Melodic minor scale In the ascending melodic minor, the sixth and seventh tones of the natural minor scale are
raised a half step, resulting in half steps between 2 and 3 and between 7 and 8. In the descending form, the
sixth and seventh notes are lowered a half step, resulting in a return to the natural form of the minor scale.
Melody The horizontal succession of pitches. Additional elements include rhythm and the shape or contour
formed by ascending or descending pitches.
Meter The recurring division of the pulse into a pattern of strong and weak beats; for example, duple, triple
or quadruple.
Mezzo forte(mf) It. A dynamic marking meaning medium loud.
Mezzo piano(mp) It. A dynamic marking meaning medium soft.
Minor scale Apattern of seven notes in three different forms: natural (pure), harmonic and melodic. All three
forms share the same key signature and the first five notes.
Modal music Amusical system based on the church modes.
Moderato It. A moderate tempo.
Modes The seven-note medieval “church” scales used until the end of the Renaissance around 1600. Two of
these modes became the major and natural minor scales (Ionian and Aeolian, respectively). Frequently folk
songs, jazz, and modern pieces are modal.
Modulation The changing of a key within a piece of music. Accidentals may be used to indicate the change,
or a double bar and new key signature may be used.
Motive Ashort rhythmic and melodic idea used in a phrase.
Natural An accidental ( ) used to cancel a previous sharp, flat, double sharp or double flat for that note.
Natural (pure) minor scale The form of the minor scale which follows the key signature, resulting in half steps
between 2 and 3 and between 5 and 6.
Note head The part of a note that is oval; the placement of the note head on the staff indicates the pitch of the
note. Stems and flags may be added, and the note head may be filled in. If the note head is used alone, it is
awhole note.
Parallel key Amajor and minor key that share the same tonic, or beginning note, but not the same key signature;
for example, A major and A minor.
Pentatonic scale Apattern of five notes within the octave; for example, the five black keys comprise a pentatonic
scale.
Period The grouping of two or more phrases. When two phrases are combined, the first usually ends with a
momentary conclusion (the antecedent phrase) and the second ends with a definitive conclusion (the
consequent phrase).
Phrase Amusical sentence, frequently four to eight measures long, ending with a feeling of closure called a
cadence.
Pianissimo(pp) It. A dynamic marking meaning very soft.
Piano(p) It. A dynamic marking meaning soft.
Pitch The frequency, or rate of speed, of sound vibrations. For example, the pitch A has a frequency of 440
vibrations per second.
Plagal cadence Aresting or ending of a section of music with the last two chords consisting of subdominant
(IV or iv) to tonic (I or i). This is sometimes called the “Amen” cadence because it is used at the end of some
hymns.
Primary triads Triads of the scale that are the most frequently occurring and closely related to the tonic; these
are the tonic, subdominant, and dominant.
Pulse The steady beat in music.
Quadruple meter The recurring pattern of beats: a strong beat followed by three weak beats. Music written in
4/4 or 12/8 are examples of quadruple meter.
Relative key Amajor and minor scale that share the same key signature but not the same tonic note; for
example, C major and A minor.
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