Basic Terms

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Beat
Regular, recurrent pulsation that divides miusic into equal units of time. Measure
Rhythmic group set off by bar lines, containing a fixed number of beats. Syncopation
Accenting of a note at unexpected time, as between two beats or on a weak beat. Syncopation is a major characteristic of jazz.

Rhythm
Flow of music through time; the pattern of durations of notes and silences in music. Downbeat
First, or stressed, beat of a measure. Tempo
Basic pace of the music.

Meter (duple, triple,
quadruple, quintuple,
sextuple, septuple)
Organization of beats into regular groups. Upbeat
Unaccented pulse preceding the downbeat. Tempo indication
Words, usually at the beginning of a piece of music, often in Italian, which specify the pace at which the music should be played.

Accent
Emphasis of a note, which may result from its being louder (dynamic accent), longer, or higher in pitch than the notes near it. Metronome
Apparatus which produces ticking sounds or flashes of light at any desired constant speed.

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Beat Regular, recurrent pulsation that divides miusic into equal units of time.	Measure Rhythmic group set off by bar lines, containing a fixed number of beats.	Syncopation Accenting of a note at unexpected time, as between two beats or on a weak beat. Syncopation is a major characteristic of jazz.
Rhythm Flow of music through time; the pattern of durations of notes and silences in music.	Downbeat First, or stressed, beat of a measure.	Tempo Basic pace of the music.
Meter (duple, triple, quadruple, quintuple, sextuple, septuple) Organization of beats into regular groups.	Upbeat Unaccented pulse preceding the downbeat.	Tempo indication Words, usually at the beginning of a piece of music, often in Italian, which specify the pace at which the music should be played.
	Accent Emphasis of a note, which may result from its being louder (dynamic accent), longer, or higher in pitch than the notes near it.	Metronome Apparatus which produces ticking sounds or flashes of light at any desired constant speed.