Elements of Music and Scales

Elements of Music

• Pitch: The perceived highness or lowness of a sound. Measured in hertz (Hz)
• Duration: The length of time a sound is heard
• Timbre: The unique "tone color" or quality of a sound, depending on the instrument or voice producing it
• Intensity: The loudness or softness of a sound
• Rhythm: The pattern of strong and weak beats in music

Musical Scales

• Major scales: Happy, uplifting sound. Formula: W-W-H-W-W-W-H (whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half)
• Minor scales: Sad, melancholic sound. Formula: W-H-W-W-H-W-W (whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole)
• Chromatic scale: All 12 half-steps within an octave
• Pentatonic scale: 5-note scale used in many traditional and folk musics

Musical Instruments

• Strings: Violin, guitar, cello, double bass. Produce sound through vibration
• Woodwinds: Flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon. Produce sound through air flow
• Brass: Trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba. Produce sound through air flow and lip vibration
• Percussion: Drums, piano, xylophone, marimba. Produce sound through striking or shaking

Musical Genres

• Classical music: Orchestral music from 18th and 19th centuries
• Jazz: Improvisational music originating from African-American traditions
• Rock music: Energetic, amplified music from 1950s and 1960s
• Pop music: Catchy, commercial music for mass audience

Musical Forms

• Sonata form: Exposition, development, and recapitulation
• Rondo form: Alternating themes and sections
• Verse-chorus form: Repeating patterns of verse and chorus

Elements of Music

• Pitch is the perceived highness or lowness of a sound, measured in hertz (Hz).
• Duration refers to the length of time a sound is heard.
• Timbre is the unique "tone color" or quality of a sound, depending on the instrument or voice producing it.
• Intensity refers to the loudness or softness of a sound.
• Rhythm is the pattern of strong and weak beats in music.

Musical Scales

• Major scales have a happy, uplifting sound and follow the formula W-W-H-W-W-W-H (whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half).
• Minor scales have a sad, melancholic sound and follow the formula W-H-W-W-H-W-W (whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole).
• Chromatic scales consist of all 12 half-steps within an octave.
• Pentatonic scales are 5-note scales used in many traditional and folk musics.

Musical Instruments

• String instruments (violin, guitar, cello, double bass) produce sound through vibration.
• Woodwind instruments (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon) produce sound through air flow.
• Brass instruments (trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba) produce sound through air flow and lip vibration.
• Percussion instruments (drums, piano, xylophone, marimba) produce sound through striking or shaking.

Musical Genres

• Classical music is orchestral music from the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Jazz is improvisational music originating from African-American traditions.
• Rock music is energetic, amplified music from the 1950s and 1960s.
• Pop music is catchy, commercial music for a mass audience.

Musical Forms

• Sonata form consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation.
• Rondo form features alternating themes and sections.
• Verse-chorus form involves repeating patterns of verse and chorus.

Test your knowledge of the fundamental elements of music, including pitch, duration, timbre, intensity, and rhythm, as well as major scales and their formulas.