Elements of MusicElements of Music

There are 8 There are 8 common elements common elements of music…of music…

Rhythm or DurationRhythm or Duration Duration refers to the Duration refers to the lengthlength of each sound. of each sound.

Some sounds or notes are long, some are Some sounds or notes are long, some are short. Composers will also accent (or stress) short. Composers will also accent (or stress) certain parts of the rhythm to add flare.certain parts of the rhythm to add flare.

Composers or songwriters use any combination Composers or songwriters use any combination of durations to achieve a good effect. This of durations to achieve a good effect. This combination is what is called rhythm.combination is what is called rhythm.

Rhythm can be described as: Rhythm can be described as: regular or irregular; strong or weak; long or short;regular or irregular; strong or weak; long or short;

Examples:Examples:

Chopin Etude:Chopin Etude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHa2bn7TL6g

Clapping Music: Clapping Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx29OO0Anz0

DynamicsDynamics Dynamics refers to the loudness and Dynamics refers to the loudness and

softness of the music.softness of the music.

The term The term volume volume is often used. is often used.

Music often changes volume gradually and Music often changes volume gradually and goes from loud to soft or from soft to loud. goes from loud to soft or from soft to loud.

Examples:Examples:

Aretha Franklin:Aretha Franklin:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0&feature=related

Bob Dylan:Bob Dylan:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zY_cM0_6vA

PitchPitch

Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of notes in the music. notes in the music.

Most pieces of music use a mixture of high Most pieces of music use a mixture of high and low sounds, creating and low sounds, creating harmonyharmony..

Some instruments, for example the tuba, Some instruments, for example the tuba, can play very low notes; smaller can play very low notes; smaller instruments, such as the piccolo, can play instruments, such as the piccolo, can play very high notes. very high notes.

Pitch - MelodyPitch - Melody Refers to a series of individual notes heard Refers to a series of individual notes heard

as a logical unit.as a logical unit.

Melodies we remember in our heads to hum Melodies we remember in our heads to hum or sing are much more than a series of pitch or sing are much more than a series of pitch levels – they also have a specific rhythmic levels – they also have a specific rhythmic shape.shape.

More often than not, melodies should be More often than not, melodies should be designed to be easily sung or remembered. designed to be easily sung or remembered. “Singable” melodies usually move by step, “Singable” melodies usually move by step, are made up of symmetrical phrases are made up of symmetrical phrases (musical ideas that fit together logically) and (musical ideas that fit together logically) and are easy to reproduce.are easy to reproduce.

Examples:Examples:

““Yesterday” by the Beatles: stepwise Yesterday” by the Beatles: stepwise melodymelodyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwS_YDzxH3M&feature=related v=lwS_YDzxH3M&feature=related

Pitch – HarmonyPitch – Harmony Refers to the proper progression of chords – Refers to the proper progression of chords –

groups of notes usually used as groups of notes usually used as accompaniment to a melody. accompaniment to a melody.

As listeners we have an intuitive sense of As listeners we have an intuitive sense of harmonic rules, if someone hits the wrong harmonic rules, if someone hits the wrong chord or note and it doesn’t fit, we know.chord or note and it doesn’t fit, we know.

ConsonanceConsonance – the quality of chords that – the quality of chords that makes them sound restful or free of tension.makes them sound restful or free of tension.

DissonanceDissonance – the non-restful quality of – the non-restful quality of some chords that demands resolution.some chords that demands resolution.

Example:Example:

Chopin – HarmonyChopin – Harmonyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1QM6YZC45g&feature=iv&annotatiov=X1QM6YZC45g&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_323647 n_id=annotation_323647

TempoTempo

Tempo refers the Tempo refers the speedspeed of the music, of the music, whether it is fast or slow. whether it is fast or slow.

Sometimes tempo is referred to as Sometimes tempo is referred to as pacepace..

Composers and songwriters may use a Composers and songwriters may use a moderate tempo (neither fast or slow), or moderate tempo (neither fast or slow), or even change its tempo part-way through the even change its tempo part-way through the piece of music.piece of music.

Example:Example:

Jump – Van HalenJump – Van Halenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq0lYB3iSM v=wlq0lYB3iSM

TextureTexture Texture refers to how many Texture refers to how many layerslayers or voices or voices

are in a piece. are in a piece.

Technical terms used are:Technical terms used are: PolyphonicPolyphonic – when two or more melody lines are – when two or more melody lines are

played at one time; this could be as simple as a played at one time; this could be as simple as a canon or a round.canon or a round.

HomophonicHomophonic – a single melody supported with – a single melody supported with chordal accompanimentchordal accompaniment

MonophonicMonophonic – one single melody line – one single melody line

A composer may change the texture A composer may change the texture throughout the piece of music.throughout the piece of music.

Examples:Examples:

BachBachhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVadl4ocX0M v=pVadl4ocX0M

Timbre or Tone ColourTimbre or Tone Colour Every instrument has its own character or Every instrument has its own character or quality. quality.

This is based on several factors including the This is based on several factors including the material that it is made of, the way the sound is material that it is made of, the way the sound is produced, and how the sounds resonate. produced, and how the sounds resonate.

For example: A metal instrument sounds different For example: A metal instrument sounds different from a wooden one and hitting a drum sounds from a wooden one and hitting a drum sounds different from blowing into a recorderdifferent from blowing into a recorder

To describe Timbre or Tone Colour one should To describe Timbre or Tone Colour one should describe the quality of the sound:describe the quality of the sound: Reedy, Brassy, Clear, Breathy, Piercing, Harsh, Warm, Reedy, Brassy, Clear, Breathy, Piercing, Harsh, Warm,

Mellow, Dark or Bright, Heavy or Light, Flat, Rich, BrilliantMellow, Dark or Bright, Heavy or Light, Flat, Rich, Brilliant

Example:Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk&ob=av3nv=Ym0hZG-zNOk&ob=av3n

StructureStructure

The overall form or organization of a The overall form or organization of a piece of music.piece of music.

Every piece is comprised of a pattern that Every piece is comprised of a pattern that holds it together in one solid form. holds it together in one solid form.

These patterns are easy to recognize These patterns are easy to recognize and have evolved over time. For and have evolved over time. For example, the example, the verse/chorusverse/chorus pattern of most popular music.pattern of most popular music.

Structure continued…Structure continued… The The versesverses are the words that the writer uses to give are the words that the writer uses to give

the story. It contains the details of the story, the events, the story. It contains the details of the story, the events, images and emotions that the writer wishes to express.images and emotions that the writer wishes to express.

The The choruschorus is the part that everyone wants to sing is the part that everyone wants to sing along to – it is the memorable section. In this song, the along to – it is the memorable section. In this song, the verse and chorus alternate from one to the other, until verse and chorus alternate from one to the other, until the story progresses. the story progresses.

The The bridgebridge tends to be an instrumental section at the tends to be an instrumental section at the middle part of the song.middle part of the song.

The The hookhook is the instrumental bit at the beginning of a is the instrumental bit at the beginning of a song. It gets you hooked and interested in the song. song. It gets you hooked and interested in the song. For example, AC/DC’s thunderstruck introduction.For example, AC/DC’s thunderstruck introduction.

More on structure…More on structure… When you figure out what sections your song When you figure out what sections your song

has, to figure out the form you assign letters to has, to figure out the form you assign letters to each of the section. For example:each of the section. For example:

Ring of Fire ~ written by June Carter-Cash, performed Ring of Fire ~ written by June Carter-Cash, performed by Johnny Cashby Johnny Cash

Hook (A)Hook (A) Verse (B)Verse (B) Chorus (C)Chorus (C) Hook (A)Hook (A) Chorus (C)Chorus (C) Verse (B)Verse (B) Chorus (C) Chorus (C) Chorus (C)Chorus (C)

So the form of this song is: ABCACBCC

Example:Example:

““Penny Lane” Penny Lane” http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGQgEAZztK4 v=tGQgEAZztK4

SilenceSilence

Silence is as important as sound in Silence is as important as sound in music. music.

It gives us time to think and for echoes to It gives us time to think and for echoes to die away. die away.

Example:Example:

““Animal” by Neon TreesAnimal” by Neon Treeshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7Hlg75Mlo v=gM7Hlg75Mlo

StyleStyle We use the word style to describe the We use the word style to describe the

characteristic ways in which composers characteristic ways in which composers combine and present these basic elements.combine and present these basic elements.

The special way that the elements are treated, The special way that the elements are treated, balanced, combined and presented brings us balanced, combined and presented brings us (as listeners) the distinctive “flavour” that each (as listeners) the distinctive “flavour” that each style carries.style carries.

They are clues or fingerprints that help us They are clues or fingerprints that help us distinguish the differences between the styles distinguish the differences between the styles of our favourite composers or song-writers.of our favourite composers or song-writers.