CH 1.6

scale

Series of pitches arranged in order from low to high or high to low

consonance

Tone combination that is stable and restful.

dissonance

Tone combination that is unstable and tense.

dominant chord

Triad built on the fifth note of the scale, which sets up tension that is resolved by the tonic chord.

tonic chord

Triad built on the first, or tonic, note of the scale, serving as the main chord of a piece and usually beginning and ending it.

broken chord

aka arpeggio is Sounding of the individual tones of a chord in sequence rather than simultaneously.

key

aka tonality is the Central note, scale, and chord within a piece, in relationship to which all other tones in the composition are heard.

keynote

aka tonic is the Central tone of a melody or larger piece of music. When a piece is in the key of C major, for example, C is the keynote.

chord

Combination of three or more tones sounded at once.

progression

Combination of three or more tones sounded at once.

resolution

Progression from a dissonance to a consonance.

harmony

How chords are constructed and how they follow each other.

triad

Most basic of chords, consisting of three alternate tones of the scale, such as do, mi, sol