When most people think of music or sing a song, they are referring to the melody of the musical piece. The other elements of music are usually less consciously noticeable than the melody. Melodies are typically easily singable, and in most cases, follow basic stepwise motion. It is rare that a melody will jump from a high note to a low note in quick succession. In some instances, people may also refer to the melody as the tune of a song.
A countermelody is a melody that plays counter to the main melody. Often, countermelodies are played higher and in contrast to the main melody. This is a common method employed in marches. Famous examples include the countermelody played by the piccolo in the John Philip Sousa march, "Stars and Stripes Forever." The countermelody can also occur in the bass and is more frequently the case in western art music.
When musicians discusses harmony, they are referring to chords and chord quality. In tonal music, there are four basic types of chords -- major, minor, augmented and diminished. Each chord has a unique sound and specific use in a composition. Major chords usually sound bright and cheerful, while minor chords sound gloomy and foreboding. Major and minor chords are the most commonly used chords within a composition. These chords appear regularly in western art music and popular music. Less commonly used chords include the augmented and diminished chords. In the past, augmented chords typically were avoided in music because of the dissonant tritone that occurs between the root and fifth of the chord. However, they have found their place in many modern pieces, including "Pierrot Lunaire," by Arnold Schoenberg. Diminished chords appear frequently in minor keys and sound like dissonant minor chords.
Rhythm helps a piece to build, create climaxes and move a a piece of music forward. Without rhythm, melodies would be a series of suspended pitches with no forward motion. Music could not exist without rhythm, and every composition makes use of this basic element of music. There are several ways to create rhythms, ranging from the simple to the complex. Maurice Ravel's "Boléro" is a work that utilizes a repeated rhythm throughout to build tension and propel the piece forward to its dynamic summit. Another famous work that utilizes complex rhythms is Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring."
Motives are shorter than melodies and can be as few as just a few notes. A very common example of a motive is the opening of Beethoven's fifth symphony. This short four-note motive serves as the basis for the entire first movement. In compositions, composers will usually combine motives in expert ways to build, morph and develop melodies throughout a composition.