3 Secrets To Understanding

3 Secrets To Understanding: "3 Secrets To Understanding
What Music Is Made Of




3 Secrets To Understanding What Music Is Made Of

It�s no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some form or other.
The country-western fan may not like jazz, but he or she sure loves the sound of pickin� & grinnin�.
And that�s as it should be. If we all liked the same kind of music, there just wouldn�t be the variety that is available to us now. We can choose from musical styles ranging from heavy classical and opera to rock to children�s songs to Broadway musicals to gospel music to the blues.
Each has its place, and each seems on the surface to be drastically different than another form of music. The key word is �on the surface.� But beneath the surface of all music is a commonality that is organic to all forms and styles of music.
So what does all music have in common?
At least 3 things � sometimes more, but never less:
Melody
Rhythm
Harmony
The melody is the part of a song or composition that you whistle or hum � in other words, the tune of the song. In one sense, it is the most visible of the 3 elements, because melody is what identifies a song. Without melody, it would be difficult to even conceive of a song or piece.
In musical notation, the melody is almost always written in the treble clef � also known as the treble staff. It consists of a horizontal line of notes that move up and down on the clef as the tune moves higher or lower.
Rhythm is the beat � the swing � the throb of the music. It happens in repeating patterns, depending upon the type of music. It is like a horizontal line of beats which occur at regular or semi-regular intervals. A waltz, for example, basically consists of a heavy bea"