 | Term | Definition |
| |
tempo |
rate of speed (fast or slow) |
| |
meter |
groupings of strong and weak pulses into regularly recurring patterns |
| |
rhythm |
arrangement of note and rest values |
| |
enharmonic |
two notes that sound the same but are written differently, e.g. C# and Db |
| |
f (forte) |
loud |
| |
p (piano) |
soft |
| |
mf (mezzo forte) |
moderately loud |
| |
mp (mezzo piano) |
moderately soft |
| |
pp (pianissimo) |
very soft |
| |
ff (fortissimo) |
very loud |
| |
transpose |
play in a different key |
| |
interval |
distance between two notes |
| |
chord |
combination of three or more tones sounded simultaneously |
| |
triad |
three-note chord |
| |
largo |
very slow |
| |
adagio |
slow |
| |
moderato |
moderate |
| |
allegro |
fast |
| |
presto |
very fast |
| |
accelerando |
gradually get faster |
| |
ritardando |
gradually get slower |
| |
fermata |
hold the note longer than its normal value |
| |
accent |
play the note a little louder |
| |
staccato |
play the note short |
| |
D.C. (Da Capo) |
go back to the beginning |
| |
D.S. (Dal Segno) |
go back to the sign |
| |
Fine |
the end |
| |
D.C. al fine |
go back to the beginning and play to the end, indicated by Fine |
| |
D.S. al fine |
go back to the sign and play to the end, indicated by Fine |
| |
crescendo |
gradually get louder |
| |
descrescendo |
gradually get softer |
