Seven Elements of Music

  1. melody – the organization of pitches into phrases
  2. harmony – the supporting notes (usually 3 or more, called ‘chords’) to a melody
  3. rhythm – how notes or chords move through time
  4. texture – how thick or thin the instrumentation is
  5. timbre – the overall tone quality of an instrument or band or piece of music
  6. dynamics – the loudness or softness of the music
  7. form – the structure of the piece