Questions tagged [terminology]
For questions about musical terms. Questions about symbols should use the "notation" tag.
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What is the generalized terminology for continuous changes?
In some musical dimensions, termini and notation for continuous changes are common:
Melodic (pitch):
glissando, portamento, doit, fall
Dynamic (volume):
crescendo, diminuendo (alias decrescendo)
...
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4answers
2k views
Is it spelled “violincello” or “violoncello”?
I’m trying to understand the proper spelling of the full name of the cello. I’ve seen it both of these ways, violincello and violoncello.
I thought since the cello is part of the violin family it ...
0
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1answer
71 views
What word the combines both tabs and sheet music?
Wondering what word combines both Tabs and sheet music? I usually say Music Score. Is it correct?
5
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3answers
161 views
What is the term in music recording for a mistake that is intentionally left in?
The original fuzz bass effect, in "Don't Worry" by Robbins, for example, is one of these. Another example would be a click track being audible within the song; this I have also heard. "...
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2answers
562 views
In counterpoint, is there a name for when a single voice can be understood as multiple different voices?
In French Suite II, Air (mm. 3) it sounds like the upper voice can be separated into two parts: the upper part being Eb up to G, down to F; and the lower part being C down to Bb, down to Ab.
In ...
5
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1answer
89 views
What is meant by syllable “ES” in solfege? Possibly only in Turkish?
Sorry, half language, half music question
In this Bağlama video the author seems to refer to a note by name "ES". Here is the transcript taken from a comment by author:
<!-- language-all: ...
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1answer
62 views
Simile Mark on sheet music [closed]
On the sheet music I am playing, I have faced 3 simile Mark each on different bar continuously. Does it mean I should repeat 3 measures back ?
5
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3answers
365 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
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4answers
134 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
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1answer
60 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
150 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 ...
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1answer
59 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
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2answers
68 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
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3answers
118 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
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1answer
401 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
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3answers
95 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/...
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6answers
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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
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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
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1answer
63 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
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3answers
864 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
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2answers
483 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?
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2answers
62 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
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1answer
386 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 ...
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0answers
233 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 ...
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2answers
70 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
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2answers
222 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
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4answers
250 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
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1answer
34 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 ...
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4answers
140 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
130 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:
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1answer
71 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 ...
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2answers
119 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 ...
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8answers
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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
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1answer
90 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 ...
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4answers
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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
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2answers
439 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 [...
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2answers
133 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
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1answer
112 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
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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
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5answers
957 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 ...
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0answers
94 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 ...
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2answers
151 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 (...
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2answers
212 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 ...
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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 ...
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1answer
80 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&...
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1answer
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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
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3answers
376 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 ...
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2answers
871 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 ...
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1answer
522 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 ...
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1answer
424 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'.
