Music Theory Concepts

noun something added to another thing but not essential to it

adjective connected or added in a subordinate or auxiliary capacity

• The adjunct professor taught an additional course this semester.
• The part-time teacher is also an adjunct at the university.
• I heard that the adjunct gig pays pretty well.
• Learning how to play the guitar was just an adjunct to his overall musical talent.

noun a person who writes music, especially classical music

• The composer's latest symphony received critical acclaim from music critics.
• Have you heard of that composer who writes amazing film scores?
• That composer is totally killing it with their new album!
• She is a composer of words, crafting beautiful poems that touch the soul.

noun the act of making something less high or less in amount

verb the act of making something less high or less in amount

adjective making something less high or less in amount

• The act of lowering interest rates can stimulate economic growth.
• Lowering the volume on the TV, please.
• I'm always lowering my expectations to avoid disappointment.
• Lowering your guard can make you more vulnerable to attacks.

noun the point or position at an equal distance from the sides, edges, or ends of something

adjective at an equal distance from the extremities of something; central

adverb at or near the center

• The meeting will take place in the middle of the day.
• Let's meet in the middle of the park at noon.
• I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire.
• She found herself in the middle of a heated argument between her friends.

noun a person who studies or writes about music, especially as a profession

• The musicologist conducted extensive research on the composer's manuscripts.
• My friend is a musicologist and he knows everything about classical music.
• I didn't know being a musicologist could be so cool!
• As a musicologist of emotions, she could decipher the feelings behind every note.

noun a musical term used to describe singing or playing a note that is not in tune with the rest of the music

adjective describing something that is out of tune or not in harmony with the rest

adverb modifying a verb to indicate that the action is not in tune or not in harmony

• The singer hit several off key notes during the performance.
• She sounded a bit off key when she sang that song.
• His singing was totally off key, it was painful to listen to.
• The team's performance was off key, they seemed out of sync with each other.

noun a musical term indicating a gradual decrease in tempo

• The pianist executed a beautiful ritardando at the end of the piece.
• The band decided to slow down with a ritardando for the last part of the song.
• Let's add a ritardando to that part to make it sound more dramatic.
• Life sometimes throws us a ritardando, forcing us to slow down and appreciate the moment.

noun a trap for catching birds or small animals

verb to catch (a bird or animal) using a snare

• The hunter set up a snare to catch the elusive rabbit.
• I accidentally stepped into a snare while walking in the woods.
• Watch out for that snare, it's a trap!
• The politician's words were like a snare, deceiving the public.

noun a book containing a collection of songs, typically with lyrics and musical notation

• The music teacher asked the students to bring their songbooks to class.
• I found a great selection of songs in my old songbook.
• I love jamming out to the tunes in my songbook.
• Her diary was like a personal songbook filled with memories and emotions.

noun a mathematical operation in which the positions of elements in a matrix are switched

verb to change the position or order of something

• In mathematics, to transpose a matrix means to switch its rows with its columns.
• Can you transpose these two numbers for me?
• Let's just transpose the order of these events to make it easier.
• She tried to transpose her feelings of anger into feelings of forgiveness.

verb to emphasize or make more noticeable

adjective serving to emphasize or make more noticeable

• The use of proper lighting is crucial in accentuating the beauty of the artwork.
• Wearing a belt is great for accentuating your waist in that dress.
• Adding some highlighter to your cheekbones really helps in accentuating your features.
• Her silence spoke volumes, accentuating the tension in the room.

noun a term used in music to refer to the tuning of a stringed instrument

• The musician carefully adjusted the accordatura of his guitar before the concert.
• I always forget to check the accordatura on my guitar before playing.
• Dude, your guitar sounds off. Did you do the accordatura?
• In life, we sometimes need to tune our 'accordatura' to be in harmony with our surroundings.

noun a-flat minor

• The piece was composed in A-flat minor, showcasing the composer's skill in handling complex key signatures.
• I love playing that A-flat minor chord on the piano, it has such a rich and melancholic sound.
• Dude, that A-flat minor riff you played was sick! It really set the mood for the whole song.
• Her mood was like an A-flat minor key, dark and brooding, with a hint of underlying intensity.