AP Music Theory Vocabulary

Register

The general range of pitches in which a note melody or instrument sounds low middle or high

Pitch Class

All notes with the same letter name regardless of octave for example every C on the piano belongs to the same pitch class

Articulation

Symbols and performance directions that show how notes should be played or sung

Arco

A string playing technique meaning to use the bow

Legato

Smooth and connected performance of notes

Marcato

Marked and emphasized playing stronger than a regular accent

Pizzicato

A string playing technique meaning to pluck the strings

Slur

A curved line showing notes should be played smoothly in one phrase

Staccato

Short and detached performance of notes

Tenuto

Hold the note for its full value often with slight emphasis

Sforzando

A sudden strong accent on a note or chord

Wedge

A very short sharp accent also called staccatissimo

Accent

An articulation mark indicating emphasis on a note

Dynamics

Markings that indicate volume in music

Pianississimo (ppp)

Extremely soft

Pianissimo (pp)

Very soft

Piano (p)

Soft

Mezzo piano (mp)

Moderately soft

Mezzo forte (mf)

Moderately loud

Forte (f)

Loud

Fortissimo (ff)

Very loud

Fortississimo (fff)

Extremely loud

Crescendo

Gradually getting louder

Decrescendo or Diminuendo

Gradually getting softer

Tempo

The speed of the beat in music

Grave

Very slow and solemn

Largo

Broad and very slow

Larghetto

Somewhat slow slightly faster than largo

Lento

Slow

Adagio

Slow and expressive

Adagio assai

Very slow

Andante

Walking pace moderate

Andantino

Slightly faster than andante

Moderato

Moderate speed

Allegretto

Moderately fast

Allegro

Fast and lively

Vivace

Fast and spirited

Presto

Very fast

Prestissimo

Extremely fast

Accelerando

Gradually getting faster

Rallentando

Gradually slowing down

Ritardando

Gradually slowing down

Rubato

Flexible tempo expressive stretching or compressing of time

Staff

A set of five horizontal lines and four spaces used to notate pitch

Grand Staff

Two staves joined by a brace usually treble and bass clef

Bar Line

A vertical line dividing measures

Repeat Sign

A symbol indicating a section should be played again

Treble Clef

Clef used for higher pitches centered on G

Bass Clef

Clef used for lower pitches centered on F

Alto Clef

C clef placing middle C on the third line

Tenor Clef

C clef placing middle C on the fourth line

Anacrusis

One or more notes before the first full measure pickup

Syncopation

Rhythmic emphasis on weak beats or offbeats

Hemiola

A rhythmic effect where two groups of three are heard as three groups of two or vice versa

Asymmetrical Meter

A meter with uneven beat groupings such as 5 8 or 7 8

Beat

The basic pulse of music

Beat Type

The note value that receives one beat

Simple Meter

A meter in which each beat divides into two

Compound Meter

A meter in which each beat divides into three

Changing Meter

A meter that shifts during a piece

Meter

The organization of beats into recurring strong and weak patterns

Duple Meter

A meter with two beats per measure

Triple Meter

A meter with three beats per measure

Quadruple Meter

A meter with four beats per measure

Time Signature

A symbol showing meter top number means beats per measure bottom number means beat type

Scale Degree

The position of a note within a scale

Tonic

Scale degree 1 the tonal center

Supertonic

Scale degree 2

Mediant

Scale degree 3

Predominant

Harmonic function that leads to the dominant often ii or IV

Subdominant

Scale degree 4

Dominant

Scale degree 5 creates strong pull to tonic

Submediant

Scale degree 6

Leading Tone

Scale degree 7 one half step below tonic

Subtonic

Scale degree 7 one whole step below tonic

Key Signature

Sharps or flats placed at the beginning of the staff to show key

Accidental

A symbol that temporarily alters pitch

Sharp (#)

Raises a pitch by one half step

Flat (b)

Lowers a pitch by one half step

Natural

Cancels a sharp or flat

Double Flat (bb)

Lowers a pitch by two half steps

Double Sharp (x)

Raises a pitch by two half steps

Interval

The distance between two pitches

Half Step (Semitone)

The smallest distance in Western music one piano key to the next

Whole Step (Whole Tone)

Two half steps

Enharmonic

Different note names that sound the same like F# and Gb

Harmonic Interval

Two notes sounded at the same time

Melodic Interval

Two notes sounded one after another

Perfect Interval

Unison 4th 5th or octave in ideal form

Consonance

A stable restful sound

Dissonance

An unstable tense sound needing resolution

Compound Interval

An interval larger than an octave

Simple Interval

An interval within one octave

Minor

A quality of intervals scales or chords associated with lowered scale degrees and darker sound

Natural Minor

Minor scale with scale degrees 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7

Harmonic Minor

Minor scale with raised 7th 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7

Melodic Minor

Minor scale with raised 6th and 7th ascending natural minor descending

Parallel Keys

Major and minor keys sharing the same tonic C major and C minor

Relative Keys

Major and minor keys sharing the same key signature C major and A minor

Diminished

Lowered by one half step from minor or perfect also a chord quality