GCSE Music: Elements of Music Revision Guide

Pitch, dynamics and tempo

Pitch describes how high or low a sound is, and is determined by the frequency of the sound wave. Dynamics describe how loud or quiet the music is, ranging from pianissimo (very quiet) to fortissimo (very loud), and can change gradually through a crescendo or diminuendo. Tempo describes the speed of the music, measured in beats per minute or described using Italian terms such as allegro (fast) or adagio (slow).

Texture

Texture describes how many layers of sound are heard and how they relate to each other. A monophonic texture is a single unaccompanied melodic line. A homophonic texture is a melody with chordal accompaniment. A polyphonic (or contrapuntal) texture has two or more independent melodic lines happening at the same time. Being able to identify texture by ear is a common listening exam skill.

Timbre and structure

Timbre is the tone colour of a sound — it is what allows you to tell a flute from a trumpet even when they play the same pitch and dynamic. Structure (or form) describes how a piece is organised into sections, such as verse-chorus form, ternary form (ABA) or strophic form, where the same music repeats with different words.

Tonality and harmony

Tonality refers to the key of a piece, most commonly major or minor, though music can also be modal or atonal. Harmony is created when two or more notes sound together to form chords. Examiners often ask you to identify whether harmony is consonant (stable, pleasant) or dissonant (unstable, tense), and how chords move to create cadences at the end of phrases.

Common mistakes

• Confusing texture with tonality — texture is about layers of sound, tonality is about key.
• Using vague words like 'nice' or 'good' instead of precise terms such as legato, staccato or homophonic.
• Forgetting that dynamics and tempo can change gradually (crescendo, accelerando) as well as suddenly.