Musical Terms and Concepts Melody

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Conjunct

Back

A style of melodic writing in which each note is a step away from the previous one.

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Disjunct

Back

A style of melodic writing including many leaps between one note and the next.

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Triadic

Back

A melody based on the notes of triads.

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Broken Chords

Back

A chord in which the notes are sounded individually.

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Scalic

Back

Melodies based on segments of scales.

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Arpeggio

Back

The notes of a standard chord played one after the other, in ascending or descending order.

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Passing Notes

Back

A non-harmony note placed between and connecting two harmony notes.

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Diatonic

Back

Music using the notes of the home key.

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Chromatic

Back

Notes that don’t belong to the current key.

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Slide

Back

“Sliding” between two notes.