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All Key Terms
AP Music Theory
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AP Music Theory
Key Terms
676 essential vocabulary terms and definitions to know for your AP Music Theory exam
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AP Music Theory
Key Terms by Unit
Unit 1 – Pitch, Major Scales and Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements
1.1 Pitch and Pitch Notation
1.10 Dynamics and Articulation
1.2 Rhythmic Values
1.3 Half Steps and Whole Steps
1.4 Major Scales and Scale Degrees
1.5 Major Keys and Key Signatures
1.6 Simple and Compound Beat Division
1.7 Meter and Time Signature
1.8 Rhythmic Patterns
1.9 Tempo
Unit 2 – Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture
2.1 Minor Scales
2.10 Melodic Transposition
2.11 Texture and Texture Types
2.12 Texture Devices
2.13 Rhythmic Devices
2.2 Relative Keys
2.3 Key Relationships
2.4 Other Scales
2.5 Interval Size and Quality
2.6 Interval Inversion and Compound Intervals
2.7 Transposing Instruments
2.8 Timbre
2.9 Melodic Features
Unit 3 – Triads and Seventh Chords
3.1 Triad and Chord Qualities (M, m, d, A)
3.2 Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals
3.3 Chord Inversions and Figures
3.4 Seventh Chords
3.5 Seventh Chord Inversions and Figures
Unit 4 – Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase
4.1 Harmony and Voice Leading I
4.2 SATB Voice Leading
4.3 Harmonic Progression, Functional Harmony, and Cadences
4.4 Voice Leading with Seventh Chords
4.5 Voice Leading with Seventh Chords in Inversions
Unit 5 – Chord Progressions and Predominant Function
5.1 Adding Predominant Function IV (iv) and ii (ii0) to a Melodic Phrase
5.2 The vi (VI) Chord
5.3 Predominant Seventh Chords
5.4 The iii (III) Chord
5.5 Cadences and Predominant Function
5.6 Cadential 6/4 Chords
5.7 Additional 6/4 chords
Unit 6 – Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices
Motive and Motivic Transformation
Embellishing Tones
Harmonic Sequences
Melodic Sequences
Unit 7 – Secondary Function
Part Writing of Secondary Leading Tone Chords
Part Writing of Secondary Dominant Chords
Tonicization through Secondary Dominant Chords
Tonicization through Secondary Leading Tone Chords
Unit 8 – Modes and Form
Phrase Relationships
Modes
Common Formal Sections
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10-6 Linear Intervallic Pattern
16th note
18th-century voice leading conventions
1st inversion
2nd inversion
32nd Note
4-3 Suspension
4/2 (third inversion figures)
4/3 (second inversion figures)
6-5 progression
6/4 chord function
6/4 chords (second inversion chords)
6/4 Chords (Second Inversion Triads)
6/5 (first inversion figures)
8th note
A
A A Phrase Relationship
A A' Phrase Relationship
Ab Major
Accelerando
Accented Passing Tone
Accidentals
Additional 6/4 Chords
Aeolian
Aeolian mode
Agogic Accent
Alberti bass
Alto
Alto Clef
Anacrusis
Anticipation Tones
Anticipations
Appoggiaturas
Appoggiaturas (Grace Notes)
Arabic numerals
Arpeggiated 6/4 Chords
Arpeggiation
Ascending 2nds progression
Ascending Fifths
Ascending fifths progression
Ascending Fifths Sequence
Ascending Fourths Harmonic Sequence
Ascending Harmonic Sequences
Ascending Seconds Sequences
Ascending Sequence
Ascending thirds progression
Asymmetrical meter
Asymmetrical Period
Asymmetrical Periods
Augmentation
Augmented 4th
Augmented 4ths
Augmented Chord
Augmented Interval
Augmented Intervals
Augmented Seconds
Augmented triad
Augmented Triads
Aural-stimulus questions
Authentic Cadence
B
B minor key signature
B Phrase Structure
B-flat minor
Bar Line
Baroque era
Bass
Bass Clef
Basso Continuo
Bb Instrument
Bb major key signature
Bb Major scale
Beat division
Blue Note
Blues Scale
Bridge
C
C Major Key Signature
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