| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| accidental | A symbol that modifies the pitch of a note, such as a sharp, flat, or natural. |
| alto clef | A type of C clef with C positioned on the middle line of the staff, commonly used for viola. |
| bass clef | A musical clef symbol used to notate pitches in the lower register, commonly used for bass voices and lower-pitched instruments. |
| C clef | A clef symbol that assigns letter names to the lines and spaces of the staff, with C positioned on a specific line or space. |
| cadential note | The final notes of a phrase or melody that mark a point of rest or conclusion. |
| clef | A symbol placed at the beginning of the staff that assigns specific letter names to the lines and spaces. |
| contour | The shape or outline of a melody created by the pattern of ascending and descending pitches. |
| enharmonic equivalents | Tones of the same pitch spelled differently according to their musical contexts, such as C# and Db. |
| flat | An accidental that lowers a pitch by one semitone. |
| improvisation | The creation and performance of music in real-time without prior written notation, allowed in certain musical styles. |
| melodic interval | The distance in pitch between two consecutive notes in a melody. |
| melody | A succession of pitches through time, produced by pitch and rhythm together, that expresses a musical statement. |
| musical score | A written representation of music that specifies the pitches and other musical elements to be performed. |
| natural | An accidental that cancels a previous sharp or flat, restoring a pitch to its original letter name. |
| notehead | The oval-shaped part of a note symbol on which accidentals are placed to the left. |
| octave | The interval spanning eight letter names, representing a doubling or halving of frequency. |
| ornamentation | Decorative notes or embellishments added to a melody, allowed in certain musical styles as deviations from the written score. |
| pitch | The highness or lowness of a sound, determined by its frequency. |
| pitch discrepancies | Differences between the pitches as written in a musical score and the pitches as actually performed. |
| sharp | An accidental that raises a pitch by one semitone. |
| sight-sing | To perform a notated melody at first sight without prior rehearsal or familiarity, reading and singing the music as it is presented. |
| staff | A set of five lines and four spaces on which musical notes are written to indicate their pitch. |
| tenor clef | A type of C clef with C positioned on the second line from the top of the staff, commonly used for cello and trombone. |
| tonic pitch | The first scale degree and the central pitch of a key, serving as the tonal center of a melody. |
| transposed | Shifted to a different key or pitch level while maintaining the same intervallic relationships and contour. |
| treble clef | A musical clef symbol used to notate pitches in the higher register, commonly used for soprano, alto, and tenor voices and many instruments. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| accent | A marking that indicates a note should be played with emphasis or stress. |
| articulation | An aspect of performance that describes the way a sound starts (its attack) and ends and how detached or connected adjacent pitches are. |
| attack | The way a sound begins or starts in performance. |
| crescendo | A gradual increase in volume indicated by Italian words or graphic symbols. |
| decrescendo | A gradual decrease in volume indicated by Italian words or graphic symbols. |
| dynamic accent | A momentary increase of volume applied to a specific note or notes, indicated by sf or sfz. |
| dynamics | Musical markings that describe in relative terms how loud or soft music is. |
| forte | A dynamic marking abbreviated as f that indicates loud volume. |
| fortissimo | A dynamic marking abbreviated as ff that indicates very loud volume. |
| legato | An articulation indicated by a line that indicates notes should be played in a smooth, connected manner. |
| marcato | An articulation marked with an accent that indicates notes should be played with emphasis and separation. |
| metric framework | The underlying pattern of beats and measures that organize the rhythm and structure of a musical composition. |
| mezzo forte | A dynamic marking abbreviated as mf that indicates moderately loud volume. |
| mezzo piano | A dynamic marking abbreviated as mp that indicates moderately soft volume. |
| phrase slurs | Curved lines in musical notation that indicate notes should be performed smoothly and connected within a musical phrase. |
| pianissimo | A dynamic marking abbreviated as pp that indicates very soft volume. |
| piano | A dynamic marking abbreviated as p that indicates soft volume. |
| sforzando | A dynamic accent indicated by the abbreviations sf or sfz that creates a sudden emphasis on a note. |
| sight-sing | To perform a notated melody at first sight without prior rehearsal or familiarity, reading and singing the music as it is presented. |
| slur | A curved line in musical notation that indicates notes should be played smoothly and connected together. |
| staccato | An articulation marking indicated by a dot that indicates notes should be played in a detached manner. |
| steady tempo | Maintaining a consistent speed throughout a musical performance without acceleration or deceleration. |
| subito | An Italian term indicating a sudden change in dynamics. |
| tempo | The speed at which music is performed, indicated by markings such as moderato or allegro. |
| tenuto | An articulation indicated by a line that indicates notes should be held for their full value in a connected manner. |
| terraced dynamics | The sudden contrast between loud and soft passages of music, rather than gradual changes in volume. |
| tremolo | The rapid and continuous repetition of a single pitch. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| augmentation dots | Dots placed after a note or rest that extend its duration by half of its original value. |
| double dots | Two dots placed after a note or rest, where the second dot adds half the value of the first dot, further extending the duration. |
| duration | The length of time that a note or rest is held or sustained in music. |
| note | Symbols in musical notation that represent the pitch and duration of sounds to be performed. |
| rest | Symbols in musical notation that represent periods of silence with specific durations. |
| rhythmic value | The relative duration of a note or rest, such as whole note, half note, quarter note, or eighth note. |
| tie | Curved lines connecting two notes of the same pitch, indicating that the duration should be combined into one continuous sound. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| half step | The smallest interval in Western music, representing the distance between adjacent pitches on the chromatic scale. |
| interval | The distance in pitch between two notes, designated by both size (such as second or fifth) and quality (major, minor, perfect, diminished, or augmented). |
| pitch | The highness or lowness of a sound, determined by its frequency. |
| scale | A sequence of pitches arranged in ascending or descending order, a fundamental pitch pattern in music. |
| seventh chord | A chord containing four notes built in thirds, consisting of a triad plus an additional note a seventh above the root. |
| triad | A chord whose essence consists of three distinct pitches stacked on adjacent lines or spaces in thirds. |
| whole step | An interval equal to two half steps, representing the distance between pitches separated by one chromatic pitch. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| dominant | The fifth scale degree and its associated chord (V), which creates tension and typically resolves to the tonic. |
| half step | The smallest interval in Western music, representing the distance between adjacent pitches on the chromatic scale. |
| leading tone | The seventh scale degree in a major scale, located one half step below the tonic with a strong tendency to resolve upward to the tonic. |
| major scale | A diatonic scale consisting of eight pitches with a specific pattern of intervals that serves as the basis for music in a major key. |
| mediant | The third scale degree, located in the middle between the tonic and dominant. |
| minor scale | Scales consisting of pitches arranged in a specific pattern of whole and half steps that differs from major scales, creating a different tonal quality. |
| scale degree | The position of a pitch within a scale, identified by name or number relative to the tonic. |
| subdominant | The fourth scale degree and its associated chord (IV or iv), which functions as a predominant harmony leading toward the dominant or tonic. |
| submediant | The sixth scale degree, located one step below the leading tone. |
| subtonic | The seventh scale degree in a minor scale, located one whole step below the tonic. |
| supertonic | The second scale degree, located one step above the tonic. |
| tonic | The first scale degree and the primary harmonic center of a key, providing the sense of resolution and stability. |
| whole step | An interval equal to two half steps, representing the distance between pitches separated by one chromatic pitch. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| bass clef | A musical clef symbol used to notate pitches in the lower register, commonly used for bass voices and lower-pitched instruments. |
| central pitch | The primary pitch around which a musical passage is organized, typically the tonic or first scale degree of a key. |
| chromatic | Pitches that do not belong to a given major or minor scale. |
| circle of fifths | A visual diagram that illustrates the degree of relatedness among keys, with closely related keys appearing in close proximity to each other. |
| diatonic | Pitches that belong to a given major or minor scale. |
| dictation | The process of listening to performed music and notating the pitches and rhythms heard. |
| flat | An accidental that lowers a pitch by one semitone. |
| key signature | A grouping of sharps or flats presented in a specific order at the beginning of a musical staff that indicates which pitches belong to a particular major or minor scale. |
| major key | A key or tonal center based on a major scale, characterized by a specific pattern of whole and half steps. |
| major scale | A diatonic scale consisting of eight pitches with a specific pattern of intervals that serves as the basis for music in a major key. |
| melody | A succession of pitches through time, produced by pitch and rhythm together, that expresses a musical statement. |
| minor key | A key or tonal center based on a minor scale, characterized by a different pattern of whole and half steps than major keys. |
| octave | The interval spanning eight letter names, representing a doubling or halving of frequency. |
| pitch | The highness or lowness of a sound, determined by its frequency. |
| rhythm | The pattern of durations of notes and rests in music. |
| sharp | An accidental that raises a pitch by one semitone. |
| tonic | The first scale degree and the primary harmonic center of a key, providing the sense of resolution and stability. |
| treble clef | A musical clef symbol used to notate pitches in the higher register, commonly used for soprano, alto, and tenor voices and many instruments. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| beat | The primary pulse in music that serves as the foundation for meter and rhythm. |
| beat division | The subdivision of the beat into smaller rhythmic units; in simple meter the beat divides into two parts, and in compound meter into three parts. |
| compound meter | A meter in which the upper number of the time signature is 6, 9, or 12, and each beat divides into three equal parts. |
| measure | A unit of meter containing a specific number of beats, marked by bar lines in musical notation. |
| meter | A layered structure of interrelated pulses that governs rhythm in music, based on beat, beat division, and measure. |
| meter type | The classification of meter as either simple (beat divided into two) or compound (beat divided into three). |
| simple meter | A meter in which the upper number of the time signature is 2, 3, or 4, and each beat divides into two equal parts. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| beat | The primary pulse in music that serves as the foundation for meter and rhythm. |
| common time | A time signature of 4/4, representing simple quadruple meter. |
| compound meter | A meter in which the upper number of the time signature is 6, 9, or 12, and each beat divides into three equal parts. |
| division | The subdivision of the beat into smaller rhythmic units. |
| dotted-quarter beat | In compound meter, a beat equal to three eighth notes, as occurs in meters such as 9/8. |
| downbeat | The first beat of a measure, which is always the strongest beat in a meter. |
| duple meter | A meter with two beats per measure, indicated by an upper number of 2 or 6 in the time signature. |
| lesser strong beat | A beat in a measure that receives more emphasis than weak beats but less emphasis than the downbeat, such as beat three in 4/4 meter. |
| measure | A unit of meter containing a specific number of beats, marked by bar lines in musical notation. |
| meter | A layered structure of interrelated pulses that governs rhythm in music, based on beat, beat division, and measure. |
| meter type | The classification of meter as either simple (beat divided into two) or compound (beat divided into three). |
| metrical accent | The emphasis or stress that occurs on certain beats in a measure due to the regular pattern of strong and weak beats in a meter. |
| offbeat | A division or note that occurs between the main beats of a measure, creating a weaker rhythmic emphasis compared to divisions that fall directly on beats. |
| quadruple meter | A meter with four beats per measure, indicated by an upper number of 4 or 12 in the time signature. |
| rhythmic value | The relative duration of a note or rest, such as whole note, half note, quarter note, or eighth note. |
| simple meter | A meter in which the upper number of the time signature is 2, 3, or 4, and each beat divides into two equal parts. |
| time signature | A notational symbol consisting of two numbers that indicates the meter of a piece, showing how many beats are in a measure and which rhythmic value receives one beat. |
| triple meter | A meter with three beats per measure, indicated by an upper number of 3 or 9 in the time signature. |
| weak beat | A beat in a measure that receives less emphasis than the downbeat or other strong beats. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| beaming | The connection of note stems with beams to group notes and clarify the beat structure of a measure. |
| beat structure | The organization of beats within a measure that determines the meter and rhythmic clarity of music. |
| compound meter | A meter in which the upper number of the time signature is 6, 9, or 12, and each beat divides into three equal parts. |
| dotted rhythm | A distinctive rhythmic pattern consisting of a dotted note followed by a shorter note, creating an uneven rhythmic division. |
| improvisation | The creation and performance of music in real-time without prior written notation, allowed in certain musical styles. |
| notated rhythm | Rhythms that are written down in musical notation on a score. |
| ornamentation | Decorative notes or embellishments added to a melody, allowed in certain musical styles as deviations from the written score. |
| performed rhythm | Rhythms as they are actually played or sung by musicians, which may differ from the written notation. |
| rest | Symbols in musical notation that represent periods of silence with specific durations. |
| rhythmic discrepancies | Differences between the rhythms as written in a musical score and how they are actually performed. |
| rhythmic pattern | A specific arrangement of rhythmic values that fills up a beat or measure in music. |
| rhythmic value | The relative duration of a note or rest, such as whole note, half note, quarter note, or eighth note. |
| sight-sing | To perform a notated melody at first sight without prior rehearsal or familiarity, reading and singing the music as it is presented. |
| simple meter | A meter in which the upper number of the time signature is 2, 3, or 4, and each beat divides into two equal parts. |
| swing rhythm | A musical style in which offbeat notes are performed later than their written notation indicates, creating a syncopated feel. |
| tie | Curved lines connecting two notes of the same pitch, indicating that the duration should be combined into one continuous sound. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| accelerando | A direction to gradually increase the speed of the music. |
| adagio | A slow tempo marking. |
| allegretto | A faster tempo marking, moderately fast. |
| allegro | A fast tempo marking. |
| andante | A moderately slow tempo marking, at a walking pace. |
| andantino | A moderately slow tempo marking, slightly faster than andante. |
| grave | A very slow tempo marking, often with a serious or solemn character. |
| larghetto | A very slow tempo marking, slightly faster than largo. |
| largo | A very slow tempo marking. |
| lento | A slow tempo marking. |
| metronome marking | A notation indicating a specific note value as the beat-note and the number of beats per minute, such as quarter note = 88. |
| moderato | A moderate tempo marking. |
| prestissimo | An extremely fast tempo marking, faster than presto. |
| presto | A very fast tempo marking. |
| ritardando | A direction to gradually slow down the music. |
| ritenuto | A direction to abruptly slow down the music. |
| rubato | A term indicating general freedom with respect to tempo, allowing for expressive flexibility. |
| tempo | The speed at which music is performed, indicated by markings such as moderato or allegro. |
| vivace | A fast tempo marking with a lively character. |