Music Theory Flashcards

Flashcards for music symbols and markings, note values, and dynamics.

Staff

The five horizontal lines on which musical notes are written.

Measure/Bar

A segment of time corresponding to a specific number of beats, indicated by bar lines.

Bar lines

Vertical lines drawn on the staff to divide it into measures.

Pizz.

A musical instruction to pluck the strings of an instrument.

Double Bar Line

A vertical line at the end of a piece of music to show it is finished.

Repeat Signs

Symbols indicating a section of music should be played again.

Sharp Sign

A symbol (#) that raises the pitch of a note by a half step.

Flat Sign

A symbol (b) that lowers the pitch of a note by a half step.

Natural Sign

A symbol () that cancels a previous sharp or flat.

Down Bow

A symbol (V) indicating to draw the bow down across the strings.

Up Bow

A symbol indicating to draw the bow up across the strings.

Key Signature

Symbols at the beginning of a piece indicating which key it is in.

Quarter Note

Note resembling a filled-in oval with a stem, representing one beat in 4/4 time.

Quarter Rest

Symbol indicating silence for the duration of one beat.

Beat

The basic unit of time in music.

Pizzicato

Playing a stringed instrument by plucking the strings with the fingers.

Arco

Playing a stringed instrument with a bow.

Clef

Symbol placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate the pitch of the notes.

Time Signature

Symbol indicating the number of beats per measure (top number) and which note value receives one beat (bottom number).

Beam

Two eighth notes connected by a line.

Half Note

Note resembling an open oval with a stem, representing two beats in 4/4 time.

Half Rest

Symbol indicating silence for the duration of two beats.

Dotted Half Note

A half note with added dot, receives 3 beats.

Whole Note

Note resembling an open oval, representing four beats in 4/4 time.

Whole Rest

Symbol indicating silence for the duration of four beats.

Dynamics

The loudness or softness of music.

Forte

Italian term meaning loud.

Piano

Italian term meaning soft.

Mezzo

Italian term meaning medium.

Crescendo

Gradually getting louder.

Diminuendo

Gradually getting softer.

Staccato

Playing a note in a short, detached manner.

Slur

A curved line connecting two or more notes of different pitches, indicating they are to be played smoothly.

Tie

A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch, indicating they are to be held as one longer note.