GSMST Band Final 2025

Flashcards for music theory terms and concepts.

Al fine

To the end; indicates the end of a piece or section.

Accelerando

Gradually increasing in tempo.

Accent

Emphasis on a note.

Adagio

Slow tempo.

Allegretto

Moderately fast tempo.

Allegro

Fast tempo.

Andante

Walking pace tempo.

Cantabile

In a singing style.

Contrary Motion

When two musical lines move in opposite directions.

Crescendo

Gradually increasing in volume.

Decrescendo

Gradually decreasing in volume.

Diatonic

Involving only notes proper to the prevailing key without chromatic alteration.

De Capo

From the beginning.

Diminuendo

Gradually decreasing in volume (similar to decrescendo).

Dolce

Sweetly.

Dominant

The fifth scale degree.

Enharmonic

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

Espressivo

Expressively.

Forte

Loud.

Fortissimo

Very loud.

Legato

Smooth and connected.

Marcato

Marked, emphasized.

Mezzo piano

Medium soft.

Mezzo forte

Medium loud.

Moderato

Moderate tempo.

Interval

The distance between two notes.

Phrase

A musical sentence.

Piano

Soft.

Pianissimo

Very soft.

Presto

Very fast tempo.

Rallentando

Gradually slowing down.

Ritardando

Gradually slowing down (similar to rallentando).

Slur

A curved line indicating notes are to be played legato.

Staccato

Short and detached.

Tenuto

Held for its full value.

Tie

A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch, indicating they should be played as one continuous note.

Tonic

The first scale degree.

Vivace

Lively and fast.

Major Scale

Characteristic intervallic structure: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

Minor Scale

Three Types: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic.

Major Chord

A chord with a major third and perfect fifth above the root.

Minor Chord

A chord with a minor third and a perfect fifth above the root.

Key Signature

Set of sharp or flat symbols placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate the key of a musical piece.

Order of Sharps

F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#.

Order of Flats

Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb.