Intro To Jazz 1

Front 1

Accent

Back 1

This occurs when you hear an emphasis on a sound, note, tone, beat etc.

Front 2

Acoustic

Back 2

To hear a musical instrument naturally without electronic amplification.

Front 3

Break

Back 3

An interruption in the flow of the music (usually allows space for fill-ins). Occurs when the music stops or pauses and then continues.

Front 4

Beat

Back 4

The steady pulse of the music (also referred as the heartbeat of the music)

Front 5

Call & Response

Back 5

A musical statement is performed by one player (or many); then, is followed by a musical response performed by one player (or many).

Front 6

Chord

Back 6

Three or more tones, notes or pitches played at the exact same time.

Front 7

Chorus

Back 7

A full verse of a song ; when played from the beginning of a verse to end of a verse, one chorus is performed.

Front 8

Coda

Back 8

The section of music that ends a song

Front 9

Comping (or Accompaniment)

Back 9

Represents when one musician accompanies another (usually in the background); usually assigned to piano, guitar or chord playing instruments.

Front 10

Dissonance

Back 10

Playing two or more sounds that clash when sounded at the same time

Front 11

Dynamics

Back 11

Describes to "how loud" or "how soft" a musical performance can be.

Front 12

Fill /Fill-Ins

Back 12

Represents when a performer plays during an available pause in the music

Front 13

Harmony

Back 13

Occurs when one or more tones, notes or pitches are played at the same time and sound pleasant.

Front 14

Head / Head Melody

Back 14

The first or initial melody played in a song

Front 15

Horn

Back 15

Slang term for any wind instrument in Jazz. (A wind instrument is any instrument played by using wind or breath from a player's mouth.)

Front 16

Improvisation

Back 16

Creating (making up) something (music) on the spur of the moment.

Front 17

Melody

Back 17

A group of sounds, tones notes or pitches that form a complete musical idea.(A musical sentence)

Front 18

Motive / Phrase

Back 18

A group of sounds, tones notes or pitches that form a short idea or part of a complete idea.

Front 19

Note / Pitch / Tone

Back 19

A single sound with specific tone or pitch (performed to be exact)

Front 20

Polyrhythm

Back 20

Two or more rhythms being performed at the same time

Front 21

Rest

Back 21

Represents when the musician or musicians makes no sound

Front 22

Rhythm

Back 22

(How the music acts) Represents the way the music moves around the beat. (Usually in a pattern)

Front 23

Rhythm Section

Back 23

All or part of the following: Piano, String Bass, Drum Set, Guitar collectively provide the rhythm of the music.

Front 24

Riff

Back 24

A phrase which repeats itself (can be performed by one single player or can be performed by many players)

Front 25

Segue

Back 25

A section of music that allows the smooth transition from one section to another
(for example, Music Section "A" -> "C" -> Music Section "B" ) ("C" = the Segue that allows the smooth transition to the next section)

Front 26

Stop Time

Back 26

The entire musical group rhythmically stops and starts exactly together. (usually plays a rhythmic phrase)

Front 27

Syncopation

Back 27

Placing an Accent on the up-beat. (When tapping one's foot the accent happens when the foot is raised up)

Front 28

Tag

Back 28

A short Coda. (Usually one note or a few notes)

Front 29

Tempo

Back 29

Represents how fast or how slow the music is moving.

Front 30

Texture

Back 30

Represents how many players are performing (ex: few players = light texture) (many players= thick texture)

Front 31

Timbre / Tone Color

Back 31

Allows us to distinguish one sound from another sound.
(ex: Pianos from Saxophones, Tony Braxton's Voice from Madonna's Voice, Trumpet Growls from Trumpet Vibrato, etc.)

Front 32

Chord Progression

Back 32

Usually refers to Piano or Guitar Players - Refers to the manner in which the music moves (progresses) from one chord to the next chord.

Front 33

Front Line

Back 33

The three front horn players of a Dixieland band, who face the audience.

Front 34

Monophonic (or Monophony)

Back 34

One melody is performed by one or many players

Front 35

Polyphonic (or Polyphony)

Back 35

Two or more melodies being performed by one or many players

Front 36

Vibrato

Back 36

Creating a smooth waving sound with one's voice or instrument.