Melody keywords

Click on the word to link to a definition and musical example.


Melody
intervals within the octave
conjunct
disjunct
triadic
broken chords (ex) The piano lower part is playing broken chords
scalic
arpeggio
passing notes
acciaccaturas
appoggiaturas
blue notes
diatonic
chromatic
pentatonic
whole tone
modal
augmentation
diminution
sequence (ex) Here the main tune is repeated several times at the beginning beginning on different pitches, hence in sequence.
inversion
slide/glissando/portamento
ornamentation
ostinato      riff
phrasing articulation pitch bend improvisation (ex) Here the trumpet improvises later in the piece.

Musical Devices

Here is a video that clearly explains the following keywords for melodic ornamentation: Imitation, Inversion, Sequence, Ostinato, Modulation.

Melody

Here are the presentations from the lessons Mr Thomas prepared, giving descriptions of the keywords.

Presentation 1

Presentation 2

Use to check that you have the correct definitions of the keywords.

The following sheet and podcast will test your knowledge. You can also use the podcast on its own. Click on the sheet to make it bigger and print from here.

 

Melody

The melody (or tune) is one of the most important parts of music. This podcast covers the keywords diminution, sequence, inversion, glissando, portamento, ornamentation, ostinato, riff, methods of articulation, pitch bend and improvisation.

Also listen to this. It starts with diminution.