Questions tagged [terminology]
For questions about musical terms. Questions about symbols should use the "notation" tag.
758
questions
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3answers
347 views
What is the name of this rhythm? (embedded 4:3 polyrhythm)
What's the name of this rhythm? There's an embedded 4:3 polyrhythm, where the two voices will arrive together on beats 1 and 4 of each bar. It reminds me of a clave (2:3), but it's not.
2
votes
4answers
117 views
What kind of non-chord tone dissonance is this?
What is the correct term for this type of non-chord tone? I really like the sound of it and since I see it a lot I was wondering if an "official" name exists for it. It is not a suspension ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Is there a musical term for melodic density?
Is there a musical term for melodic density? By density i simply mean the amount of melodic (as opposed to harmonic) notes within a given time measure.
Example: 40 notes within a bar has higher ...
5
votes
1answer
145 views
What are these overlapping notes with different rhythms called in Music Theory?
On piano, when playing a long note followed by an overlapping shorter note or vice versa, what is this called? I know this is an extremely common thing in piano music, but I don't know what it's ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
If I am going to dabble in the world of music, what aspect should I train more to build a solid base, and thus obtain better results(?) [closed]
Good morning, I think I summarized it pretty well in the question, however, I mean exactly that "push" that a beginner must have, something that avoids excessive stumbles in their learning, ...
2
votes
2answers
67 views
Is there a term or phrase to describe a tune that always stays in the same key but shifts modes throughout?
Teaching myself modes, I'm writing a short piece for string quartet that always holds to the same key, but starts out in locrian and ends in lydian, going through all the modes, brightening up and ...
4
votes
3answers
113 views
What's it called when you play the same exact melody with a different rhythm?
As an example, here is the original iconic melodic phrase that's used throughout the Trails Sky games:
https://youtube.com/embed/3GB-xej4GFc?start=66&end=85
But here in this next piece, the exact ...
7
votes
1answer
383 views
What is the difference between “primi toni” and “octavi toni”
In XVI century, there was a composer called Girolamo Cavazzoni. He wrote (amongst other pieces) a couple of Magnificats - in primi toni, quarti toni, sexti toni and octavi toni. You can find the sheet ...
4
votes
3answers
94 views
Electronic music and layering of rhythms
A very common (indeed ubiquitous) technique in electronic music involves the layering of loops of different lengths on top of each other.
Consider the following DnB track:
https://www.beatport.com/...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Black keys - what scale are these, how to use them?
I'm a beginning music theory student and often when I'm supposed to be doing exercises I get distracted and start doodling around for fun on the black keys. It's easy to compose simple, satisfying ...
5
votes
2answers
288 views
Scales changes in Orchestration
There is a common technic used in orchestration across all genres of music. Sometimes in the second verse or before the singer is about to repeat another part in the song there is a move usually up in ...
5
votes
1answer
60 views
Is there a name for “singing between registers”, as if one as at the end of their range, to produce multiple notes?
I've been experimenting with singing a note and then slowly devoicing it or applying less pressure with my, usually near the top of my chest / modal(?) register, and trying to get that harsh sound ...
9
votes
3answers
860 views
What do you call a very brief change of key
When the key changes for a longer period and a new tonic is firmly established, we call it modulation. However, what do we call a very brief change of at most several measures, when harmony from ...
5
votes
2answers
479 views
How would you describe this not-quite-a-triplet rhythm? [duplicate]
Sounds like a triplet but not quite since it's not all even.
Is there a name for this?
1
vote
2answers
59 views
How to balance my phrase structure? [closed]
I'm trying to compose a verse (with refrain?)-chorus (bridge?) pop song (optional: Instrumental intro, bridge before the final chorus, instrumental solo somewhere) about 3-4 minutes in length. I've ...
7
votes
1answer
373 views
What is this “CC” (double common-time) time signature called?
From Brahms Fugue in A-flat minor, WoO 8:
The file name is "Double Common Time" JPEG but only because that's the only thing I can figure out to call it.
Bonus question: Can this time ...
1
vote
0answers
199 views
What does this music CAPTCHA mean? [closed]
Select all images where if you were to add a decrescendo it would add
to the musicality of the piece without being interpreted as an overly
heavy-handed metaphor within the context of the thematic ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
In Hindemith's terms, how do I classify this melodic gesture?
I am attempting to analyze the G note in the melody pictured below using Paul Hindemith's terminology/framework set out in his Book 2.
From what I can gather, the melodic formulae Hindemith is ...
3
votes
2answers
218 views
What is the relation of proportional schemes and the “golden section” to melody?
...And how is this reduction meant to be read? Taken from p. 66 of David Neumeyer's The Music of Paul Hindemith
This is the beginning of the section on analyzing melodies, and it totally blindsided ...
3
votes
4answers
244 views
What is this embellishment called?
There's a technique I've seen used a lot in jazz, gospel, pop singing, etc. where someone will play a note and play a quick semitone up and back down into another note. Heres an audio example. Does ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
What is the difference between “32 bar form”, “song form”, and “ternary” with a repeated first section?
There are separate wikipedia articles for 32 bar form, but song form and ternary are in one article. From my understanding, repeats do not change the form in terms of classification, which is ...
1
vote
4answers
137 views
Accidentals - what's that?
We are aware that an accidental is a sign which changes the pitch of a note usually stated in the key signature, like a natural sign before a C in key D makes that into C♮, etc. Sometimes even the key ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
Is there a name for music where only the bass instruments are used
I just love the bass, there are youtube channels with bass players that just do bass solo. Is there a name for this.
I can't find anything on spotify that resembles for example this:
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Is there a word or music term for when a singer is mimicing the instrument, like at the beginning of the song Dang Me by Roger Miller? [duplicate]
Title is self-explanatory. I'm asking if there is a word or musical term for when a singer is mimicking the sound of the instrument that's playing. An example of what I'm asking for is at the very ...
1
vote
2answers
116 views
Name for this common rhythm in Latin music?
This rhythm is one or two set of triplets (maybe it can go up to 3 but I don't think I have heard 3 before) that I see appear fairly frequently in Latin music. Example is at 1:34 in María by Ricky ...
36
votes
8answers
4k views
Is there a broader term for instruments, like the gong, whose volume briefly increases after being sounded instead of immediately decaying?
For most instruments, their sound immediately begins to decay after they first sound. When you strike a piano key, for instance, the loudest sound is at the very beginning, after which the sound ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Is there literal correlation between sounds and the words to describe them?
In English, we describe pitches as "high" and "low", as being "sharp" or "flat". A timbre can be "fat". At least one study suggests that there is a ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
What is it called when different instruments play the same phrase one after another without overlap?
I was wondering if there was a name for when different instruments play the same phrase in succession without overlapping, like in the outro of Moose the Mooche by Charlie Parker.
5
votes
2answers
416 views
How do you define Harmonic Retrogression with regard to intensity?
I was doing some practice problems in the AP Barron's Music Theory book, and one of the practice problems asks: “When harmonies within a phrase move from a strong intensity to a less strong intensity [...
2
votes
2answers
119 views
Is there terminology for vocals that do not use lyrics in certain parts? [duplicate]
Is there terminology for the below type of vocals, without words, where it almost sounds like the singer functions even more like an instrument rather than singing lyrics, if that makes sense? The ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
What is it called when there is a slow point/pause in the middle of a song, before returning to normal speed and intensity?
In modern music such as as pop, rock and even dance music, there are times when the music builds to a certain high point (may not necessarily be the most intense point, but fairly intense) and then ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Why is there a m3 in diminished triads and diminished sevenths? [duplicate]
In a diminished triad, the diminished interval is 1>5. In a full diminished seventh chord, the 1>7 is also diminished. In a half-diminished chord, the 1>5 is diminished.(But one third of it ...
4
votes
5answers
948 views
Properly counting notes from sheet music
I'm beginner piano player. I'm trying to play easy song from notes like below:
In whole song I'm counting notes: 1 2 3 4. Because I can see that the shortest note is 1/4. But there is an exception in ...
1
vote
0answers
92 views
Why do some songs change while fading out? What is it called?
I noticed that some songs repeat a theme and then fade out at the end, but before completely fading out the song "changes". For example, the singer sings different words (that don't appear ...
4
votes
2answers
135 views
Is there a name for the repetition of lyrics in music by a person or group of persons?
In the song BrokEn by Coldplay there are lyrics sung by the lead singer that are repeated by a background choir;
Lord, when I'm broken (when I'm broken)
I'm in need (I'm in need)
I feel that ocean (...
7
votes
2answers
210 views
Confusion about Zarlino and his assertions about the diatessaron (perfect fourth)
In Part Three of Gioseffo Zarlino's "Le Istitutioni Harmoniche", "The Art of Counterpoint", Zarlino argues that the diatessaron (or perfect fourth) is not a dissonance, as the ...
0
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1answer
61 views
Is there a vocal technique used here? If so, what is it called?
(0:53)
I'm looking at this song "Just Hold Me" by Maria Mena which I found to be a very good song in terms of the vocals.
Though I'm curious, is there actually a specific vocal technique for ...
3
votes
1answer
73 views
What is the difference between melisma and lick?
Teacher always told me there's a difference but I still don't understand the difference. The textbook says "Melisma and lick have the same meaning but are appropriate to different styles of music&...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
What is a term for an instrument that can play any note, even the notes between notes? [duplicate]
A piano has only so many notes. You can't really play notes between those notes. Some Indian instruments can play even more notes between those on a piano, I believe called "microtones". ...
7
votes
3answers
340 views
Latin voice denotations in Renaissance vocal music
I see that in the original printings of renaissance vocal music, the voices are labeled with Latin words like cantus, triplex, medius, etc... Assuming that these words denote the ranges of their ...
5
votes
2answers
608 views
What is the difference between the bridge, the pre-chorus, and the middle 8?
For years, I have been understanding the bridge as the part leading into the last chorus, and pre-chorus as the part leading into the choruses before last. But recently I found out my understanding ...
6
votes
1answer
491 views
What is the origin and original meaning of “tonic”, “supertonic”, “mediant”, etc.?
Each of the pitches in the diatonic scale has a "name":
tonic
supertonic
mediant
subdominant
dominant
submediant
subtonic
I was first introduced to tonic, dominant, and subdominant in the ...
7
votes
1answer
421 views
Meaning of KV 311 in 'Sonata No. 8 D major, KV 311'
I have come across Mozart's composition: 'Sonata No. 8 D major, KV 311'
What is the meaning of KV 311 in the name :'Sonata No. 8 D major, KV 311'.
5
votes
3answers
727 views
Do the instruments used in a piece of music play a role in determining its genre?
I am researching about music genres but I am confused if instruments played in music help in determining its genre?
What could be the differentiating features in genre recognition of music?
-1
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2answers
131 views
Which chords can be played simultaneously? [closed]
For example, my instrumental's chord progression = Dm, F, C, Bb
Which chords can be played at the same time as Dm and C and still sound "good"? Is there some sort of terminology for chords ...
3
votes
2answers
203 views
(How) Do the terms “open” and “close” position apply to chords with multiple doublings?
Based on Open/Close Position Chords: What I am missing?
a simple triad (no doubling) is in "close position" if the chord tones are packed as closely together as possible, and
in a four-...
3
votes
4answers
146 views
Is there a term for the combination of melody and harmony, excluding percussion?
I am working with a simple sound generator, which can simultaneously produce multiple sine waves plus white noise. The sine waves can have their frequency and volume modified over time, and the white ...
5
votes
8answers
1k views
Secondary Dominants - is there a more appropriate term?
An example - in key C major, the E7 chord is a 'secondary dominant' chord. Now, if it goes directly to the chord it's dominant to in its own right - A, or Am, then it makes sense to call it secondary ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
General term to cover piano fingerings, trombone slide positions, Theremin hand positions, etc
Is there a general term to describe the concepts referred by "fingering", "(slide) position", perhaps other such words, that describe the specific manipulations of an instrument to ...
3
votes
3answers
134 views
What is the correct terminology/notation for playing notes in a chord at the same time, and not as an arpeggio?
It is very common for interpreters of sheet music — especially string players — to roll chords. What is the notation to specify that all notes should sound at once? I had thought it was a square ...
