Category: Music Glossary
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Motif (Composition)
General – just as Letters Make Out a Word, Notes Make Out a Motif (and Motifs make Up Phrases) – Motif is a Combination of Notes that Form a Short Re-Occurring Musical Idea (or Theme) which Characterises a Piece (or Section) – Motif (Motive) = a Few Notes that are Rhythmically Charged and Provide the…
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MSEG
– MSEG means “Multi-Segment” – Instead having a Fixed Envelope such as AHDSR, you can Draw your Own Points – it is often used as a “2nd Order Modulation”, which means when you have a Modulator Affecting the Parameter of another Modulator that is Affecting a Parameter of a Main Section of a Synth (e.g.…
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Non Chord Tone (Harmony)
– a “Non Chord” Tone is Simply a Note that is Happening Inside the Chord that Does Not Fit the Chord
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Notation (Rhythm)
General – We use Notation in a Time Signature for Example if we Do something in 3/4 Time (3 Quarter Notes per Bar), Each Measure has 3 Beats = Top Number (# of Beats per Measure) & Each Beat is 1 Quarter Long = the Bottom Number (Length of each Beat) – The Top can…
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Open String
General – means to Play a String without Pressing any Frets – i.e. Bowing or Plucking a String and Let that Note Sound without Touching / Modifying the Strings with your Left Hand Fingers – a “0” Indicates “Open String” and such a Sequence of Notes would be on the Lowest String (thickest, lowest Note…
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Ostinato
General – Ostinato = “Stubborn” or Obstinate” (Hartnäckig, Stur, Eigensinnig, Trotzig, Unnachgiebig) – Similar to a Drone or Pedal, Often in the Bass Register but Not Sustained – Typically a Repeating Phrase or Motif and Needs to be Repeated by the Same Musical Voice – a Recurring Motif that just Keeps Repeating Over and Over…