Musical Terms and Definitions

accelerando

(It) gradually get faster

adagio

(It) a slow tempo

accelerando

(It) gradually get faster

adagio

(It) a slow tempo

allegretto

(It) a tempo that means a 'lite' fast

allegro

(It) a fast tempo

andante

(It) a walking tempo

andantino

(It) a fast walking tempo, faster than Andante

animato

(It) animated, lively

articulation

the way a note is to be played other than pitch, duration, and dynamics

symmetrical meter

a combination of two simple meters, consisting of one even and one odd - causes the pulse to feel irregular or asymmetrical (5/4, 5/8, 7/4, 7/8, etc.)

augmented triad

a triad made up of two major 3rds, 4 + 4 half steps

authentic cadence

the chord progression, V to I

norm

a piece that has two sections, 'A' section and 'B' section

rest

a resting point in music

chromatic half step

a half step using the same letter name (Ex. C to C#)

chromatic sign

the group name for sharps, double sharps, flats, double flats & naturals

compound meter

a time signature with 6, 9 or 12 as its top number. The beats are divided into 3 or 6

concerto

a three-movement work for a soloist, accompanied by orchestra

con moto

(It) with motion

consonant

the mixing of sounds that blend together

crescendo

(It) growing louder

Da Capo (D. C.)

(It) 'the head'; go back to the beginning ('the head') of the piece

Da Segno (D. S.)

(It) go back to the 'sign'

decrescendo/diminuendo

(It) growing softer

diminished triad

a triad made up of two minor 3rds, 3 + 3 half steps

dissonant

the mixing of sounds that do not blend together

diminuendo

(It) growing softer

dominant triad

the triad built on scale degree five

flat

a chromatic sign that lowers a tone one whole step

sharp

a chromatic sign that raises a tone one whole step

enharmonic spelling

(comes from Greek) two notes that have the same pitch, but are spelled differently

half step

the closest distance between two notes; from one key to the very next key (on a keyboard)

interval

the distance between two notes

ledger line

a line added above or below the staff to extend the staff

major third

an interval consisting of four half steps, spelled as a skip (C - E)

minor third

an interval of two notes played together, creating harmony

note

the first pitch (degree) of a scale, the same as tonic

key signature

sharps or flats after each clef sign that tells the performer the tonal center

ritardando

(It) a very slow tempo

sostenuto

(It) to play in a smooth and connected manner

accidental

a chromatic sign used in front of a note to alter the note for one measure

al finè

(It) play to the point marked fine (end)

Allegretto

(It) a tempo that means a "little" fast

asymmetrical meter

a combination of two simple meters, consisting of one even and one odd - It causes the pulse to feel irregular or asymmetrical (5/4, 5/8, 7/4, 7/8, etc.)

beat

the pulse of music

binary form

a piece that has two sections, "A" section and "B" section

cadence

a resting point in music

chord

three or more tones sounding together

compound meter

a time signature with 6, 9 or 12 as its top number. The beats are divided into 3 or 6 parts.

Da Capo (D. C.)

(It) "the head"; go back to the beginning ("the head") of the piece

diatonic half step

a half step using a different letter name (Ex. G to A-flat)

dolce

(It) sweetly

dominant

scale degree five, a fifth above tonic

double flat

a chromatic sign that lowers a tone one whole step

double sharp

a chromatic sign that raises a tone one whole step

flat

a chromatic sign that lowers a pitch a half step

fortissimo

(It) very loud

harmonic interval

an interval of two notes played together, creating harmony

keynote

the first pitch (degree) of a scale, the same as tonic

Largo

(It) a very slow tempo

legato

(It) to play in a smooth and connected manner

Lento

(It) a slow tempo

major intervals

1-2, 1-3, 1-6 and 1-7 in a major key

major triad

a triad with a Major 3d (4 half steps) between the root and third of the chord and a minor 3rd (3 half steps) between the third and the fifth of the chord (Major 3d + minor 3rd = 4 + 3)

melodic interval

an interval of two notes played consecutively, creating a melody

meno mosso

(It) less motion

meter

the organization of strong and weak beats

minor third

an interval consisting of three half steps, spelled as a skip

Moderato

(it) a moderate tempo

motive / motif

(It) a repeated rhythmic or melodic idea, usually short and very distinctive

natural

a chromatic sign that cancels a sharp or flat

natural, pure minor scale

a diatonic scale that uses only the tones indicated by the key signature

natural, pure minor scale pattern

a series of eight diatonic tones (different letter names) using the following pattern of whole (W) and half (H) steps WH WW HW W

octave

an interval of two notes with the same letter name, twelve half steps apart

ornament

a note or notes added to 'beat' notes of music used to decorate or embellish the music

pentatonic scale

a scale with only five pitches (Ex. the black keys on the piano); create one by omitting scale degrees four and seven from a major diatonic scale. (Ex: CDE GA)

perfect intervals

1-1, 1-4, 1-5 and 1-8 in a major or minor key

piu mosso

(It) more motion; quicker

poco a poco

(It) little by little

primary chords

triads built on scale degrees 1, 4 and 5 (I, IV & V)

rallentando

(It) slowing the tempo

relative major & minor keys

two keys that share the same key signature

rest

symbol for silence

rhythm

pattern of long and short note values

ritardando (Rit.)

(It) gradually slowing down

Roman Numerals

these are used when analyzing diatonic chords in a scale.

Upper case

Used for major, lower case for minor, a + for augmented and a for diminished.

root note

The note in any chord that gives the chord its name.

root position triad

A triad with its root in the bass.

sempre

(It) always.

sequence

The repetition of a melodic pattern at a different pitch, occurring in the same voice (soprano, alto, etc.), 'in sequence'.

sforzando

(It) a sudden accent, indicated by sfz.

sharp

A chromatic sign that raises a pitch a half step.

simple meter

A time signature with 2, 3 or 4 as its top number; the beats are divided into 2 or 4 parts.

staccato

(It) to play short, detached.

String Quartet

A chamber music group with 1st & 2d violins, violin and cello.

Sonata-Allegro

A musical form with 3 main sections: Exposition, Development & Recapitulation.

subdominant

Scale degree four, a fifth below tonic.

subdominant triad

The triad built on scale degree four.

Suite

A collection or set of pieces that are related to one another in some way.

Symphony

A large-scale musical composition for full orchestra, usually in four movements.