MusicTheoryInfo: Musical Terms Dictionary

____ ______ ______ __________________ ________________________ ________________ _____________________________ ____________ ____ HOME|SCALES|CHORDS|CHORD PROGRESSIONS|MUSICAL TERMS DICTIONARY|CIRCLE OF FIFTHS|CHORDTONES + WHOLETONES GUIDE| |v1.3| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THE CREATOR | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRO Heres the Musical Terms Dictionary so if you hear a term you dont understand here you go -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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BAG A jazz musicians repertoire of licks,patterns, and so on, often used in proprietary from, as "jackie's bag" BAR a common term for a musical measure BAL MUSETTE A style of French music and dance that first became popular in Paris in the 1880s, usually accompanied by accordions. BALLAD Slow tune BARITONE a moderately low male voice; in range between a tenor and a bass BASS the lowest male voice; BASS GUITAR the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family.

BASSOON the lowest-sounding regular instrument of the woodwind family (a double-reed instrument)

BEBOP a complex, highly-improvisatory style of jazz promoted by charlie Parker in the 1940s-50s BEAT a musical pulse BITONALITY modern music sounding in two different keys simultaneously BINARY FORM Describes the structure of a piece of music that is divided into 2 different sections. The 2 sections are usually labelled A and B. BLUES a melancholy style of Afro-American secular music, based on a simple musical/poetic form. "Dlta" blues began in the early 1900s; "Classic" blues in the late 1920s; "Rhythm and Blues" in the 1940s. BLUE NOTE A flatted note, especially the third or seventh scale degree, recurring frequently in blues or jazz as a characteristic feature. BLUES SCALE A Pentatonic scale with one more note (added in the scale). This note is known as a blue note and it is the flattened 5th in the case of the Minor Pentatonic Scale or the flattened 3rd in the case of the Major Pentatonic Scale. MINOR BLUES IN C _________________________________ |▓▓| | |░| |▓▓|░|▓| | |░| |▓▓▓| |▓▓| | |░| |▓▓|░|▓| | |░| |▓▓▓| |▓▓| | |░| |▓▓|░|▓| | |░| |▓▓▓| |▓▓|_| |░| |▓▓|░|▓|_| |░| |▓▓▓| |▓▓▓| ` |▓▓▓`▓▓▓| ` |▓▓▓| |▓▓▓| | |▓▓▓|▓▓▓| | |▓▓▓| |▓▓▓| | |▓▓▓|▓▓▓| | |▓▓▓| ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` MAJOR BLUES IN C _________________________________ |▓▓| |▓|░|▓▓| | |▓| |▓| | |▓▓▓| |▓▓| |▓|░|▓▓| | |▓| |▓| | |▓▓▓| |▓▓| |▓|░|▓▓| | |▓| |▓| | |▓▓▓| |▓▓|_|▓|░|▓▓| |_|▓|_|▓|_| |▓▓▓| |▓▓▓|▓▓▓`▓▓▓| |▓▓▓|▓▓▓| |▓▓▓| |▓▓▓|▓▓▓|▓▓▓| |▓▓▓|▓▓▓| |▓▓▓| |▓▓▓|▓▓▓|▓▓▓| |▓▓▓|▓▓▓| |▓▓▓| ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` BLOWING CHORUSES The choruses of a tune that are improvised BRASS INSTRUMENT a powerful metallic instrument with a mouthpiece and tubing that must be blown into by the player, such as trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba, baritone, bugel BREAK breaks typically occur at the beginning of a solo the soloist plays alone as the rest of the band lays out usually for 2,4,or 8 bars. one of the greatest is lee morgans break at the beginning of his solo on john coltranes "locomotion" on coltranes album blue train BRIDGE The "B" Section of a tune usually on an AABA or ABA tune Sometimes called the channel

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CADENCE a melodic or harmonic punctuation mark at the end of a phrase, major section or entire work CADENZA an unaccompanied section of virtuosic display played by a soloist in a concerto CALL AND RESPONSE a traditional African process in which a leader's phrase ("call")is repeatedly answered by a chorus. This process became an important aspect of many Afro-American styles. CAJON A box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front or rear faces (generally thin plywood) with the hands, fingers, or sometimes various implements such as brushes, mallets, or sticks.

CANON a type of strict imitation created by strict echoing between a melodic "leader" and subsequent "follower(s)" CAPRICCIO A quick, improvisational, spirited piece of music. CELLO the tenor-ranged instrument of the modern string family (an abbreviation for violoncello)

CHANGES the chords to a tune CHANNEL check the definition of bridge in section B CHART Arrangement, lead sheet. CHAMBER MUSIC (genre) music performed by a small group of players (one player per part) CHORALE 1) a Lutheran liturgical melody; 2) a 4-part hymn-like chorale harmonisation CHORD a harmonic combination that has three or more pitches sounding simultaneously CHORDTONES the notes that make up a chord or the tones that make up a chord CHORUS a single statement of the main harmonic/melody pattern repeated in certain sections of a song CHOPS technique CHROMATICISM 1) harmonic or melodic movement by half-step intervals; 2) harmony that uses pitches beyond the central key of a work CIRCLE OF FIFTHS The relationship among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor keys. Circle of Fifths progressions are considered to be harmonically very strong, in the sense that they pull our ears toward one chord being the tonic.

CIRCLE OF FOURTHS a circular arrangement of all 12 notes of the chromatic scale when viewed counterclockwise, each note is a 4th higher than the preceding note when viewed clockwise, each note is a 4th lower than the preceding note CLARINET the tenor-ranged instrument of the woodwind family (a single-reed

CLEFS A symbol that is placed at the left-hand end of a staff, indicating the pitch of the notes written on it. There are many types of clefs, but the four most common are Treble, Bass, Alto, and Tenor. CLAVE (1)a two bar rhythmic pattern that almost all afro-cuban music is based upon; (2) short wooden sticks around 25 centimetres long traditonally made of wood

COMMON TIME / CUT TIME Common Time is the same thing as 4/4 Time. It can be referred to by a “C” symbol, but it is more common to see 4/4. Cut Time, however, is commonly indicated by the symbol “C” with a slash in the middle of it. This means that it is actually 2/4 Time notated and executed like 4/4 Time, except with the beat lengths doubled. COMMON TONES Notes that are found in the chords and/or scales of two or more consecutive chords CONTRABASSOON the lowest-sounding double-reed instrument of the woodwind family

CONTRALTO VOICE A type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto’s vocal range is fairly rare; similar to, but different from the alto, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically between the F below middle C (F3) to the second F above middle C (F5), although some voices reach beyond. COUNTERMELODY a secondary melodic idea that accompanies and opposes a main thematic idea CRESCENDO gradually getting louder

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DAW Its a ancronym standing for digital audio workstation this is what many music producers and mixers user examples include FL Studio, Ableton and Logic Pro DECEPTIVE CADENCE A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not. DECIBEL Commonly abbreviated as “dB”, it is a logarithmic unit for measuring the intensity of sound which corresponds to the listener’s perception of loudness. DECRESCENDO gradually getting quieter (see diminuendo) DIATONIC a melody or harmony based on one of the seven-tone major or minor Western scales DIES IREA a chant from the Requiem Mass dealing with God's wrath on the day of judgement

DIMINISHED SCALE a scale alternating half steps and whole steps (or vice versa) DISSONANCE Harsh, discordance,viceral tension filled harmony. DECRESCENDO gradually getting quieter (see diminuendo) DORIAN MODE the second mode of the major scale; also the chord derived from that mode DOUBLE BASS the lowest-sounding instrument of the modern string family

DOUBLE DIMINISHED CHORD two diminished 7th chords played at the same time by a pianist, an eight note chord including all the notes of a diminished scale DOUBLE TIME change the tempo to one that is twice as fast, the changes also moving twice as fast DOMINANT The fifth tone or degree of a diatonic scale or the triad build upon this degree. For example, in the key of C Major, the Dominant Scale Degree would be G, and the Dominant Chord would be G Major. The strongest harmonic progression in tonal music is from the dominant chord to the tonic triad. DOWNBEAT the first beat of a musical measure (usually accented more strongly than other beats) DYNAMICS the musical element of relative musical loudness or quietness

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FALSETTO a vocal technique that allows a male to sing in a much higher, lighter register (by vibrating only half of the vocal cord) FAKE BOOK A collection of musical lead sheets (mostly used in jazz) intended to help a performer quickly learn and perform new songs. Each song in a fake book contains the melody line, basic chords and sometimes lyrics – the minimal information needed by a musician or small group to make an impromptu, extemporised arrangement of a song, or “fake it”.

FAMILY A grouping of instruments which produce sound in the same manner and are constructed in the same way but in different sizes such as the clarinet family, the saxophone family, the violin family and so on. FINGER MEMORY the internalised muscular memory of what a chord, lick, phrase, pattern, and so on, feeks like (a term used by mainly pianists, but applicable to all instruments) FLAT SIGN: (b) a musical symbol that lowers the pitch one half-step FROM THE TOP take the tune from the beginning FORTE (f) a loud dynamic marking FORTEPIANO an early prototype of the modern piano (designed to play both "loud" and "quiet")

FORTISSIMO (ƒ) a very loud dynamic marking FORM see song form FOURS (OR "TRADE FOURS") two or more, each in turn trading four bar improvisations, usually for one or more choruses after the regular solos FRENCH HORN a valved brass instrument of medium/medium-low range (alto to bass) FREE (OR "PLAY FREE") improvise, usually without chord changes of a pre-set form FUNKY earthly, soulful, visceral, unintellectual

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HALFSTEP the american term referring to going up 1 times in the western tuning system of 12 keys HALFTONE the english term referring to going up 1 times in the western tuning system of 12 keys HALF-DIMINISHED (1) a minor 7th chord with a flat 5 (2) the chord built of the sixth mode of the melodic minor scale (3) the chord built off of the seventh mode of the major scale HAND BELLS A percussion instrument, handbells come in various sizes (each size sounding a separate pitch) and are usually played in a set ranging in number from six to sixty. They are usually performed by a group of musicians, either each holding a bell in each hand, or lifting them from a table. HARMONY the elemental category describing vertical combinations of pitches HABANERA A Cuban dance from Havana later introduced to Spain. HARMONIC MINOR SCALE A minor scale that differs from a natural minor scale in that the seventh note is raised one semitone both ascending and descending. HARP a plucked instrument having strings stretched on a triangular frame

HARPSICHORD an ancient keyboard instrument whose sound is produced by a system of levered picks that pluck its metal strings (common in the Renaissance and Baroque eras)

HAUTE-CONTRE A rare type of high tenor voice, predominant in French Baroque and Classical opera until the latter part of the eighteenth century. In range, it is equivalent to the alto and was normally written in the alto clef. HEAD (1) the composed melody and changes of a tune (2) a tune composed by a jazz musician based on the changes of a standard (3) the first time through the melody of a tune before the solos begin HOME KEY see tonic key

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IMPROVISATION "on-the-spot" creation of music (while it is being performed) INCALZANDO A directive to a musician to perform the indicated passage of a composition in a pressing or chasing manner. INSTRUMENTATION the combination of instruments that a composition is written for INTERLUDE a section of a tune usually played between the heads and the solos or between soloists IN THE POCKET when the music is rhythmically played in a groove INTERVAL the measured distance between two musical pitches INTRO an introductory section before a tune is played often improvised INVERSION a variation technique in which the intervals of a melody are turned upside down IRATO A directive to a musician to perform the indicated passage of a composition in an agitated manner, as if irate, angry, or passionate. IONIAN MODE the first mode of the major scale

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LARGO a very slow, broad tempo LEDGER LINES The short, horizontal lines added to the top or the bottom of a staff for the indication of notes too high or too low to be represented on the staff. LATIN JAZZ A fusion of jazz and Afro-cuban Music LAY BACK Relax; play on the back side of the beat LAY OUT Don't play LEAD SHEET A sheet of music usually containing just the melody and the chord symbols of the tune LEFT HAND VOICING Rootless voicings for the left hand, originally developed by pianists Red Garland, Bill Evans,and Wynton Kelly LICK An improvised phrase that has entered the everyday langugue of jazz, often used descriptly, as in "a Joe Henderson lick." LEGATO a smooth, connected manner of performing a melody LEITMOTIF a short musical "signature tune" associated with a person or concept in a Wagnerian Musikdrama LYDIAN MODE The mode represented by the natural diatonic scale F–F (containing an augmented 4th). It can also be thought of as a major scale with a raised 4th scale degree. LYDIAN AUGMENTED MODE The third mode of the melodic minor scale; also the chord derived from that mode LYDIAN DOMINANT MODE The fourth mode of the melodic minor scale; also the chord derived from that mode LOCRIAN MODE The seventh mode of the major scale

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MADRIGAL A vocal music form that flourished in the Renaissance. Generally written for four to six voices, madrigals are usually set to short love poems. The madrigal is characterised by word-painting and harmonic and rhythmic contrast. In the madrigal, each line has its own tune, rather than the entire composition having a single tune with harmonic accompaniment. MARCATO A musical direction indicating a note, chord, or passage is to be played with strong accentuation. MAJOR KEY music based on a major scale (traditionally considered "happy" sounding) MAJOR SCALE a family of seven alphabetically-ordered pitches within the distance of an octave, following an intervallic pattern matching the white keys from "C" to "C" on a piano). MEASURE a rhythmic grouping, set off in written music by a vertical barline MELODY the musical element that deals with the horizontal presentation of pitch MELODIC MINOR SCALE A minor scale modified by raising the sixth and seventh scale degrees when ascending, then restoring them to their original pitches when descending. MINOR 2-5-1 A 2-5-1 progression in a minor key, as in 2halfdiminished-5Dominant7alt-1MinorMajor7 MIXOLYDIAN MODE The fifth mode of the major scale METER beats organised into recurring and recognisable accent patterns (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, etc.) METRONOME a mechanical (or electric) device that precisely measures tempo MEASURE a rhythmic grouping, set off in written music by a vertical barline MEZZO an Italian prefix that means "medium" MEZZO-FORTE (F) a medium loud dynamic marking MEZZO-PIANO (f) a medium quiet dynamic marking MEZZO-SOPRANO a dramatic woman's voice that combines the power of an alto with the primary high range of a soprano MICROTONE a non-Western musical interval that is smaller than a Western half-step MIDI an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface; a protocol established in the 1970s that allows digital synthesisers/instruments to communicate with computers

MINOR KEY music based on a minor scale (traditionally considered "sad" sounding) MINOR SCALE a family of seven alphabetically-ordered pitches within the distance of an octave, following an intervallic pattern matching the white keys from "A" to "A" on a piano). MODE a scale or key used in a musical composition (major and minor are modes, as are ancient modal scales found in Western music before c.1680 it is a scale created by starting on any note in a scale and treating that as the tonal centre MODERATO a moderate tempo MODULATION the process of changing from one musical key to another MOTIF A short musical idea. This idea will appear often in a piece of music, sometimes exactly the same and sometimes changed. When a motif returns, it can be slower or faster, or in a different key. It may return “upside down” (with the notes going up instead of down, for example), or with the pitches or rhythms altered. MP3 a modern technology that allows digital CD-quality sound to be compressed into files that are approximately 8 times smaller that the original, with no loss of quality

Music Production Is where you produce music it involves mixing composing live sound EQ & music theory

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OBEO a nasal-sounding double-reed instrument that is the alto of the standard woodwind family

OCTAVE a musical interval between two pitches in which the upper pitch vibrates twice as fast as the lower called an octave because its 8 notes across from each other ___________________________________________________________________ |▓▓| | | | | | | | | | | |▓▓| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |▓▓| | | | | | | | | | | |▓▓| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |▓▓| | | | | | | | | | | |▓▓| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |▓▓|_| |_| | |_| |_| |_| |▓▓|_| |_| | |_| |_| |_| | |_| |_| | |▓▓▓| | | | | | |▓▓▓| | | | | | | | | | |▓▓▓| | | | | | |▓▓▓| | | | | | | | | | |▓▓▓| | | | | | |▓▓▓| | | | | | | | | | ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` ODE A song written in commemoration and celebration of a particular event, object, or person. Purcell and Handel were important composers of odes in English Baroque music. One of the duties of the Master of the King’s Musick (the most important royal ensemble in England during the Baroque Era) was to compose odes for special occasions such as New Year’s Day, birthdays, deaths, etc. OCARINA The ocarina is an ancient wind musical instrument—a type of vessel flute. Variations exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body. It is traditionally made from clay or ceramic, but other materials are also used—such as plastic, wood, glass, metal, or bone.

ORGAN a wind/keyboard instrument, usually with many sets of pipes controlled from two or more manuals (keyboards), including a set of pedals played by the organist's feet (a set of mechanical or electrical "stops" allow the player to open or close the flow of air to selected groups of pipes)

OSTINATO a short rhythmic/melodic idea that is repeated exactly over and over throughout a musical section or work OUD a lute-like, pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument commonly used in music from the Middle East.

OUT CHORUS (OR) OUT HEAD The last time through the melody of a tune OUTSIDE playing notes not in the changes (and assuming that they sound good unlike "wrong notes")

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PARRELLELISM Chords or chord voicings moving in parrel motion PARENT SCALE The scale from which a mode is derived PEDAL POINT A sustained note during which the harmony above it changes in some way so that the overall sound becomes dissonant. PENTATONIC SCALE a folk or non-Western scale having five different notes within the pace of an octave PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT an instrument on which sound is generated by striking its surface with an object PERFECT PITCH The ability to recognize the pitch of a note or to produce any given note without the benefit of a reference tone. PICARDY THIRD A major chord of the tonic at the end of a musical section that is either modal or in a minor key. PICCOLO A small flute whose range is an octave higher than that of an ordinary flute.

PHRASE a small musical unit (sub-section of a melody) equivalent to a grammatical phrase in a sentence PIANISSIMO (π) a very quiet dynamic marking PIANO (dynamic; p) a quiet dynamic marking PIANO (instrument) a versatile modern keyboard instrument that makes sound via fingered keys that engage felt-tipped hammers that strike the strings PIANOFORTE the original instrumental prototype of the piano (late Baroque/early Classic eras) PITCH the relative highness or lowness of a musical sound (based on frequency of vibration) PIZZICATO usually refers to a type of violin playing in which a string is plucked by the fingers PHRASE a small musical unit (sub-section of a melody) equivalent to a grammatical phrase in a sentence PHRYGIAN MODE The third mode of the major scale; also the chord is derived from that mode PRIMARY CHORDS Chords built on scale degrees 1, 4, and 5. For example, in the key of C Major, the primary chords are C, F, and G. POLKA a lively Bohemian (Czech) dance (traditionally for the common classes) POLYPHONY music with two or more sounds happening simultaneously POLYRHYTHM when several independent rhythmic lines are sounding at the same time POLYTONALITY when music is played in two or more contrasting keys at the same time POLYCHORD Two or more chords played at the same time PRESTO a very fast tempo

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RAGA a melodic pattern used in the music of India RAGTIME a style of piano music developed around the turn of the 20th century, with a march-like tempo a syncopated right-hand melody, and an "oom-pah" left-hand accompaniment RANGE the distance between the lowest and highest possible notes of an instrument or melody RAP (hip-hop) a style of popular music developed by Afro-Americans in the 1970s, in which the lyrics are spoken over rhythm tracks RECORDER an ancient wooden flute REED a flexible strip of cane (or metal) that vibrates in the mouthpiece of a wind instrument RELATIVE KEYS The major and minor scales that share the same key signature. For example, A Minor and C Major. RELATIVE PITCH The ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note by comparing it to a reference note and identifying the interval between those two notes. This is different from perfect pitch, where no reference note is needed to determine a note. RHYTHM the element of music as it unfolds in time RHYTHM AND BLUES a style of Afro-American popular music that flourished in the 1940s-60s; a direct predecessor to rock and roll RITARDANDO gradually slowing down the tempo RUBATO playing out of tempo RALLENTANO A gradual decrease in tempo containing less certainty and drama than the ritardando. RIFF A prominent feature in pop and jazz compositions, a riff is a short ostinato (a short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout an entire composition or some portion of a composition), two to four bars long. "RIGHT ON IT" No intro; start playing right on the head ROCK AND ROLL a style of popular music that emerged in the 1950s out of the combination of AfroAmerican, Country-Western and pop-music elements ROOT The fundamental pitch on which a chord is based, from which the chord takes its name, and to which the other tones of the chord are referred to (the third, seventh, etc.)

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SACKBUT an ancient brass instrument; ancestor to the trombone

SAXOPHONE a family of woodwind instruments with a single reed and brass body; commonly used in jazz and marching band/ concert band music

SCALE a series of notes differing in pitch according to a specific scheme (usually within an octave) SCALE DEGREE Refers to the position of a particular note on a scale relative to the tonic (the first and main note of the scale from which each octave is assumed to begin). Degrees are useful for indicating the size of intervals and chords, and whether they are major or minor. Scale Degrees may be identified in several ways. The most common ways are numbers, roman numerals, and names (referring to function). SCAT SINGING a style of improvised jazz singing sung on colourful nonsense syllables SCORE written notation that vertically aligns all instrumental/vocal parts used in a composition SECONDARY DOMINANT An altered chord having a dominant or leading tone relationship to a chord in a key other than the tonic. For a deep dive into Secondary Dominants SEMITONE Also called a half step or a half tone, it is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically. It is defined as the interval between two adjacent notes in a 12-tone scale. For example, C is adjacent to C♯; the interval between them is a semitone. SEVENTH CHORDS Chords consisting of a triad plus a note forming an interval of a seventh above the chord’s root. Though there are different types, when not otherwise specified, a “seventh chord” usually means a Dominant Seventh Chord: a major triad together with a minor seventh. However, there are several different types of Seventh Chords: SEQUENCING a sequence is notes or chords in a set pattern normally programmed SEQUENCE A phrase, or motif, repeated at a diffrent pitch, The repreated phrase doesn't necessarily have to have the exact same interval structure, but genrally has the same shape as the original motif SHOUT CHOURUS A specially arranged chorus, usually played between the last solo and the out chorus SIT IN,SITTING IN When a musican who is not a member of the regular band joins the band to play SHAKUHACHI a Japanese flute

SHAMISEN a banjo-like Japanese stringed instrument

SHARP SIGN (#) a musical symbol that raises the pitch one half-step SFORZANDO (ß) sudden stress on a note or chord SITAR a long-necked stringed instrument of India

SNARE DRUM a non-pitched drum with two heads stretched over a metal shell; the lower head has metal wires strapped across it to produce a rattling sound

SUBDOMINANT The fourth tone of a major or minor scale. Music which modulates often modulates into the subdominant when the leading tone is lowered by a half step to the subtonic (B to B♭ in the key of C). Modulation into the subdominant key often creates a sense of musical relaxation; as opposed to modulation into dominant (fifth scale degree), which increases tension. See: SOLO CONCERTO (genre) a 3-movement work for a single soloist vs. an orchestra SONATA (genre) a Classic multi-movement work for a piano (or for one instrument with piano accompaniment) SONATA FORM (also called sonata-allegro form): the common first-movement form of Classic multimovement instrumental works; essentially a musical debate between two opposing key centres characterised by three dramatic structural divisions within a single movement: Exposition (two opposing keys are presented), Development (harmonically restless), Recapitulation (all material is presented in the home key) SONATA-RONDO FORM a formal design that combines aspects of sonata form and rondo form: (an ABACABA design in which the opening ABA=exposition (two opposing keys presented in "A" vs. "BA"); C=development (harmonically restless); the last ABA=recapitulation (all material is presented in the home key) SOPRANO 1) the highest ranged woman's voice or a high pre-pubescent boy's voice; 2) the highest sounding instrument of an instrumental family SOUSAPHONE an ultra-bass brass instrument designed for use in marching bands

SOLO, SOLOING Improvising on the tune SOLOS Improvised section of a tune SONG FORM The organization of letter names given to diffrent sections of tune (usually in eight-bar segments), as as in "AABA," "ABC," and so forth SLAP BASS a rock or jazz style of playing the electric or double bass in which the strings are plucked and released so as to vibrate sharply against the fretboard or fingerboard SLASH CHORD (1) A traid played over a note in bass other than the root (2) a 7th chord played over a note in the bass not in the chord; (3) a triad played on top of another triad. See also polychord STACCATO short, detached notes STRING INSTRUMENT an instrument that is played by placing one's hands directly on the strings, such as violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar, dulcimer, psaltery, and the ancient violas STANDARD A tune popular with jazz musicians. usally but not always, composed by a non jazz songwriter (George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and so on) many of Duke Elligton and Billy Strayhons songs are also considered standards STOP-TIME Usually occuring during a solo, the rhythm section plays only onthe first beat or everytwo, or four bars. Occasionally a stop time figure will have two or more kicks. One of the greatest stop time solos is by sonny rollins on vincents youmns "i know you know" on dizzy gillespie-sonny stitt-sonny rollins album sonny side up STRAIGHT AHEAD play with a swing feel STRAIGHT 8THS Play with a rhythmically even feeling, without swinging in a traditiona sense. Most latin music is played this# ways SUS CHORD A dominant 7th chord in which the fourth does not act like an "avoid" note SUSb9 CHORD A sus chord derived from either the phrgian mode of the major scale or the second mode of the melodic minor scale SWING a term to describe "Big Band" jazz music of the 1930s-50s SYMPHONY A large-scale instrumental work usually in 4 movements, each played at a different pace. The first is often fast (Allegro), the second a bit slower (Adagio), the third moderately agile (Andante) and the fourth again fast (Presto Vivace or Allegro). Haydn was the first to “design” the symphony, but Beethoven perfected it with his famous nine. SYNCOPATION an "off-the-beat" accent SYNTHESIZER a modern electronic keyboard instrument capable of generating a multitude of sounds

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TAG An improvised section at the end of the out chorus, often repeate indefinetly TAKE IT OUT A siginal from the band leader to play the out head TEMPO the speed of the musical beat TENOR a high-ranged male voice TETRACHORD A scale of four notes, or a series of four notes (usually played one after the other), where the interval between the first and last note is a perfect fourth. THEME the main self-contained melody of a musical composition TIMBRAL TRILL going between two same notes between an octave repeatedly TIMBRE another term for tone colour TIME SIGNATURE A set of numbers (one on top of the other) notated after the clef at the beginning of a piece that indicates how many beats are in each measure and which note value is equivalent to one beat. TONALITY music centred around a "home" key (based on a major or minor scale) TONIC KEY the "home" key of a tonal composition TONIC the first note of a scale or key TONIC MINOR CHORD A minor chord not function as a 2 chord but as a "minor 1" TOP The beginning of a tune TRANSPOSITION shifting a piece to a different pitch level TREMOLO rapid repetition of a pitch (i.e.: bowing a string rapidly while maintaining a constant pitch) TRIAD a three-note chord built on alternating scales steps (1-3-5, etc.) TRIPLET a rhythmic grouping of three equal-valued notes played in the space of two (indicated in written music by a "3" above the grouping) TRITONE The interval composed of three wholetones most significantly occuring between the 3rd and 7th of a dominant chord TRITONE SUBSTITUION A Dominant chord substituting for another dominant chord a tritone away both chords share the same 3rd and 7th which are also a tritone apart TRITONE SUBSTITUION 2-5 A 2-5 progression substituting for a dominant chord a tritone away, or for the 2-5 progression a tritone away TROMBONE a family of brass instruments that change pitch via a moveable slide (alto, tenor and bass versions are common)

TRUMPET a valved instrument that is the soprano of the modern brass family

TUBA a large valved brass instrument; the bass of the modern brass family

TURNAROUND A chord progression occuring (1) at the end of a repeated section of a tune, leading back to the repeat; (2) at the end of the tune, leading back to the top

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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOURCES The Jazz Theory book by Mark Levine Glossary of Music Terms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------