Chapter 1

Elements of Music: Sound,

Melody, Rhythm, and Harmony

The man who hath no music in himself, nor is not

moved by concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons,
stratagems and soils, . . . Let no such man be
trusted.
William Shakespeare

Sound
Pitch highness or

lowness (frequency)
Staff 5 lines, 4
spaces
Interval distance
between tones
Unison smallest
interval
Octave 8 notes, CC

Major Scale
Pattern of whole and half steps arranged in ascending

octave
C major is white-key scale, C-C; all white keys on piano
C = Do
B = Ti
A = La
G = Sol
F = Fa
E = Mi
D = Re
C = Do

Dynamics
(Loudness and softness)
Italian terms used
piano = soft
forte = loud
mezzo = middle or medium
-issimo = ending that means very

pianissimo = very soft

fortissimo = very loud
timbre (TAM bur) = distinctive sound quality

pp p mp mf f ff
Crescendo (get loud)
decrescendo (get soft)

Rhythm
BEAT = steady, recurring pulse
METER = accent grouping, usually by 2,

3, or 4

TEMPO = speed of beat

Italian terms: allegro, moderato, grave

DURATION = note length (note value)

Meter
Organization of beats into groups
Usually groups of 2, 3, or 4
One metric unit = one measure
Bar lines separate each measure
First beat of measure carries most

weight = downbeat
Marches are in duple meter = 2 beat
pattern
Some melodies start on upbeat

Tempo Markings
Very Slow
largo (very slow)
grave (solemn)
Slow
lento
adagio (at ease)

Fast

Very Fast

Moderate
andante
moderato

allegretto
allegro (faster)

vivace
presto (very quick)
prestissimo

Melody
Linear dimension

Example:

Can move by skips or

a Mary had a little

lamb, little lamb, little
lamb.

steps
Ascending/descending
Legato or staccato
Made up of phrases
May be one phrase or
group of phrases
Phrase ends in cadence
May make use of
sequence
Longer works use
themes

a Mary had a little

lamb, its fleece was
white as snow.

Harmony
Vertical dimension
Chord = 3 or more notes played

simultaneously
Progression series of chords
Triad simplest chord
Harmony creates consonance or
dissonance
Tonic starting note of scale, chord
Arpeggio broken chord