Sequence – Where a passage of music is repeated at a higher or lower pitch

(Pronounced see-kwuhns)

To remember what sequence means, use the following mnemonic:

I can see the different frequencies (sequence) of the repeated passage of music, one higher and one lower, even in the British National Anthem.

A sequence is when you take a motif and then immediately repeat it either in a lower or higher pitch (as the example above). This is an incredibly common technique in many genres including classical, jazz and pop songs. You will be surprised how many have been built using the sequence technique of writing music.

Hear the first minute of Beethoven's 5th Symphony for a famous classical example.