Music Theory Unit 1

Accidental

A symbol used in music notation to raise or lower the pitch of a note by a half step or whole step. Common accidentals include sharps, flats, and naturals.

What scale has B flat only?

F major

What scale has F sharp only?

G major

Triads

Set of three notes separated by skips

Intervals

Distance between two pitches/notes.

allegro

A musical term indicating a fast tempo, typically played at a lively and brisk pace.

c

symbol for 4/4

lento

A musical term indicating a slow tempo, often performed at a leisurely pace.

ritardando

A musical direction to gradually slow down the tempo of the music.

a tempo

indicates to return to the original tempo after a deviation.

andante

indicates a moderately slow tempo, often described as a walking pace.

dim.

short for diminuendo, meaning to gradually decrease the loudness in music.

Harmonic interval

is the distance between two pitches played simultaneously, measured by the number of scale degrees between them.

Melodic interval

is the distance between two pitches played sequentially, measured by the number of scale degrees between them.

dominant note

is the fifth scale degree of a diatonic scale, which creates tension that typically resolves to the tonic.