Intro to Jazz 1
Terms
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- Accent
- This occurs when you hear an emphasis on a sound, note, tone, beat etc.
- Acoustic
- To hear a musical instrument naturally without electronic amplification.
- Break
- An interruption in the flow of the music (usually allows space for fill-ins). Occurs when the music stops or pauses and then continues.
- Beat
- The steady pulse of the music (also referred as the heartbeat of the music)
- Call & Response
- A musical statement is performed by one player (or many); then, is followed by a musical response performed by one player (or many).
- Chord
- Three or more tones, notes or pitches played at the exact same time.
- Chorus
- A full verse of a song ; when played from the beginning of a verse to end of a verse, one chorus is performed.
- Coda
- The section of music that ends a song
- Comping (or Accompaniment)
- Represents when one musician accompanies another (usually in the background); usually assigned to piano, guitar or chord playing instruments.
- Dissonance
- Playing two or more sounds that clash when sounded at the same time
- Dynamics
- Describes to "how loud" or "how soft" a musical performance can be.
- Fill /Fill-Ins
- Represents when a performer plays during an available pause in the music
- Harmony
- Occurs when one or more tones, notes or pitches are played at the same time and sound pleasant.
- Head / Head Melody
- The first or initial melody played in a song
- Horn
- Slang term for any wind instrument in Jazz. (A wind instrument is any instrument played by using wind or breath from a player's mouth.)
- Improvisation
- Creating (making up) something (music) on the spur of the moment.
- Melody
- A group of sounds, tones notes or pitches that form a complete musical idea.(A musical sentence)
- Motive / Phrase
- A group of sounds, tones notes or pitches that form a short idea or part of a complete idea.
- Note / Pitch / Tone
- A single sound with specific tone or pitch (performed to be exact)
- Polyrhythm
- Two or more rhythms being performed at the same time
- Rest
- Represents when the musician or musicians makes no sound
- Rhythm
- (How the music acts) Represents the way the music moves around the beat. (Usually in a pattern)
- Rhythm Section
- All or part of the following: Piano, String Bass, Drum Set, Guitar collectively provide the rhythm of the music.
- Riff
- A phrase which repeats itself (can be performed by one single player or can be performed by many players)
- Segue
-
A section of music that allows the smooth transition from one section to another
(for example, Music Section "A" -> "C" -> Music Section "B" ) ("C" = the Segue that allows the smooth transition to the next section) - Stop Time
- The entire musical group rhythmically stops and starts exactly together. (usually plays a rhythmic phrase)
- Syncopation
- Placing an Accent on the up-beat. (When tapping one's foot the accent happens when the foot is raised up)
- Tag
- A short Coda. (Usually one note or a few notes)
- Tempo
- Represents how fast or how slow the music is moving.
- Texture
- Represents how many players are performing (ex: few players = light texture) (many players= thick texture)
- Timbre / Tone Color
-
Allows us to distinguish one sound from another sound.
(ex: Pianos from Saxophones, Tony Braxton's Voice from Madonna's Voice, Trumpet Growls from Trumpet Vibrato, etc.) - Chord Progression
- Usually refers to Piano or Guitar Players - Refers to the manner in which the music moves (progresses) from one chord to the next chord.
- Front Line
- The three front horn players of a Dixieland band, who face the audience.
- Monophonic (or Monophony)
- One melody is performed by one or many players
- Polyphonic (or Polyphony)
- Two or more melodies being performed by one or many players
- Vibrato
- Creating a smooth waving sound with one's voice or instrument.