Music Vocabulary and Key Signatures Overview

1st/2nd Ending

Specific sections in a repeat where different endings are played the first and second time through.

A tempo

Return to the original tempo after a change.

Accelerando

Gradually speeding up the tempo.

Accent

Emphasis on a specific note or chord.

Accidental

Symbols (sharp, flat, natural) that alter a pitch outside the key signature.

Adagio

A slow tempo, typically slower than andante.

Allegro

A fast, lively tempo.

Arco

Play with the bow (used for string instruments).

Arranger

Person who adapts music for a specific purpose or ensemble.

Articulations

Directions for how to play notes (e.g., staccato, legato).

Arpeggio

Notes of a chord played in sequence rather than simultaneously.

Balance

Even distribution of sound between different instruments or voices in an ensemble.

Bar line/double bar

Vertical lines on the staff that separate measures; a double bar indicates the end of a section or piece.

Blend

Combining sounds so no single instrument or voice stands out, creating a unified tone.

Caesura

A pause or break in the music; often marked as //.

Coda

A concluding section of a piece of music.

Col legno

"With the wood" - using the wood of a bow to strike the strings (for strings).

Con brio

"With spirit" - play energetically and lively.

Con/senza sordino

"With/without mute" - direction to use or remove a mute (for strings or brass).

Contrast

Differences in dynamics, tempo, or articulation to create variety in music.

Crescendo

Gradually increasing volume.

Da Capo (D.C.)

"From the top" - return to the beginning of the piece.

Dal Segno (D.S.)

"From the sign" - return to a specific sign in the music.

Detache

Separate bow strokes for each note (strings).

Diminuendo

Gradually decreasing volume.

Divisi

Dividing a single part into multiple players or voices.

Dolce

"Sweetly" - play in a gentle and sweet manner.

Dynamics

Indications of volume in music (e.g., piano, forte, crescendo).

Enharmonic

Notes that sound the same but are spelled differently (e.g., C# and Db).

Expression

Communicating emotion through dynamics, phrasing, and articulation.

Fermata

Hold a note or rest longer than its written value.

Fine

Marks the end of a piece or section.

Flat

Lowers a note by a half step (♭ symbol).

Forte/-issimo

"Loud/very loud" - dynamic markings for volume (f and ff).

Grave

A very slow and solemn tempo.

Half step

The smallest interval in Western music (e.g., E to F).

Harmonic minor scale

A minor scale with a raised 7th note.

Harmonic

A note produced by lightly touching the string at specific points (strings).

Hooked bow

Two or more notes played in one bow stroke with a separation (strings).

Interval

The distance between two pitches.

Intonation

Accuracy of pitch in playing or singing.

Key signature

Indicates the sharps or flats used in a piece, defining its key.

Ledger line

Short lines added above or below the staff to extend its range.

Legato

Smooth and connected notes.

Major scale

A scale with the pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H (whole and half steps).

Marcato

Marked and accented notes.

Martele

A bowing technique with strongly accented, detached notes (strings).

Melodic minor scale

A minor scale where the 6th and 7th notes are raised when ascending but natural when descending.

Mezzo forte/piano

"Medium loud/medium soft" - dynamics (mf and mp).

Moderato

A moderate tempo.

Natural

Cancels a sharp or flat (♮ symbol).

Natural minor scale

A minor scale following the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

Piano/-issimo

"Soft/very soft" - dynamic markings for volume (p and pp).

Pick-up/upbeat

Notes that come before the first full measure of music.

Pitch

The perceived frequency of a note (high or low).

Piu mosso

"More movement" - play faster.

Pizzicato

Plucking the strings instead of bowing (strings).

Piu mosso

More movement - play faster.

Presto

A very fast tempo.

Rallentando

Gradually slowing down the tempo.

Repeat

A section of music is played again.

Rhythm

Patterns of sound duration in music.

Ritardando

Gradually slowing down the tempo (similar to rallentando).

Rondo

A musical form with a recurring theme (e.g., ABACA).

Rubato

Flexible tempo; speeding up and slowing down for expressive purposes.

Sharp

Raises a note by a half step (♯ symbol).

Shifting

Moving the hand position on a string instrument to reach different pitches.

Slur

A curved line connecting notes to be played smoothly (legato).

Solo (duet, trio, etc.)

Music for one performer (solo) or small groups (duet = 2, trio = 3, etc.).

Spiccato

A bowing technique where the bow bounces off the strings (strings).

Staccato

Short, detached notes.

Staff

The five lines and four spaces where music is written.

Subito

Suddenly - an immediate change (e.g., subito forte).

Sul ponticello

Play near the bridge for a glassy sound.

Sul tasto

Play over the fingerboard for a soft, muted sound.

Tempo

The speed of the music.

Tie

A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch, played as one sustained note.

Time signature

Indicates the number of beats in a measure and the note value of each beat (e.g., 4/4).

Tone

The quality of sound produced by an instrument or voice.

Tremolo

Rapid repetition of a single note or alternating between two notes (strings).

Tuning

Adjusting the pitch of an instrument to match a reference pitch.

Tutti

All - the entire ensemble plays together.

Vibrato

A slight fluctuation in pitch to create a richer, warmer sound.

Vivace

A lively and fast tempo.

Whole step

Two half steps combined (e.g., C to D).

C major

No sharps or flats.

G major

1 sharp (F#).

D major

2 sharps (F#, C#).

A major

3 sharps (F#, C#, G#).

E major

4 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#).

B major

5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#).

F major

1 flat (Bb).

Eb major

3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab).

Ab major

4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db).

Db major

5 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb).

a minor

No sharps or flats.

e minor

1 sharp (F#).

b minor

2 sharps (F#, C#).

f# minor

3 sharps (F#, C#, G#).

c# minor

4 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#).