countermelody

Accompanying melodic line

A countermelody is a secondary melody played or sung alongside the main melody, complementing it while maintaining its own distinct character.

It adds harmonic and rhythmic interest without competing for attention: The brass section carried the countermelody beneath the soaring strings.

Common in orchestral music, jazz, and choral arrangements.

technique

obbligato

Required accompanying musical part

  • descantOrnamental upper melody
  • polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
  • fugueContrapuntal musical form

canon · ostinato · imitation · inversion · augmentation · diminution · interweave · doubling · sequence · embellishment

function

accompaniment

Supplementary support element

response · dialogue · echo · answer · fill · obligato · background · foreground · interlude · bridge

texture

polyphony

Simultaneous independent melodic lines

layering · density · transparency · orchestration · instrumentation · sonority · timbre · blend · balance · independence

notation

score

Numerical standing in competition

  • staffOrganization's workers collectively
  • voiceSound from throat
  • partPiece of whole

line · marking · articulation · slur · tie · accent · dynamics · cue · arrangement · transcription

Categories
Opposites
musical hierarchy/primacy

countermelodymain theme

Primary subject or message

melody · lead line · theme · subject · tune

melodic complexity/texture

countermelodymonophony

Unaccompanied single melody

unison · homophony · harmony · single voice · block chords

Family

counter, melody, melodious, melodrama, counterpoint, countertenor, countertenors

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G