Pulse (Music)
In music, pulse is the underlying regular beat that provides a steady framework for rhythm, tempo, and meter. It is felt as the basic unit of time that listeners and performers use to stay synchronized.
Music Theory
Explore Music Theory with clear music dictionary guides to notes, scales, chords, rhythm, harmony, melody, and musical structure.
Read More →
Power chord
A power chord is a two‑note harmony, typically the root and perfect fifth, often doubled at the octave. It is a staple of electric guitar playing in rock, metal and related styles, especially when combined with distortion.
Polyrhythm
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous combination of two or more contrasting rhythmic patterns. It appears in many musical traditions, from African drumming to modern progressive rock, and influences how listeners perceive rhythm and groove.
Secondary Dominant
A secondary dominant is a chord that temporarily tonicizes a scale degree other than the tonic by treating it as if it were the dominant. It enriches harmonic motion by creating brief tonal pulls toward non‑tonic chords.
Dissonance (music)
Dissonance is a musical interval, chord, or sonority that creates a sense of tension or instability, often prompting a resolution to a more stable, consonant sound. It plays a central role in shaping harmonic progressions, emotional expression, and stylistic identity across many musical traditions.
Major sixth
The major sixth is a musical interval spanning nine semitones, known for its warm, consonant quality. It appears in melodies, harmonies, and chord structures across many musical styles.
Minor chord
A minor chord is a three‑note harmony built from a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. It provides a darker, more melancholic sound than its major counterpart and is fundamental to Western tonal music.
Circle of Fifths
The Circle of Fifths is a visual representation of the 12 pitch classes arranged by perfect fifths. It shows the relationship among key signatures, major and minor scales, and common chord progressions.
Odd Meter
Odd meter, also called irregular or asymmetrical meter, refers to musical time signatures whose beats are grouped in uneven patterns, such as 5/4 or 7/8, creating a distinctive rhythmic feel.
Borrowed chord
A borrowed chord is a chord taken from the parallel key (major or minor) and used in a different tonal context, providing colour and tension in harmonic progressions.