Elements of Music

In music, this element of a piece is the variation in loudness between notes or phrases.

The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity. This is what makes each person sound unique. It is also what makes each instrument have a distinct sound.

The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect.

A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. If you can tap your foot to it or dance to it, that’s this element.

In music, this element refers to the structure of a musical composition or performance. In popular music we often hear terms like verse, chorus and bridge to describe parts of musical form. This element can refer to large sections of music or small pieces. This elemnt of a melody is described the way poetry is.

In music, this element is how the tempo, melodic, and harmonic materials are combined in a composition, thus determining the overall quality of the sound in a piece.

A sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying. The part of the music that you walk away humming.