Just by listening, can you tell a piano from a flute? Of course, you can! And that's because the two have distinct 

A unique timbre is not only something you can make out between different types of instruments. As musicians, we know that timbre can also vary between different models of the same instrument; therefore, you can even tell the difference between two different upright pianos or two oboes, just as you can tell the difference between two human voices.

Furthermore, when it comes to a specific instrument, sound quality is often affected by the register, or where in the instrument's range it's being played.

Just so we are clear, the word timbre comes from French 🇫🇷 and is pronounced "tam-ber" not....

🦜 Polly wants a progress tracker: How would describe the timbre of a bass voice versus a soprano? How about a trumpet versus a xylophone?

Timbre

Administration 1

AP Music Theory Exam Prep 2021-22 | Reviews + Free Study Help | Fiveable

AP Music Theory

Learn the fundamentals of music in unit 1 of the AP Music Theory course. Explore the basics of pitch, rhythm, and music notation; major scales, key signatures and scale degrees; and simple and compound time signatures. By learning these fundamental music skills, you will set yourself up for a successful year of music theory study! 

Unit 1: Music Fundamentals I: Pitch, Major Scales and Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements

Cover minor scales, key signatures, and scale degrees; melodic, whole tone, and pentatonic scales; interval size, quality, and inversions; melodic features and transposition; and texture and rhythmic devices. You will advance your music fundamentals with these AP Music Theory Unit 2 resources!

Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II: Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture

Get a better understanding of unit 3 of AP Music Theory. This unit focuses on chords: triads and their qualities, diatonic chords and roman numerals notation, seventh chords, chord inversions, and figured bass. In this last part of music fundamentals, you will have all the tools in your music theory toolbox to ace the AP Music Theory exam! 

Unit 3: Music Fundamentals III: Triads and Seventh Chords

Explore unit 4 of AP Music Theory with these resources. Learn how the building blocks of music work together to form harmonic progressions, functional harmonies, and cadences. This unit also covers SATB voice leading rules with triads, seventh chords, and inversions. This is all you need to ace the part-writing portion of the AP Music Theory exam!

Unit 4: Harmony and Voice Leading I: Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase

Check out these resources for unit 5 of AP Music Theory. We cover chord progressions, with examples and explanations, along with the process of harmony, and how to effectively voice lead (don't worry it's not that scary). These resources will make sure that you understand this unit!

Unit 5: Harmony and Voice Leading II: Chord Progressions and Predominant Function

Want to learn about harmonies? Well, discover all about them in unit 6 of AP Music Theory! These resources cover more details about harmonies and voice leading, while also diving into melodic devices and choices, and the importance of motive and embellishment.

Unit 6: Harmony and Voice Leading III: Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices

Take a look at these resources to help you understand unit 7 of AP Music Theory with these resources. We continue to cover harmonies and voice leading with harmonic dictations, secondary chords, tonicization, tone chords and writing tone chords. These resources will help you understand AP Music Theory!

Unit 7: Harmony and Voice Leading IV: Secondary Function

Everything you need to know about unit 8 of AP Music Theory can be found using these resources. These resources cover modes and forms, along with phase relationships and their importance and common formal sections to make sure you understand unit 8 of AP Music Theory!

Unit 8: Modes and Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn all about the AP Music Theory exam: MCQs with and without aural stimuli, and all the FRQs, including melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, figured bass, part-writing, harmonizing a melody, and sight singing. We review logistics, useful strategies, and helpful tips so you'll be attuned to all the little details on the exam!

Exam Skills

Exam Reviews

Want to know something from the tiniest details to the entire format? We've got you covered! In these comprehensive Q&A sessions, we'll be sure to clarify anything you're confused on or need help with. We'll cover the topics you need us to review so that you can feel confident and prepared to conquer the AP Music Theory exam! 

Q & A sessions

Study with these comprehensive reviews of the entire AP Music Theory course with helpful study guides and other useful resources are perfect from cramming, quick refreshers on the material, or detailed studying. You'll feel confident and prepared to ace the exam!

Big Reviews: Finals & Exam Prep

AP Cram Sessions 2021

First Unit

Your guide to the 2021 AP Music Theory exam

Format of the 2021 AP Music Theory exam

When is the 2021 AP Music Theory exam and how do I take it?

How should I prepare for the exam?

Pre-work: set up your study environment

AP Music Theory 2021 Study Plan

🎶 Unit 1: Music Fundamentals I: Pitch, Major Scales and Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements

🎶 Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II: Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture

🎻 Unit 3: Music Fundamentals III: Triads and Seventh Chords

🎹 Unit 4: Harmony and Voice Leading I: Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase

🎸 Unit 5: Harmony and Voice Leading ii: Chord Progressions and Predominant Function

🎺 Unit 6: Harmony and Voice Leading iii: Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices

🎤 Unit 7: Harmony and Voice Leading iv: Secondary Function

🎷 Unit 8: Modes and Form

2021 AP Music Theory Exam Guide

Overview of the FRQ Section

Melodic Dictation

Harmonic Dictations

Figured Bass

Part-Writing

Harmonizing a Melody

Sight Singing!

Conclusion

AP Music Theory Free Response Help - FRQ/LEQ

Part 1: Questions with Aural Stimuli

Tips Specifically for Aural-Stimuli

Part 2: Questions without Aural-Stimuli

How to Ace the AP Music Theory Multiple Choice

AP Music Theory Multiple Choice Help (MCQ)

Unit 1: Music Fundamentals: Pitch, Major Scales, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements

1.1: Pitch and Pitch Notation 🎼

Pitch and Pitch Notation 🎼

1.10: Dynamics and Articulation

Dynamics and Articulation

1.2: Rhythmic Values

Rhythmic Values

1.3: Half Rests and Whole Rests

Half Rests and Whole Rests

1.4: Major Scales and Scale Degrees

Major Scales and Scale Degrees

1.5: Major Keys and Key Signatures

Major Keys and Key Signatures

1.6: Simple and Compound Beat Division

Simple and Compound Beat Division

1.7: Meter and Time Signature

Meter and Time Signature

1.8: Rhythmic Patterns

Rhythmic Patterns

1.9: Tempo

Tempo

Unit 2: Music Fundamentals II (Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture)

2.1: Minor Scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic

Minor Scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic

2.10: Melodic Transposition

Melodic Transposition

2.11: Texture and Texture Types

Texture and Texture Types

2.12: Texture Devices

Texture Devices

2.13: Rhythmic Devices

Meter Types

Rhythmic Devices

2.2: Relative Keys: Determining Relative Minor Key and Notating Key Signatures

Relative Keys: Determining Relative Minor Key and Notating Key Signatures

2.3: Key Relationships: Parallel, Closely Related, and Distantly Related Keys

Key Relationships: Parallel, Closely Related, and Distantly Related Keys

2.4 Other Scales: Chromatic, Whole-Tone, and Pentatonic

Other Scales: Chromatic, Whole-Tone, and Pentatonic

2.5: Interval Size and Quality

Interval Size and Quality

2.6: Interval Inversion and Compound Intervals 

Interval Inversion and Compound Intervals

2.7: Transposing Instruments

Transposing Instruments

2.8: Timbre

2.9: Melodic Features

Melodic Features

Unit 3: Music Fundamentals III (Triads and Seventh Chords)

3.1: Triad and Chord Qualities (M, m, d, A)

Triad and Chord Qualities (M, m, d, A)

3.2: Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals

Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals

3.3: Chord Inversions and Figures: Introduction to Figured Bass

Chord Inversions and Figures: Introduction to Figured Bass

3.4: Seventh Chords

Seventh Chords

3.5: Seventh Chord Inversions and Figures

Seventh Chord Inversions and Figures

4.1: Soprano-Bass Counterpoint

Harmony and Voice Leading I

4.2: SATB Voice Leading 

SATB Voice Leading

4.3: Harmonic Progression, Functional Harmony, and Cadences 

Harmonic Progression, Functional Harmony, and Cadences

4.4: Voice Leading with Seventh Chords

Voice Leading with Seventh Chords

4.5: Voice Leading with Seventh Chords in Inversions

Voice Leading with Seventh Chords in Inversions

Unit 7, Harmony and Voice Leading IV: Secondary Function 

7.1: Tonicization through Secondary Dominant Chords

7.2: Part Writing of Secondary Dominant Chords

7.3: Tonicization through Secondary Leading Tone Chords

7.4 - Part-Writing of Secondary Leading Tone Chords 

Harmony and Voice Leading IV: Secondary Function

Caroline Koffke

AP Biology Exam Prep 2020 | Reviews + Free Study Help | Fiveable

AP Biology

Learn about the chemistry of life in unit 1 of the AP Biology course. We'll cover topics such as the structure of water, hydrogen bonding, elements of life, biological macromolecules, and nucleic acids. Prepare for the exam with these resources and you be on your way to crush the AP Bio exam!

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

Unit 2 of AP Biology covers cell structure and function. We'll go over key topics such as subcellular components, cell size, plasma membranes, membrane permeability, membrane transport, facilitated diffusion, tonicity, osmoregulation, and cell compartmentalization. 

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

Unit 3 of AP Biology is all about cellular energetics. Review topics such as enzyme structure, enzyme catalysis, environmental impacts on enzyme function, cellular energy, and photosynthesis. 

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

Learn about how cells communicate and reproduce in unit 4 of AP Biology. Our study guides for unit 4 cover cell communication, signal transduction, changes in signal transduction pathways, feedback, cell cycle basics, and regulation of the cell cycle. 

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

Get a solid understanding of heredity in unit 5 of the AP Biology exam. We'll cover topics such as meiosis, genetic diversity, mendelian genetics, non-mendelian genetics, environmental effects on phenotype, and chromosomal inheritance. 

Unit 5: Heredity

Join us in exploring gene expression and regulation for the AP Biology exam. We'll cover all the topics in unit 6, such as DNA and RNA structure, replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation, regulation of gene representation, cell specialization, mutations, and biotechnology. 

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation

Understanding natural selection is crucial to learning about how ecosystems function. Learn about unit 7 of AP Biology as we cover topics such as artificial selection, population genetics, hardy-weinberg equilibrium, evidence of evolution, common ancestry, continuing evolution, phylogeny, speciation, extinction, and origin of life on earth. 

Unit 7: Natural Selection

Ecology is all about the interactions that organisms have amongst themselves and with their environment. In unit 8 of AP Biology, we'll cover topics such as responses to the environment, energy flow, population ecology, the effect of density of populations, community ecology, etc. 

Unit 8: Ecology

The home for AP Biology reviews (including labs) as well as study strategies specific to AP Bio. You'll surely find a general resource that will improve your test-taking skills and help prepare for the exam.

General Review

Get ready to ace the multiple-choice questions of the AP Biology exam. We'll go over how the MCQs are structured, how to approach each question, and some last minute tips. By knowing the question types and the skills accessed, you'll be prepared in no time!

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Learn how to effectively answer free response questions for the AP Biology exam. We'll breakdown the FRQs and go over strategies on how to ace them. You'll be prepared with sample FRQ review videos, slides, and study guides! 

Free Response Questions (FRQ)

Get the answers to your questions from these AP Biology question and answer sessions. You'll be able to get rid of any uncertainties and feel more confident about the exam!

Get a comprehensive review of the AP Biology course. Learn every concept and unit to refresh your mind or even cram. These big reviews will serve as the ultimate preparation for the AP Biology exam. You'll feel ready for anything the test gives you and ace it in no time!

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2.8 Timbre

AP Music Theory 🎶

2.8: Timbre

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