Terms and Jargon Page
The Majority of Useful Terms to Know: A List
The Majority of Useful Terms to Know: A List
Scales and Key Signatures
Scales and Key Signatures
- Scales
- Scale Degree
- Major Scale
- Relative Minor Scale
- Harmonic Minor Scale
- Melodic Minor Scale
Chords
Chords
- Chord
- Triad
- Roman Numerical Value
- Diminished
- Augmented
- Inversions
- 1st Inversion
- 2nd Inversion
- 3rd Inversion
- Major 7th
- Suspended
- Poly-chords
- Authentic Cadence
- Half Cadence
Melody Writing
Melody Writing
- K.I.S.S Method - A method that draws upon a simple concept....Keep It Simple Stupid and build from the ground, up
- Passing Notes
- Auxiliary Notes
- Chord Tones (or notes)
- On Beats and Off Beats
- Repetition
- Phrasing
- Forms (A-B-A, etc.)
Harmonization
Harmonization
- Cadence
- Functional Harmony
- Global harmonies
- Local harmonies
- Bass Lines
Do not be intimidated by all these terms. Though helpful to know, it's not essential to know any of them in order to compose!