature, same sharps and flatssharps and flats

Parallel- Same tonicParallel- Same tonic

ChordsChords

Instruments- Technical Boring Instruments- Technical Boring stuff time!stuff time!

ClassificationsClassifications CHORDOPHONESCHORDOPHONES

– Vibrating Strings (violin)Vibrating Strings (violin) AEROPHONESAEROPHONES

– Vibrating column of air (tuba)Vibrating column of air (tuba) MEMBRANOPHONESMEMBRANOPHONES

– Vibrating stretched membrane across frame Vibrating stretched membrane across frame (drum)(drum)

IDIOPHONESIDIOPHONES– Body itself vibrates (xylophone)Body itself vibrates (xylophone)

Instrument FamiliesInstrument Families

Strings- Chordophones; plucked, bowed, Strings- Chordophones; plucked, bowed, struckstruck

Brass- Metal Aerophones; caused by Brass- Metal Aerophones; caused by buzzing lipsbuzzing lips

Woodwinds- Aerophones; breath alone Woodwinds- Aerophones; breath alone vibratesvibrates

Percussions- Percussions- Membranophones/IdiophonesMembranophones/Idiophones

Keyboards- Self explanatory :PKeyboards- Self explanatory :P