| Term | Definition |
|---|
| head voice | the higher register of the singing voice |
| interval | the relationship between two pitches, the distances between an upper and lower pitch |
| key | the pitch relationships that establish a tonal center |
| key signature | sharps or flats at the beginning of each staff to indicate which pitches are to be raised or lowered from their natural state during the piece |
| largo | very slow, broad |
| leading tone | the seventh degree of the diatonic scale, when it is only a half step below the tonic, gives the feeling of wanting to move up a half step to the tonic |
| leap | melodic motion from one pitch to another that is more than a whole tone away |
| ledger lines | lines written above or below the staff representing a continuation of the staff used to indicate pitches above or below the staff |
| legato | smooth with no separation between the notes |
| leggiero | light, soft |
| lunga | long pause that is determined by the performer |
| major scale | a diatonic scale where the half steps fall between the third and fourth, and the seventh and octave |
| marcato | marked, stressed |
| motif | a short musical idea or melodic theme, usually shorter than a musical phrase |
| natural | a note that is not affected by either a sharp or flat, a natural sign cancels a previous sharp or flat |
| notation | any means of writing down music, usually indicating pitch, duration, timbre, and loudness |
| octave | an interval eight diatonic scale degrees above it. two notes an octave apart have the same letter name and form the most consonant interval possible |
| phrase | a single musical idea or element which is often defined by a repeated rhythmic pattern or a melodic contour |
| pianissimo | very soft |
| piano | soft |
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