Piano notes and symbols

Quarter note

Note receiving 1 count

Half note

Note receiving 2 counts

Dotted half note

Note receiving 3 counts

Whole note

Note receiving 4 counts

Piano

Soft

Mezzo Forte

Moderately loud

Forte

Loud

Sharp sign

Raises a note by a half step: distance from any key to the next key

Flat sign

The symbol that indicates lowering a pitch one-half step: play the next key to the left

Natural sign

Cancels a flat or sharp

Half step

Distance from any key on the keyboard to the very next key above or below, whether black or white

Whole step

Interval consisting of two half steps

Treble clef sign

Locates the G above the middle of the keyboard

Bass clef sign

locates the F below the middle of the keyboard

Leger line

Used above or below the staff to extend its range

2/4 Time Signature

2 beats per measure

3/4 Time Signature

3 beats per measure

4/4 Time Signature

4 beats per measure, quarter note gets one beat

C

Common time

Legato

Smoothly connected notes

Staccato

Short and detached

Quarter rest

1 beat of silence

Half rest

2 beats of silence in 4/4 time

Whole rest

4 beats of silence in 4/4 time

What are the landmark notes?

ground g, bass c, bass f, middle c, treble g, treble c, floating f (top f on treble clef)

What are the major triads?

C major, F major, G major