Graphing the form of a piece of music

  • Use a separate line to indicate a new period or sections such as an introduction, transition or coda
  • Label periods with upper case letters - When applicable indicate the type of period (parallel, repeated, double etc.)
  • Label phrases with lower case letters - indicate initial key and ending key with cadence type

Here is an example of a fictitious 36 measure piece in C.

Intro
C: mm1                     mm4 C: AC

 

 
A - Parallel period 
a - antecedenta' - consequent
mm5 C:                          mm 8 - C: HCmm9                      mm12 G: PAC
OPEN SECTION
 

Transition - phrase group

 
bb' 
mm13 G:            mm15: B                   
 

B - Contrasting period

 
bc
mm17 b:                        mm20 - D: ACmm21                     mm24 G:HC
 

A' - parallel period

 
aa"
mm25 C:                       mm28 - C: HCmm29 C:                mm32 C PAC
 

Coda

 
d 
mm33 C:                        mm36 C: PAC 
  
Email: sbirch@kent.edu