Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony PDF

# Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony ## Elements of Music: Crash Course ### Six Musical Elements * Rhythm (Time Element) * Pitch (Governs Melody and Harmony) * Dynamics (Loudness or Softness) * Form (Musical Structure) * Timbre (Distinct Sound Quality) * Texture (Sound Density, Number of Voices/Instrume...

# Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony ## Elements of Music: Crash Course ### Six Musical Elements * Rhythm (Time Element) * Pitch (Governs Melody and Harmony) * Dynamics (Loudness or Softness) * Form (Musical Structure) * Timbre (Distinct Sound Quality) * Texture (Sound Density, Number of Voices/Instruments) ### Music Theory: What's Covered? * Rhythm * Dynamics * Melody * Harmony * Form ### Music Theory: What's Not Covered? * Timbre (Discussed in Instrumentation Courses) * Texture (Discussed in Arranging Courses) # Let's Get Started # Rhythm ## Rhythm: The Time Element * Rhythm refers to the regular patterns of sounds or pitches * Rhythm is what differentiates music from noise * Applies to all instruments * Not just a percussion-exclusive affair **Drum fills that matter:** **Jesus Culture** **Come Away 6:38** **https://www.facebook.com/haraldhuyssendrummer** ## Rhythm and Groove-Based Music * Some genres use rhythm as a primary driving force for their music * Examples: * Dance Music * Blues Music * RNB, Soul, and Funk Music * Hip-Hop and Urban Music * Rap Music ## Rhythm: Related Concepts * Tempo * Beat * Meter/Time Signatures * Syncopation * Articulations # Melody ## Melody = Pitch + Rhythm * The horizontal element of music * [Usually] the lead line of the song that stays stuck in your head * [Also] refers to background line(s) from other instruments or vocalists # Harmony ## Harmony= Chords * The vertical element of music * Refers to simultaneous playback of notes or individual melodies, whether on: * The same instrument (e.g. guitar, keyboard) * Different instruments (e.g. three vocalists, a violin + trumpet + saxophone, two lead guitars) * The chord is the basic unit of harmony