Pitch

The perceived highness or lowness of a sound, determined by its frequency.

About Pitch

Pitch is the perceptual quality that allows us to order sounds from low to high. It corresponds primarily to the fundamentalFundamentalThe lowest frequency in a harmonic series, perceived as the main pitch of a note.View full entry → frequencyFrequencyThe number of sound-wave vibrations per second, measured in hertz, that determines how high or low…View full entry → of a sound wave, measured in Hertz (Hz).

More fundamental terms

Texture

The way melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic materials are woven together in a composition.

Tempo

The speed at which a piece of music is performed.

Sight-Reading

The ability to perform a piece of music at first sight without prior practice or rehearsal

Timbre

The characteristic quality of a sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.

Baroque

The period of Western art music spanning roughly 1600 to 1750, characterised by ornate expression, basso continuo, and the development of tonal harmony.

View all fundamentalterms →