Elements of Music and Sound

________: the derived unit of frequency and is defined as one cycle per second.

________: the distinctive quality of a voice or instrument caused by overtones.

________: recurrent groupings of beats by twos, threes, or some combination of twos and threes.

________ is measured in decibels (dB) but our perception of loud and soft changes depending on the sounds around us.

________ (pitch): how high or low the sound is.

________: the distance between steps; the difference between pitch in two sounds.

________: can be dense or transparent, thick or thin, heavy or light; how many different layers of sound are heard simultaneously, whether these layers have a primarily melodic or an accompaniment function, and how the layers relate to each other.

________: one dominant melody with accompaniment.

________: the simultaneous combination of two or more independent melodies is classified as ________.

________, pictorial representations, and folklore sources provide evidence that people from all over the world and from the beginnings of recorded history have created and performed music for the following purposes:

________: when two or more pitches are played at the same time.

________: when the ratio between two notes, in terms of frequency, is 2: 1.

________: a texture of a single, unaccompanied melodic line.

________: starting pitch of the scale.

________: the combination of two or more simultaneous rhythmic lines is classified as ________.

________: spontaneous variations of two or more performers producing different versions of the same melody at the same time.

________: a succession of pitches.

________: irregular or unexpected stresses in the rhythmic flow.

Pure sine waves rarely occur in nature but they can easily be created through ________.

________: the time pattern of the attack points of a sequence of sounds (think of syllables)

From the perspective of a musician, anything that can make a sound has potential to be a(n) ________.

________: determines the tone color, or timbre that we hear and is how we differentiate between sounds.

________ is determined by the length and thickness of the vibrating object.

________: the amount of energy contained in a sound wave and is perceived as being either loud or soft.

vibrations (sound waves) traveling through a medium

how high or low the sound is

the derived unit of frequency and is defined as one cycle per second

a succession of pitches

when two or more pitches are played at the same time

each element of a scale

the distance between steps; the difference between pitch in two sounds

starting pitch of the scale

the amount of energy contained in a sound wave and is perceived as being either loud or soft

determines the tone color, or timbre that we hear and is how we differentiate between sounds

how long or short the sound is (depends on the context)

the time pattern of the attack points of a sequence of sounds (think of syllables)

recurrent groupings of beats by twos, threes, or some combination of twos and threes

a distinctive sequence of long rhythms and short rhythms that recurs throughout an individual work or groups of works

irregular or unexpected stresses in the rhythmic flow

can be dense or transparent, thick or thin, heavy or light; how many different layers of sound are heard simultaneously, whether these layers have a primarily melodic or an accompaniment function, and how the layers relate to each other

a texture of a single, unaccompanied melodic line

spontaneous variations of two or more performers producing different versions of the same melody at the same time

the simultaneous combination of two or more independent melodies is classified as polyphony

one dominant melody with accompaniment

the combination of two or more simultaneous rhythmic lines is classified as polyrhythm

the distinctive quality of a voice or instrument caused by overtones