term from the eighteenth-century to describe a bass line that falls successively by a half-step to denote grief or sadness
Lamento bass
Related Dictionary Terms
Line
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used graphically to denote ends of bars, the pitches of notes, articulation , used to describe aspects of melody
Walking bass
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a bass line that moves steadily in a rhythm contrasting to that of the upper parts; in jazz, a walking bass usually moves by…
Basso ostinato
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ground bass, a pattern repeated several times over in the bass line to accompany one or more ever varying upper parts
Chord Inversion
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Theory
Inversions rearrange chord tones while keeping chord identity. For triads: root position: root in bass first inversion: third…
Escape note
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non harmonic note, being approached by a whole step or half step and resolving to a chord note by a leap
Neighbouring notes
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non harmonic notes that leave and return to the same chord note by a whole step or half step
Whole Step
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Theory
A whole step is a basic distance unit in scale construction and melodic movement. Understanding whole step and half step rela…
Imperfect Cadence
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Half Cadence. A chord progression where the dominant chord is the final chord of the cadence and is preceded by the tonic cho…