The Elements of

MUSIC
Music is made up of many different things called elements. They are the
building bricks of music. When you compose a piece of music you use the
elements of music to build it, just like a builder uses bricks to build a house.
Using these elements correctly helps each piece of music to sound unique
and interesting. You can also think of the elements like colours in a picture.
What are the elements of music?
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Pitch means the highness or lo$ness of a sound. !n
music, e%ery pitch is named after letters of the
alphabet, from A to G. &ll pieces of music use a
range and %ariety of different pitches to create
melody and harmony. itches mo%e in only ' $ays(
by step, by leap or by repetition.
HIGH + LOW
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Dynamics means the loudness or quietness of the
music. +ometimes this is called the olume. Music
often changes %olume gradually, becoming quieter or
louder. )ynamics can also change suddenly. !n music,
a system of letters is used to describe the dynamics(
p ,quiet-. mp or mf ,medium quiet or loud-. f ,loud-.
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$empo means the fastness or slo$ness of the music.
+ometimes this is called the speed or pace. & piece
of music can be at any speed and may e%en change,
becoming faster or slo$er to create different effects.
%A&$ + &LOW
1/&T
The beat of the music can be compared to the heart
beat or pulse of the human body. !t is almost al$ays
een or steady. The beat keeps the music ali%e and
can also help us find the tempo of a piece. You can
find the beat of the music by tapping your foot.
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Duration means the length of each sound. !n music,
the sounds are $ritten as notes. +ome notes are long
and some are short. "omposers often combine
different lengths of sounds for %arious effects.
LO)G + &HO*$
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&ilence is as important as sound in music. !t is
$ritten do$n as rests. !t gi%es us the spaces bet$een
each note and can also be used for dramatic effects.
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*hythms are the patterns created by different
lengths of notes and rests. 2hythm is not the same
as beat or tempo. & fast piece can ha%e slo$ rhythms
just as a slo$ piece can ha%e fast rhythms.
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Te5ture is created through the combinations of
different musical instruments or %oices. !f only one
sound or instrument is heard the te+ture is thin. !f
there are many sounds the te+ture $ould be thick.
The te5ture often changes, becoming thinner or
thicker, during a piece of music.
$HI(, + $HI)
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Attack and decay describes the $ay sounds start and
stop. +ome sounds can ha%e a hard or soft beginning,
surprising you or seeming to creep up on you. +ounds
can also stop suddenly or die a$ay gradually.
&$A*$ + &$OP
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/%ery instrument, %oice or sound has its o$n timbre
or tone colour. )ifferences in timbre are often
caused by the materials from $hich instruments are
made, their si8es, ho$ the sound is produced or the
speed of the %ibration that you can hear ,the pitch-.
&O!)D "!ALI$-
Wood, metal, plastic,
reed, lips, skin, %oice,
string, electronic