Music Theory and Terminology Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential music terminology, tempo markers, dynamic indicators, articulation styles, scale construction patterns, and chord building rules.

Al fine

Used as a direction in music to return to the start of a section and repeat it up to the point fine.

Fine

Indicates when a piece should end; "the end of".

De Capo

From the beginning, repeat ($D.C.$).

A tempo

Original tempo.

Adagio

At a slow tempo ($55-65$).

Andante

Slow and stately, at ease ($66-76$).

Moderato

A tempo of $108-120$.

Allegretto

Moderately fast ($98-109$).

Allegro

Fast, quickly and bright ($109-132$).

Vivace

Very quick, upbeat tempo, or lively ($132-176$).

Presto

Very fast ($168-200$).

Accelerando

Gradual tempo increase.

Rallentando

Gradual slowdown.

Ritardando

Abrupt hold back of tempo.

accent

Momentary emphasis on a particular rhythmic or melodic detail.

Marcato

A type of accent that is staccato.

Tenuto

Manner so as to hold a tone or chord firmly to its full value.

Tie

Playing through the same note without tonguing.

Slur

Playing through different notes without tonguing.

Staccato

Detached or disconnected playing style.

Legato

Technique of playing a fluid, continuous motion of notes.

Cantabile

In a singing manner.

Dolce

Soft and smooth.

Espressivo

In an expressive manner.

Pianissimo

Very soft volume.

Piano

Soft volume.

Mezzo piano

Moderately soft volume.

Mezzo forte

Moderately loud volume.

Forte

Loud volume.

Fortissimo

Very loud volume.

Crescendo

Gradual increase in loudness.

Decrescendo

Gradual decrease in volume.

Diminuendo

Gradually reducing force or loudness.

Contrary Motion

When two voices move in opposite directions to each other by step or leap.

Enharmonic

When two notes sound the same but are written differently.

Interval

A difference in pitch between two sounds.

Phrase

A unit of musical meter that has a complete musical sense of its own, built from figures, motifs, and cells, and combining to form melodies, periods, and larger sections.

Diatonic

Any stepwise arrangement of the seven "natural" pitches forming an octave; consists of $5$ whole steps and $2$ half steps.

Dominant

The fifth tone or degree of a diatonic scale.

Tonic

The first note or degree of any diatonic scale.

Building Scales: Major

$$W - W - H - W - W - W - H$$

Building Scales: Minor (Natural)

$$W - H - W - W - H - W - W$$

Building Scales: Minor (Harmonic)

$$W - H - W - W - H - W - 1.5H

Building Scales: Minor (Melodic)

The $6^{th}$ and $7^{th}$ notes are raised $1$ semitone ascending but not descending.

Building Scales: Minor (Relative)

Uses the same key signature as a relative major scale; found by going down a minor $3^{rd}$ (e.g., $C$ major to $A$ minor).

Building Chords: Major

Consists of the Root, major $3^{rd}$ ($4$ semitones above the root), and the major $5^{th}$ ($7$ semitones above the root).

Building Chords: Minor

Consists of the Root, minor $3^{rd}$ ($3$ semitones above the root), and the major $5^{th}$ ($7$ semitones above the root).

Major (sharp) Order

$FCGDAEB$ (the key is one up of the last sharp).

Major (flat) Order

$B E A D G C F$ (the key is the second to last flat).