Free SACE Music Studies Flashcard Review
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What distinguishes simple time from compound time?
In simple time each beat divides into two (e.g. crotchet = two quavers); in compound time each beat is dotted and divides into three (e.g. dotted crotchet = three quavers).
What does the time signature 6/8 mean?
Compound duple time: two dotted-crotchet beats per bar, each divided into three quavers (six quavers in total).
How do you hear the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 when both contain six quavers?
3/4 groups the quavers in pairs (three crotchet beats, accents on quavers 1, 3, 5); 6/8 groups them in threes (two dotted-crotchet beats, accents on quavers 1 and 4).
What is 9/8?
Compound triple time: three dotted-crotchet beats per bar, nine quavers in total.
What is an irregular (asymmetric) meter? Give two examples.
A meter whose beats are of unequal length because the bar cannot divide evenly into twos or threes, e.g. 5/8 (3+2 or 2+3) and 7/8 (2+2+3, 3+2+2 or 2+3+2).
What does 2/2 (cut common time) mean?
Simple duple time with two minim beats per bar; it holds the same notes as 4/4 but is felt in two.
What is the main rule of beaming?
Beam notes so that each beat is visible: group within the beat, and do not beam across the middle of a 4/4 bar in a way that hides beat 3.
How are quavers beamed in 3/4?
In pairs (one pair per crotchet beat), or all six quavers of a full bar beamed together; never 3 + 3, which looks like 6/8.
How are quavers beamed in 6/8?
In groups of three, one group per dotted-crotchet beat (3 + 3).
What does it mean for rests to "show the beat"?
Rests are written so each beat (or half-bar) can be seen, e.g. two crotchet rests rather than one minim rest that would hide the middle of a 4/4 bar.
In 4/4, where can a minim rest start?
On beat 1 or beat 3 (the halves of the bar), never on beat 2.
How is a whole bar of silence written in any time signature?
With a semibreve rest centred in the bar, whatever the time signature.
In 6/8, how is a full beat of silence written?
As a dotted crotchet rest (or crotchet rest + quaver rest), so the compound beat is clear.
List the note values from semibreve to semiquaver with their length in crotchet beats.
Semibreve 4, minim 2, crotchet 1, quaver ½, semiquaver ¼.
What does a dot do to a note?
It adds half the note's value: a dotted minim = 3 crotchets, a dotted crotchet = 1½ crotchets, a dotted quaver = ¾ of a crotchet.
What is a tie and how is it different from a slur?
A tie joins two notes of the SAME pitch into one sound; a slur joins different pitches to show legato phrasing.
What is a quaver triplet?
Three quavers played in the time of two, filling one crotchet beat; it is marked with a 3.
What is a duplet in 6/8?
Two equal notes played in the time of three quavers, filling one dotted-crotchet beat; marked with a 2.
What is the first step in rhythmic dictation?
Find the beat and meter, then mark the beats in each bar so every sound can be placed against the pulse.
Why must you count the beats in every bar of a dictation?
Markers report that many answers have bars with too many or too few beats; a bar that does not add up loses marks even if the rhythm sounds close.