Sequence
The repetition of a musical pattern at successively higher or lower pitch levels.
Category
composition
Pronunciation
SEE-kwens
Origin
Latin (sequentia, following)
Length
144 words · 1 min read
About Sequence
A sequence takes a melodic or harmonic fragment and repeats it at a different pitch, usually ascending or descending by step. Tonal sequences adjust intervals to stay within the key; real sequences transpose exactly, potentially moving through multiple keys.
More composition terms
Arrangement
View all compositionterms →An adaptation of a musical composition for different instruments or voices than originally intended
Twelve-Tone TechniqueA method of composition that treats all twelve chromatic pitches as equal, ordering them into a fixed row that governs the entire work.
TransposeTo shift an entire piece or passage to a different key while keeping all intervals between notes the same
CompositionThe art and craft of creating original music by organising sounds, rhythms, and harmonies into a structured work.
CounterpointThe art of combining two or more independent melodic lines simultaneously.
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v1 · 10/04/2026Browse all terms →