a low, sustained tone that remains steady in the bass of a composition while other voices move about above it
Organ point
Related Dictionary Terms
Plucking point
Shared keywords
the point at which a string, such as that on a guitar, is plucked relative to the nut. The smaller the distance to the plucki…
Chord Inversion
Shared keywords
Theory
Inversions rearrange chord tones while keeping chord identity. For triads: root position: root in bass first inversion: third…
Monotone
Shared keywords
a single sustained, unvarying tone, or a succession of notes of the same tone
Walking bass
Shared keywords
a bass line that moves steadily in a rhythm contrasting to that of the upper parts; in jazz, a walking bass usually moves by…
Augmented sixth chord
Shared keywords
a chord which contains an augmented sixth above the bass, in addition to various other tones
Disjunct
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where the notes in a melody move in leaps, intervals greater than a tone, rather than from note to neighbouring notes only a…
Imitation
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Theory
Imitation is common in polyphonic writing and helps create coherence between voices. In classical guitar arrangements, imitat…
Quintus
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Latin
the fifth voice in a sixteenth century composition having five or more vocal parts, sometimes a 'descant' or 'countermelody'…