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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - The World of Music

Here you will learn some English words about music, such as "acoustic", "duet", "measure", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE

the art or the act of writing pieces of music, poetry, etc.

Ex: The composer 's mastery composition was evident in the intricate melodies of the symphony .
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ballad
[noun]

a tale that is narrated in the form of a song or poem

Ex: ballad's haunting melody and evocative lyrics made it a favorite among fans of traditional music .
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adagio
[noun]

a movement or composition intended to be played at a slow tempo

Ex: Students practiced adagio in their music class to perfect their timing and expression .
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instrumental
[Adjective]

(of music) made only by instruments and without vocals

Ex: They performed instrumental cover of the popular song , showcasing their musical skills .
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acoustic
[Adjective]

(of a musical instrument) making a sound that is natural, not amplified

Ex: They performed acoustic version of the song , using only guitars and vocals .
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harmonic
[Adjective]

having blended sounds or tones that combine in a pleasing way

Ex: harmonic voices created a soothing and immersive listening experience .
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melodic
[Adjective]

having a tuneful, harmonious quality or arrangement of sounds

Ex: Melodic patterns are essential to the song 's captivating quality .
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ambient
[Adjective]

relating to the type of music that emphasizes on tone and atmosphere rather than traditional structure

Ex: The ambient music at the art gallery complemented the serene paintings on display.
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avant-garde
[Adjective]

innovative, experimental, or unconventional in style or approach, especially in the arts

Ex: In the realm of visual artavant-garde painters explore new forms of expression , pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques to create groundbreaking works that defy categorization .
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indie
[Adjective]

(of a musical band) not associated with major labels or companies

Ex: The indie group released their latest album independently, bypassing major labels.
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solo
[noun]

a musical piece written for one singer or instrument

Ex: His solo added excitement to the rock band 's show .
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duet
[noun]

a piece of music written for two performers

Ex: The duet added a lively touch to the evening 's performance .
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baritone
[noun]

a male singing voice that is classified between bass and tenor, characterized by a lower and richer tone

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bar line
[noun]

an upright line that separates the bars in written music

Ex: bar line indicates where one measure ends and the next begins .
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movement
[noun]

one of the main parts that a long musical work is divided into, having its own structure

Ex: The ballet featured several dance sequences , each corresponding to a movement of the orchestral suite .
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chord
[noun]

three or more musical notes that form a harmony when played together

Ex: The musician 's fingers moved quickly to form chord on the fretboard .
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measure
[noun]

any of the short sections consisting of musical beats located between two consecutive lines

Ex: The guitarist struggled with the tricky chords in the measure.
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scale
[noun]

an arrangement of a series of musical notes with specified intervals, in ascending or descending pitch order

Ex: Learning to scales is an essential foundation for any musician , as it enhances their understanding of harmony and melody .
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encore
[noun]

an additional or repeated piece that is performed at the end of a concert, because the audience has asked for it

Ex: The audience clapped loudly , hoping for encore from the jazz trio .
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discord
[noun]

an unusual combination of musical notes that sound strange when played

Ex: Musicians often discord to evoke emotions of unease and discomfort .
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a combination of notes or chords that sounds harsh or unstable

Ex: Critics noted the effective use dissonance in the modern symphony .
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coda
[noun]

the final passage of an extended musical composition

Ex: The audience erupted in applause as coda ended , impressed by the musicians ' ability to deliver such a captivating and climactic finale .
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clef
[noun]

any of the signs written on the left-hand end of a staff indicating the pitch of the notes

Ex: In medieval music notation, the G clef resembled a small letter "g" and indicated the position of the note "G" on the staff.
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concerto
[noun]

a musical composition that is written for one or more solo instruments and accompanied by an orchestra with three movements

Ex: concerto showcased the virtuosity of the trumpet player , who dazzled the audience with intricate melodies .
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opus
[noun]

a musical piece or collection that is written by a famous composer followed by the date in which it was created

Ex: Beethoven's "Opus 28," the "Piano Sonata No. 7," showcases his early compositional style from 1800.
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all of the records or a list of the records that have been created by a particular singer, composer or musical band

Ex: The new app offers streaming access to the discography of popular musicians .
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something such as a book, record, etc. that consists of different pieces taken from several sources

Ex: The software package is compilation of useful tools for graphic design .
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etude
[noun]

an instrumental composition that is usually short and is intended for practice or demonstration of a skill

Ex: The composer wrote a series etudes to address specific technical difficulties .
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a narrow flat part on the neck of a string instrument where the fingers press the strings to play various notes

Ex: She adjusted her fingers on the violinfingerboard to play the correct notes .
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to be the star performer in a concert or performance

Ex: The popular headlined the nightclub event , making it an unforgettable night .
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to create and perform words of a play, music, etc. on impulse and without preparation, particularly because one is forced to do so

Ex: Unable to find his notes , the improvised a captivating speech on the spot .
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major
[Adjective]

based on a scale in which the interval between the third and the fourth notes and the seventh and the eighth notes is a half step

Ex: The guitarist played a series major chords to enhance the song 's harmony .
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minor
[Adjective]

based on a scale in which the interval between the second and the third notes, the fifth and the sixth notes and the seventh and eighth notes is a half step

Ex: The minor key is often used to convey deeper, more introspective emotions.
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interval
[noun]

a dissimilarity in pitch between two notes

Ex: The composer used a minor interval to create a sense of tension .
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pitch
[noun]

the degree of highness or lowness of a tone that is determined by the frequency of waves producing it

Ex: The orchestra conductor emphasized the importance of maintaining pitch throughout the performance .
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tempo
[noun]

the speed that a piece of music is or should be played at

Ex: In classical musictempo changes are often used to add variety to a performance .
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octave
[noun]

the interval between the first and the last notes in eight diatonic degrees

Ex: The singer 's range extended over octaves, impressing the judges .
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to pluck
[Verb]

to play a string instrument, such as a guitar, using the fingers or a plectrum

Ex: plucked the nylon strings of the classical guitar , producing rich , resonant tones .
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monophonic
[Adjective]

describing sound transmission, recording or reproduction that is transferred through a single channel

Ex: monophonic nature of the original film soundtrack gave it a classic , vintage feel .
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refrain
[noun]

a repeated line or phrase in a poem or song, typically at the end of each stanza or verse

Ex: He loved refrain that repeated after each verse of the ballad .
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