ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

1. Rhythm - The pattern of movement in time. This musical phrase is used to define the length or
shortness of a sound. This refers to how long or sustained the notes of any given instrument in a
piece of music are
 BEAT
 TEMPO
 METER
2. Melody - A coherent succession of pitches or a series of pitches that make a tune.
 PITCH or NOTE or TONE
 SCALE
 MELODIC CONTOUR
3. Harmony - The relationship of pitches as they sound simultaneously
 INTERVAL
 CHORDS
4. Timbre - Refers to the unique sound quality of an instrument. The character of a sound distinct
from its pitch, length, or intensity. Timbre can also be described using the term tone color.
 MATERIAL OF INSTRUMENT
 ATTACK/ARTICULATION
 SUSTAINED PITCH
5. Texture - Refers to the number of instruments or voices that contribute to the overall density of
the music. The pattern of sound created by the interaction of musical voices.
 MONOPHONY
 HETEROPHONY
 HOMOPHONY
 POLYPHONY
6. Dynamic - The aspect of music relating to degrees of loudness. Refers to the volume of a piece
of music.
 FORTISSIMO
 FORTE
 MEZZO FORTE
 MEZZO PIANO
 PIANO
 PIANISSIMO
 CRESCENDO
 DIMINUENDO
7. Form - The shape of a musical composition as defined by new and repeated segments; the
musical roadmap. Refers to the order and arrangement of the different parts.