unit 1 music

Staff

Five horizontal lines used to write music.

Bar line

Vertical line that separates measures.

Measure

A group of beats between bar lines.

Clef

A symbol that shows the pitch of notes on the staff.

Treble clef

Clef used for higher pitches.

Bass clef

Clef used for lower pitches.

Grand staff

Treble and bass staves connected together.

Middle C

C near the middle of the piano keyboard.

Ledger lines

Short lines used for notes above or below the staff.

C clef

A clef that shows where middle C is located.

Alto clef

C clef with middle C on the middle line.

Tenor clef

C clef with middle C on the fourth line.

Soprano clef

C clef with middle C on the first line.

Mezzo-soprano clef

C clef with middle C on the second line.

Baritone clef

C clef with middle C on the third line.

Octave

The distance between two notes with the same letter name.

Accidental

A symbol that changes a note's pitch.

Sharp

Raises a note by a half step.

Flat

Lowers a note by a half step.

Natural

Cancels a sharp or flat.

Double sharp

Raises a note by two half steps.

Double flat

Lowers a note by two half steps.

Interval

The distance between two pitches.

Enharmonic equivalent

Different note names that have the same pitch.

Whole note

A note that lasts four beats in common time.

Half note

A note that lasts two beats in common time.

Quarter note

A note that lasts one beat in common time.

Eighth note

A note that lasts half a beat in common time.

Sixteenth note

A note that lasts one-fourth of a beat in common time.

Thirty-second note

A note that lasts one-eighth of a beat in common time.

Sixty-fourth note

A note that lasts one-sixteenth of a beat in common time.

Note value

How long a note lasts.

Duration

The length of time a sound lasts.

Rest

A symbol representing silence.

Tie

Connects notes of the same pitch into one longer sound.

Dot

Adds half of a note's value to its duration.

Triplet

Three notes played in the time of two.

Borrowed division

A beat divided differently from its normal division.

Meter

The organization of beats into regular groups.

Meter signature

Shows the number and type of beats in each measure.

Simple meter

Meter where beats divide into two.

Compound meter

Meter where beats divide into three.

Duple meter

Meter with beats grouped in twos.

Triple meter

Meter with beats grouped in threes.

Quadruple meter

Meter with beats grouped in fours.

Changing meter

Meter that changes during a piece.

Asymmetrical meter

Meter with uneven beat groupings.

Compound beat

A beat that divides into three smaller parts.

Cross rhythm

Conflicting rhythmic groupings played together.

Polyrhythm

Different rhythms played at the same time.

Dotted rhythm

A rhythm using dotted notes.

Hemiola

A shift from two groups of three to three groups of two.

Syncopation

Emphasis on weak beats or offbeats.

Dynamic markings

Symbols that show how loud or soft music should be.

Crescendo

Gradually get louder.

Diminuendo

Gradually get softer.

Pianissimo (pp)

Very soft.

Piano (p)

Soft.

Mezzo-piano (mp)

Moderately soft.

Mezzo-forte (mf)

Moderately loud.

Forte (f)

Loud.

Fortissimo (ff)

Very loud.

Tempo

The speed of the music.

Accelerando

Gradually get faster.

Adagio

Slow.

Allegro

Fast and lively.

Andante

Moderate, walking pace.

Largo

Very slow and broad.

Lento

Slow.

Moderato

Moderate speed.

Presto

Very fast.

Ritardando

Gradually get slower.

Ritenuto

Immediately slow down.

Rubato

Flexible timing for expression.

Vivace

Fast and lively.

Accent

Emphasis placed on a note.

Agogic accent

Emphasis created by making a note longer.

Anacrusis

Notes that come before the first full measure.

Timbre

lets you tell different instruments and voices apart

chromatic

utilizez all 12 notes in an octave even if outside scale