Band vocab

Accelerando

Gradually increasing tempo

Accidental

Chromatic alteration of a note

Adagio

Playing at ease

Aeolian mode

Natural minor scale

Allegro

Quick tempo

Andante

Medium walking tempo

Articulation

Emphasis on a note to make it louder

Augmented Interval

Major or perfect interval raised by a half step

Augmented triad

Fifth of a major triad is raised

Bass Clef

Lower clef used in music notation

Chromatic scale

Scale made up of half steps

Chromaticism

Altering notes with accidentals

Clef

Symbol on the left side of the staff indicating pitch

Coda

Ending section of a musical piece

Common time

4/4 time signature

Crescendo

Gradually getting louder

Cut time

2/2 time signature

Da Capo (D.C.)

Return to the beginning

Dal Segno (D.S.)

Return to the sign

Decrescendo

Gradually getting softer

Diminished interval

Perfect interval lowered by a half step

Diminished triad

Fifth lowered by a half step in a minor triad

Dissonance

Clashing or unpleasant sound

Dominant chord

Chord based on the 5th scale degree

Dot (rhythm)

Adds half of its value to a note

Double flat

Lowers a note by a whole step

Double sharp

Raises a note by a whole step

Dynamics

The volume of the music

Fine

The end of a musical piece

Flat sign

Lowers a note by a half step

Forte

Loudly

Grand Staff

Combination of bass and treble clefs

Half step

Smallest interval in Western music

Harmonic interval

Notes played simultaneously

Harmonic minor

Minor scale with a raised 7th degree

Harmonic texture

The way harmony is used in music

Interval

Difference in pitch between two notes

Key signature

Sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece

Largo

Very slow tempo

Major triad

Chord with a major third and perfect fifth

Melodic interval

Notes played successively

Melodic minor

Minor scale with a raised 6th and 7th degree

Mezzo forte

Moderately loud

Mezzo piano

Moderately soft

Minor interval

Major interval lowered by a half step

Minor scale

Natural, harmonic, or melodic forms

Minor triad

Chord with a minor third and perfect fifth

Moderato

Moderate tempo

Natural sign

Cancels a sharp or flat

Natural minor

Minor scale with lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees

Octave

8th degree

Pianissimo

Very soft/ quiet

Piano

Soft quiet

Pitch

Frequency of the sound

Presto

very fast

Rallentando

gradual decrease in tempo

Relative Major

Same key as the minor

Relative minor

same key as the major

Repeat sign

Repeat a section

Ritardando

decrease in tempo

Scale

a group of notes in a sequence

Seventh chord

chord of 1 3 5 7

Sharp sign

raises a note by half a step

Staff

group of 5 lines and 4 spaces

Tempo

Speed of the music

Tetrachord

Group of 4 notes

Tie

connects a note between measures

Time signature

beats per measure

Treble clef

upper clef

Triad

group of 3 notes

Tritone

3 whole notes

Unison

same note 8th

Whole step

two half steps