Musical sound, any tone with characteristics such as controlled pitch and timbre. The sounds are produced by instruments in which the periodic vibrations can be controlled by the performer.

Basic Music Elements

• Sound (overtone, timbre, pitch, amplitude, duration)
• Melody.
• Harmony.
• Rhythm.
• Texture.
• Structure/form.
• Expression (dynamics, tempo, articulation)

Musicians point to three distinguishing characteristics of musical notes: loudness, pitch, and timbre (or “quality”).

10 Characteristics of Music

• Melody. There are three main characteristics of a melody in music — motives, phrases and periods.
• Harmony. The characteristics of harmony break down into two types — chords and arpeggios.
• Rhythm. Rhythm creates another three characteristics of music — monorhythmic, polyrhythmic and tempo.
• Timbre.
• Form.

Identifying factors usually include repeated choruses and hooks, short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), and rhythms or tempos that can be easily danced to. Much pop music also borrows elements from other styles such as rock, urban, dance, Latin, and country.

It accompanies our traveling, sports, shopping, and working activities. It speaks to us and silences us. It sways and soothes us. Music provides parameters that can be used to frame experiences, perceptions, feelings, and comportments.

Musicians are known to express themselves through song and melody to convey how they’re feeling in life, which allows listeners to relate and find comfort in the music. Music prompts people in every culture around the world to dance and express how they feel with movement.

Music is very malleable and is affected by a countless number of factors. However, these factors put together equal the culture. For example; a culture that values money and material objects will present this through music by the glorification of these items. Ultimately, music is the expression of culture.