Music Theory Terms

noun a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle.

verb None

adjective None

adverb None

pronoun None

preposition None

conjunction None

interjection None

article None

• The bridge was constructed using the latest engineering techniques.
• Let's meet at the bridge at 3 pm.
• I can't believe he actually bought that bridge in Brooklyn.
• The new policy acts as a bridge between the company and its employees.

noun the quantity or number needed to make a group complete

• The new furniture in the office is a perfect complement to the modern decor.
• The new rug really complements the couch in the living room.
• Those shoes totally complement your outfit, girl!
• Her kindness was a complement to his gruff demeanor.

verb to disturb the condition, action, or function of; to make insane

• The constant loud noises from the construction site may derange the residents in the area.
• I think the loud music is starting to derange my neighbor, he keeps complaining about it.
• If you keep pulling pranks on him, you're going to derange him for sure.
• The unexpected news seemed to derange her sense of reality for a moment.

noun a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved

• The periodic table organizes all the known chemical elements.
• Mixing different elements in cooking can create unique flavors.
• The DJ mixed in some new elements to the song, making it even better.
• The elements of a good story include strong characters and a compelling plot.

verb to make something more attractive by adding decorative details or exaggerating certain aspects

• The artist used intricate details to embellish the painting.
• She always likes to embellish her stories to make them more interesting.
• Stop trying to embellish the truth, just tell it like it is.
• Her laughter seemed to embellish the room with joy.

verb to make something more attractive by adding decorative details or features

adjective having been decorated or enhanced with extra details or features

• The artist embellished the painting with intricate details and gold leaf accents.
• She embellished her story about what happened at the party to make it more interesting.
• He totally embellished his resume to make himself look more qualified for the job.
• Her words were embellished with emotion, making her speech truly impactful.

verb to board a train or to cause something to board a train

• The conductor ensured that all passengers entrain before the scheduled departure time.
• Make sure you entrain before the train leaves!
• Hey, don't miss the train, entrain now!
• His passion for music started to entrain others in the audience.

noun the quality of being equal in size, shape, or value; uniformity

• The evenness of the distribution of resources among the population is a key factor in achieving social equality.
• I appreciate the evenness of your handwriting, it's very neat and easy to read.
• I can't believe the evenness of her tan, she must have spent hours in the sun.
• The evenness of his temperament is what makes him such a reliable friend in times of need.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'finer' is used to compare two things, indicating a higher level of quality or excellence.

• The jeweler used a magnifying glass to examine the finer details of the diamond.
• I prefer the finer things in life, like a good cup of coffee and a book.
• She's always looking for the finer things, like designer clothes and fancy cars.
• His ability to see the finer points of an argument sets him apart from the rest.

noun a person who adheres strictly to a particular form, especially in the arts

adjective relating to or characteristic of formalism, especially in the arts

• The formalist approach to literary criticism focuses on the structure and form of a text.
• Some people find formalist analysis of literature to be too rigid and limiting.
• I'm not really into all that formalist stuff when it comes to analyzing movies.
• She approached the problem with a formalist mindset, breaking it down into its basic components.

noun referring to the position in a sequence

adjective referring to the number four in a series

• The fourth quarter financial report will be presented to the board next week.
• I'll see you at the fourth stop on the tour.
• Let's meet up at the fourth joint for some drinks.
• He was the fourth wheel in their group, always feeling left out.

adjective describing something that is secondary or minor in importance; occurring as a minor consequence of something else

• The incidental expenses were not included in the initial budget.
• I didn't realize there would be so many incidental costs involved.
• I hate when random incidental stuff comes up and ruins my plans.
• His words were like incidental background noise, easily ignored.

noun a place where things are exchanged or substituted

verb to exchange or switch (two things) with each other

• The interchange of ideas between the two departments led to a breakthrough in the project.
• Let's have an interchange of thoughts over coffee sometime.
• I love the interchange of gossip at the water cooler.
• The interchange of emotions between the characters made the movie very engaging.

adjective complex or detailed; having many interrelated parts or facets

• The artist spent months creating an intricate design for the stained glass window.
• She was amazed by the intricate details of the necklace her friend gave her.
• The dance routine was so intricate, it was like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded.
• Navigating the political landscape can be as intricate as untangling a spider's web.

noun the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

preposition the act or instance of placing two or more things side by side or close together

• The painting displayed a striking juxtaposition of light and dark tones.
• It was interesting to see the juxtaposition of modern technology with traditional craftsmanship.
• The juxtaposition of those two characters was totally unexpected!
• The song lyrics created a powerful juxtaposition between love and loss.

noun the way in which something is situated or arranged

verb to put something down in a flat position

• The workers will lay the foundation for the new building tomorrow.
• I'm just going to lay on the couch and watch TV all day.
• Let's lay low and avoid getting caught by the police.
• She decided to lay her worries to rest and focus on the present moment.

noun a person who has chosen a particular field of study as their main subject of specialization in college or university

verb to pursue a specific field of study as one's main subject in college or university

adjective important, serious, or significant

• The major issue with the project is the lack of funding.
• The major problem with the car is the engine keeps stalling.
• The major bummer about the party was that it got shut down early.
• She played a major role in shaping the company's success.

noun a varied mixture or assortment of things

adjective consisting of various types or elements mixed together

• The chef created a delicious medley of fruits for the dessert platter.
• I love when my grandma makes her famous medley of vegetables for dinner.
• Let's mix up a medley of different songs for the party playlist.
• The artist's painting was a medley of colors and emotions.

noun a continuing sound, especially of a person's voice, that is unchanging in pitch and without intonation

adjective having a single unvarying tone

• The professor spoke in a monotone voice throughout the entire lecture.
• I can't stand listening to that teacher, he's so monotone.
• Her presentation was so boring, she sounded like a monotone robot.
• The city skyline was a monotone of grey buildings under the overcast sky.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea, in this case 'perfect' can also be used as a noun to refer to a state of flawlessness or excellence.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'perfect' describes a noun or pronoun as being without fault or flaw.

• The presentation was executed with perfect precision.
• She baked the perfect cake for the party.
• That outfit is on point, it's perfect!
• His timing was perfect, he arrived just in time to save the day.

noun a musical instrument with a keyboard and strings that produce sound when struck by hammers

adjective relating to or involving the piano or its music

• The pianist performed a beautiful piece on the grand piano.
• I love playing the piano in my free time.
• Let's jam out on the keys of the piano together.
• Her words played on my mind like a haunting piano melody.

noun a single beat or throb

• The doctor monitored the patient's heart rate by measuring the pulsations.
• I could feel the pulsation in my chest after running up the stairs.
• Her heart was racing with intense pulsations during the scary movie.
• The pulsation of excitement in the crowd was palpable as the band took the stage.

verb to practice or repeat in preparation for a performance or presentation

• The actors gathered in the theater to rehearse their lines for the upcoming play.
• Let's rehearse the dance routine one more time before the show.
• We need to rehearse our presentation so we don't mess up in front of the boss.
• It's important to rehearse your responses before going into a difficult conversation.

verb to complete or finish something, making it whole or well-rounded

• The addition of a new team member will help round out our project team.
• Let's bring in a few more snacks to round out our movie night.
• I'm thinking of getting a tattoo to round out my look.
• The unexpected twist in the plot really helped round out the story.

noun a particular order in which related events, movements, or things follow each other

verb to arrange in a particular order or sequence

• The scientist analyzed the DNA sequence to identify the genetic mutations.
• I watched the movie sequence out of order and got confused.
• I need to get my workout sequence down before the competition.
• Life is like a sequence of events, each one leading to the next.

adjective describing a noun as being of less than average height or length

adverb describing a verb, adjective, or another adverb as indicating a lesser degree

• The length of the meeting will be shorter than usual due to time constraints.
• I'm looking for a shorter route to get to the beach faster.
• I need to find a quicker way to make money, something shorter term.
• His temper is getting shorter by the minute, we need to tread carefully.

noun a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants

adjective relating to or consisting of syllables

• The word 'elephant' has three syllables.
• I struggle with words that have more than one syllable.
• I can't deal with long words with too many syllables.
• Each syllable of the poem carried a different emotion.

noun a number of missiles thrown or hit at one time in a game such as tennis or volleyball

verb to throw or hit a number of missiles at one time in a game such as tennis or volleyball

• The tennis player executed a powerful volley to win the match.
• We had a fun time playing beach volleyball at the party.
• The soccer player scored a sick volley from outside the box.
• The politician faced a volley of tough questions during the press conference.

noun a number that is one more than four and one less than six; a group or set of five things

• The team scored three goals and two fives in the first half of the game.
• I got all fives in my report card, I'm so happy!
• I always give fives to this restaurant, their food is amazing.
• She always plays her fives when negotiating a deal, never settling for less.

noun a syllable used in solfège to represent the sixth note of a major scale

adjective pertaining to the sixth note of a major scale

• El profesor explicó la teoría de la relatividad de manera detallada.
• Vamos a la playa mañana.
• Esa fiesta estuvo de la la la.
• La vida es como una obra de teatro, con diferentes actos y escenas.

noun a loud lament or mourning sound

verb to lament or mourn loudly

• The Latin verb 'plango' means 'I mourn' or 'I wail.'
• I learned that 'plango' is a Latin word that means 'I lament.'
• Some people use 'plango' to mean 'I cry' in a poetic way.
• The sound of the wind made me think of the word 'plango' as if nature itself was mourning.

noun agreements or harmony in relationships

verb to give or grant someone power, status, or recognition

• The two countries signed accords to strengthen diplomatic relations.
• They made a deal and shook hands on the accords.
• They were in cahoots and agreed to the accords.
• Their hearts were in accord, despite their differences on the surface.

adjective having no head or leader; leaderless

• The medical condition known as acephalous refers to the absence of a head.
• I heard that rare species of fish is acephalous.
• That movie was so confusing, it felt like an acephalous mess.
• The company's leadership structure was described as acephalous, with no clear direction or decision-making authority.

noun a deuce

preposition of

• He played a deuce of spades during the card game.
• I found a deuce of coins in my pocket.
• She's a deuce of a player on the basketball court.
• Dealing with that difficult customer was a deuce of a challenge.

verb to change or alter in order to fit or conform

• The engineer is adjusting the settings on the machine to improve efficiency.
• I'm still adjusting to my new job, but I think I'll get the hang of it soon.
• She's always adjusting her outfit to make sure she looks on point.
• Life is all about adjusting to the unexpected changes that come our way.