Barron's AP Music Theory Chapter 1

wavelength

determines the pitch of the sound

frequency

the rate of vibration measured in "times per second," called Hertz

amplitude

Determines the loudness of the sound aka dynamics

waveform

Shape and form of the sound wave as it moves in distance and frequency; produces unique qualities of sound

timbre

the unique qualities of sound and is made up of more than one frequency; involving harmonics or overtones

consonant

notes that sound pleasant together

dissonant

notes that don't sound pleasant together/clash

envelope of sound

composed of a sound's attack, sustain, and release

articulation

the manner in which a note is begun, sustained and ended

duration

the length of time sound and silence lasts

staff

most music is written on this; made up of five lines and four spaces

soprano

highest female voice

mezzo soprano

moderately high female voice

alto

low female voice

tenor

high male voice

baritone

low male voice

c clef

Clef that shows where middle c is located; is movable

monophonic

when music is just a single line of melody

polyphonic

when there are more layers of music with multiple lines being sung or played at the same time

treble clef

a g is on the second line of the staff

bass clef

f is on the fourth line of the staff

system/grand or great staff

multiple staves connected together by bar lines.

ledger lines/leger lines

small lines that extend the staff for when notes are above or below the staff

neutral clef

used for rhythm only, or for pitchless or untuned instruments

sharp

raises the pitch one half step above its natural pitch

flat

means the pitch is one half step lower

interval

distance between two notes

half step

smallest space between two notes

enharmonic equivalent

ex. A? is the same thing as B?/different names - same pitch

whole step

two half steps

double sharp

raise a pitch by two half steps

double flat

lowers the pitch by two half steps

natural

cancels out a sharp or flat ?

note head

body of a note

note stem

part of a note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than the whole note

note flag

part of the note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than a quarter note

beam

when two flagged notes are next to each other, they are connected by this

bar line

the vertical line that divides the staff into measures

measure

the unit of space between the bar lines

double bar line

two lines that signal the end of a section of music or the entire piece

cautionary accidental

if there is an accidental early in a measure, this is in parentheses for later placement

contralto

lowest female voice

Soprano clef

C clef where middle C is indicated on the first line of the staff

C/5

Another name for C above Middle C

Mezzo-soprano clef

C clef where middle C is indicated on the second line of the staff

Alto Clef

C clef where middle C is indicated on the third line of the staff

Tenor Clef

C clef where middle C is indicated on the fourth line of the staff

Baritone Clef

C clef where middle C is indicated on the fifth/top line of the staff

8 below a treble clef

indicates to sing an octave lower than written