 Unpredictable rhythmic patterns

 Frequent changes of time signature and

pulse creating irregularity

 Unusual time signatures (e.g. 7/8)

 Use of a wide range of instruments

(including world music instruments, jazz
instruments, electronic instruments)

 Use conventional instruments in

unconventional ways (e.g. playing with
the wood of the bow)

 Singing in unconventional ways

 Angular (uses notes that are far apart)

 Leaping

 Often using extremes of ranges

 Often melody is not the most prominent

feature of the music, unlike in previous
eras.

 Extreme chromaticism

 Atonalism

 Use of ancient or folk modes (scales)

 whole tone scales

 pentatonic