Glossary
This Glossary of Musical Terms will continue to expand as time goes on!
A Tempo
This means to return to original tempo.
Accent
To give extra stress to a note
Allegretto
This means moderately fast.
Allegro
This means fast!
Andante
To play at slowly, as if at a walking tempo
Bass Clef
A symbol at the beginning of the staff
that indicate the names and pitches of the notes on that line.
For bassclef, the notes below Middle C.
Sometimes called "F Clef"
because the way that it is drawn.
It crosses the "F" line and has dots
on either side of the "F" line.
From the French, meaning "key.
Binary Form
This is when a piece has two sections
or is written in a two-part from:
Section A and Section B.
Crescend
To grow gradually louder.
Da Capo
To repeat from the beginning of the piece or play from the start.
From Italian, meaning, "From The Head."
Da Capo Al Fine
(D.C. al Fine)
This means to repat from the beginning
and play until "fine"
("fine" will be marked in the music.)
Decrescendo
To play with a decreasing intensity.
from Italian, meaning, "Growing Softer."
Sometimes called "Diminuendo."
Fermata
To hold a note longer than its value
Fine
The End!
Flat
This is a symbol that is placed before a note
(or in the key signature)
used to indicate that that particular note
is to be played 1/2 step lower.
Forte
Loud
Fortissimo
Very LOUD.
Interval
The distance in pitch between two notes.
Key Signature
The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line
indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.
Largo
Very Slowly.
Legatto
To play smoothly.
Mezza Forte
Moderately Loud
Mezza Piano
Moderately Soft.
Minuet
A dance (or, the music for said dance).
A social dance for two people,
usually in 3/4 time.
Of French origin, from the 17th century.
Moderato
Moderately
Natural
A natural symbol will cancel a sharp or a flat
Octave Sign (8va)
When placed over the notes,
this means to play one octave higher.
When placed under the notes,
this means to play one octave lower.
Phrase
A group of notes that form
a musical "sentence"
Piano
Soft
Pianissimo
Very soft.
Ritardando (rit.)
This means to gradually slow down.
Sharp
This is a symbol that is placed before a note
(or in the key signature)
used to indicate that that particular note
is to be played 1/2 step higher.
Slur
A curved line over the notes
that indicate a musical phrase
to be played legatto.
Stacatto
To play the notes in a short and detached fashion,
as if the piano keys were hot!
Stacatto is marked with a dot above the note.
Tempo
The rate of speed that something played.
Tertachord
four notes separated in the following pattern:
Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step.
Two tetrachords
separated by a whole creates a major scale.
The second tetrachord of this scale
becomes the first tetrachord of next scale,
which will lead naturally through the circle of key signatures.
Tie
A tie connects notes of the same name
to create one note
worth the combined value.
Transpose
This means to play a piece
in a different key than written.
Treble Clef
A symbol at the beginning of the staff
that indicate the names and pitches of the notes on that line.
For treble clef, the notes above Middle C.
Sometimes called "G Clef"
because the way that it is drawn
it encircles the "G" line four times.
From the French, meaning "key."
