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A comprehensive set of common musical terms and their definitions. Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free.
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- Rhythm
- Pitch
- Melody
- Harmony
- Texture
- Timbre
- Dynamics
- Tempo
- Form
- Conclusion
The first and arguably the most important element of music is rhythm. To define it as simply as possible, rhythm is the word we use to describe when a sound should be played and how long it should last. It’s the basic building block of all music. Rhythm is what makes you want to tap your foot or dance along to a piece of music. It’s the underlying ...
When we talk about Pitchin music, we are referring to the highness or lowness of a sound. A sound could be high-pitched, like a female opera singer belting out her last note of a song, or it could be low-pitched, like thunder rumbling in the distance. Pitch is all to do with what is actually happening when you play a note on an instrument. For exam...
The next element of music is Melody. Melody is which is a sequence of notes that create a recognizable tune. This sequence of notes is usually repeated throughout the course of a piece of music or song. The melody is another important element in a song, and it is often what people remember long after the music is over. A good melody is easy to sing...
After melody, we have to talk about Harmony, which is when two or more notes are played at the same time. Harmony is what makes music sound full and complete. It’s created when multiple instruments play different notes together. Harmony adds depth and context to a melody and can even completely change the mood of a song. This video from Jacob Colli...
Now that we’ve covered harmony, it’s time to look at Texture. Just like physical things – food, clothing, toys, buildings, etc. – have texture, so does music, although, because you can’t physically touch music, musical texture is characterized by sound instead. There are lots of ways to describe musical texture. Thick, thin, open, closed, wide, spa...
Timbre, also known as tone color or tone quality, is the unique sound of a musical instrument or voice. It is what allows us to distinguish between a trumpet and a flute, for example. Each instrument has its own timbre, which is created by the combination of its pitch, loudness, and sound quality. The timbre of an instrument can be affected by its ...
Another very important element of music is Dynamics. Dynamics refer to how loudly or softly a piece of music is played. Words such as “piano” (soft) and “forte” (loud) are an indication of dynamics. You can also have changing dynamics, such as a crescendo (a gradual increase in volume) or decrescendo (a gradual decrease in volume). Dynamics are an ...
The Tempoof a piece of music is the speed at which it is played. The tempo can be fast, slow, or anywhere in between. It is usually indicated by a metronome marking, such as 60 beats per minute (bpm), or by using Italian musical terms like allegro (fast) or adagio (slow). Like the other elements of music, the tempo of a piece can have a big impact ...
Next, we have Form, which is the word we use to describe the structure of a piece of music. It refers to how the piece is organized and can be thought of as the “shape” of the music. Form is usually indicated by using letters such as A-A-B-A or A-B-A-C. The most common form in popular music is Verse-Chorus-Verse, which you will often see indicated ...
As you can see, music isn’t just sound. It’s made up of many different elements that work together to create a piece of art. By understanding these elements, you can get a better appreciation for the music you listen to. Next time you listen to a piece of music, see if you can identify the different elements we’ve discussed. It will help you unders...
That’s why we’re creating this glossary of music terms. From basic terms like ‘melody’ and ‘rhythm’ to more complex ones like ‘negative harmony,’ we break things down in a way that’s easy to understand. Each term links to a guide that explains it further.
Dive deep into the musical realm with the Ultimate List of Musical Terms! Uncover the secrets & master the language of music today!
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What follows is a fairly long list of musical definitions and descriptions gleaned primarily from multiple Internet searches (utilizing available translation services). I also used a few book sources, mostly for purposes of corroboration.
