2. A recurring musical phrase. A motive is not necessarily a recurring musical phrase. It can be used just once in a piece of music, or it can be repeated multiple times.
3. A musical theme. A motive is not a musical theme. A theme is a more developed musical idea than a motive, and it typically consists of several motives.
4. A specific length. Although motives are often short, they do not have a specific length. They can be any length, from a single note to several measures.
5. A repeated rhythmic pattern. While rhythmic patterns can be part of a motive, a motive is not a repeated rhythmic pattern. Motives include melodies, harmonies, and certain sequences of notes.
6. A set of related musical ideas. Motives are often used to develop related musical ideas, but they are not themselves sets of related musical ideas. Motives are the building blocks of musical themes and phrases.