| Term | Definition |
|---|
| a tempo | return to the previous tempo |
| accelerando | becoming quicker |
| accent | stressed note or chord |
| adagio | a slow tempo (between andante and largo) |
| ad libitum | at the liberty of the performer |
| agitato | agitated |
| alla, all' | in the manner of |
| allargando | broadening, becoming slower |
| allegretto | fairly fast (a little slower than allegro) |
| allegro | fast |
| andante | moderately slowly; at a walking pace |
| andantino | a little faster than andante |
| animato | lively, animated |
| arco | for stringed instruments: resume bowing after a pizzicato passage |
| assai | much, very much |
| attacca | proceed without a break |
| ben, bene | well |
| bewegt | agitated, excited |
| blues scale | a major scale in which the 3rd, the 7th, and sometimes the 5th degrees are lowered |
| brillante | brilliant |
| cantabile | in a singing style |
| clusters | chords consisting of a combination of at least three adjacent notes of any scale |
| col, coll', colla, colle | with |
| comodo, commodo | at a comfortable, easy tempo |
| con | with |
| con brio | with viguor or spirit |
| con expressione | with expression |
| con fucco | with fire |
| con grazia | with grace |
| con moto | with movement |
| con pedale, Ped. | with pedal |
| con sordino | with mute |
| crescendo, cresc | becoming louder |
| da capo, D.C. | from the beginning |
| dal segno, D.S. | from the sign |
| decrescendo, decresc. | becoming softer |
| diminuendo | becoming softer |
| dolce | sweet |
| dolente | sad |
| e, ed | and |
| espressivo | expression, with expression |
| fermata | pause; hold note or rest longer than written value |
| fine | the end |
| forte | loud |
| fortepiano | loud, then suddenly soft |
| fortissimo | very loud |
| giocoso | humorous, joyful |
| grandioso | grand, grandiose |
| grave | slow and solemn |
| grazioso | graceful |
Combine with other sets
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