8 - Advanced - Music Notation and Symbols Flashcards
The objective of "Music Notation and Symbols" is to help you learn the universal language of music faster! The language of music theory is used to indicate how a composer intends for a composition to be played. Understanding the musical signs for notation, dynamics, tempo, rhythm, etc. in written music enables us to communicate and perform music more expressively. UltimateMusicTheory.com
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Staff or stave - A staff consists of five lines and four spaces.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Ledger lines - Ledger lines are short lines used above or below the staff to extend the range of the staff.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Bar line - A bar line (single thin line) is used to divide the music into equal measures of time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Double bar line - A double bar line (two thin bar lines together)
indicates the end of a section of music.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Thick double bar line (also called a Double Bar Line or a Final Bar Line) - A thick double bar line (a thin bar line and a thick bar line together) indicates the end of the piece of music.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Dotted bar line - A dotted bar line subdivides long measures
into shorter segments for ease of reading.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Brace or Bracket - A brace or bracket (and a bar line) connect the Treble Clef and the Bass Clef to form the Grand Staff.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Treble Clef - The Treble Clef (G Clef) symbol is written on the staff. The curls (wrapping around line 2) indicate the pitch G above Middle C.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Alto Clef - The Alto Clef (C Clef) symbol is written on the staff. The arrow pointing to the third line indicates the pitch Middle C.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Bass Clef - The Bass Clef (F Clef) symbol is written on the staff. The dots (one above and one below line 4) indicate the pitch F below Middle C.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Neutral Clef - The Neutral Clef is used for pitchless instruments, such as percussion.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Breve note or double whole note - A breve note (or double whole note) receives four beats (four half notes) in 4/2 time. One breve note equals two whole notes (semibreve).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Whole note or semibreve - A whole note (or semibreve) receives four beats (four quarter notes) in 4/4 time. One whole note equals two half notes (minim).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Half note or minim - A half note (or minim) receives two beats in 4/4 time. One half note equals two quarter notes (crochet).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Quarter note or crotchet - A quarter note (or crotchet) receives one beat in 4/4 time. One quarter note equals two eighth notes (quaver).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Eighth note or quaver - An eighth note (or quaver) receives a half of one beat in 4/4 time. One eighth note equals two sixteenth notes (semiquaver).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Sixteenth note or semiquaver - A sixteenth note (or semiquaver) receives a quarter of one beat in 4/4 time. One sixteenth note equals two thirty-second notes (demisemiquaver).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Thirty-second note or demisemiquaver - A thirty-second note (or demisemiquaver) receives an eighth of one beat in 4/4 time. One thirty-second note equals two sixty-fourth notes (hemidemisemiquaver).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Sixty-fourth note or hemidemisemiquaver - A sixty-fourth note (or hemidemisemiquaver) receives a sixteenth of one beat in 4/4 time. One sixty-fourth note equals two hundred twenty-eighth notes (semihemidemisemiquaver).
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Two beamed eighth notes - Two beamed eighth notes receive one beat in 4/4 time. Beams connect eighth notes for correct rhythm notation.
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
five lines and four spaces.
staff or stave
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
short lines used above or below the staff to extend the range of the staff.
ledger lines
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a (single thin line) used to divide the music into equal measures of time.
bar line
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
the (two thin bar lines together) that indicate the end of a section of music.
double bar line
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
(a thin bar line and a thick bar line together) that indicate the end of the piece of music.
thick double bar line or double bar line or final bar line
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
that it subdivides long measures into shorter segments for ease of reading.
dotted bar line
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
that it connects the Treble Clef and the Bass Clef to form the Grand Staff.
brace or bracket
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
the clef on the staff to pitch G above Middle C.
Treble Clef (G Clef)
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
the clef on the staff to pitch the third line indicating Middle C.
Alto Clef (C Clef)
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
the clef on the staff to pitch F below Middle C.
Bass Clef (F Clef)
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
the clef on the staff used for pitchless instruments, such as percussion.
Neutral Clef
Name one note that receives:
four beats in 4/2 time.
breve note or double whole note
Name one note that receives:
four beats in 4/4 time.
whole note or semibreve
Name one note that receives:
two beats in 4/4 time.
half note or minim
Name one note that receives:
one beat in 4/4 time.
quarter note or crotchet
Name one note that receives:
a half of one beat in 4/4 time.
eighth note or quaver
Name one note that receives:
a quarter of one beat in 4/4 time.
sixteenth note or semiquaver
Name one note that receives:
an eighth of one beat in 4/4 time.
thirty-second note or demisemiquaver
Name one note that receives:
a sixteenth of one beat in 4/4 time.
sixty-fourth note or hemidemisemiquaver
Name two notes beamed together that receive:
one beat in 4/4 time.
two beamed eighth notes
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Dotted quarter note - A dotted quarter note receives one and a half beats in 4/4 time - One beat for the quarter note, plus a half of a beat for the dot. (A dot placed after a note adds “half the value” of the note.)
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Multi-measure rest - A multi-measure rest indicates the number of measures in a resting part without a change in meter. A multi-measure rest is used to conserve space and used for easier reading.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Breve rest or double whole rest - A breve rest (same value as a breve note) receives four beats in 4/2 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Whole rest - A whole rest fills a whole measure in any Time Signature. Two exceptions to the rule: In 3/2 time, a whole rest receives 2 beats, when a half note value is on beat 3; In 4/2 time, a whole rest receives 2 beats.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Half rest - A half rest (same value as a half note) receives two beats in 4/4 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Quarter rest - A quarter rest (same value as a quarter note) receives one beat in 4/4 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Eighth rest - An eighth rest (same value as an eighth note) receives a half of one beat in 4/4 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Sixteenth rest - A sixteenth rest (same value as a sixteenth note) receives a quarter of one beat in 4/4 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Thirty-second rest - A thirty-second rest (same value as a thirty-second note) receives an eighth of one beat in 4/4 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Sixty-fourth rest - A sixty-fourth rest (same value as a sixty-fourth note) receives a sixteenth of one beat in 4/4 time.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Flat - A flat lowers the pitch of a note by one chromatic semitone or half step.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Sharp - A sharp raises the pitch of a note by one chromatic semitone or half step.
Natural
Natural - A natural sign cancels an accidental (sharp, flat, double sharp or double flat) or a Key Signature of that specific note within a measure.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Double flat - A double flat lowers the pitch of a note by one chromatic whole tone or whole step.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
Double sharp - A double sharp raises the pitch of a note by one chromatic whole tone or whole step.
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
piano - soft
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
pianissimo - very soft
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
pianississimo - very very soft
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
mezzo piano - moderately soft
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
forte - loud
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a note that receives one and a half beats in 4/4 time.
dotted quarter note
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that indicates the number of measures in a resting part without a change in meter.
multi-measure rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives four beats in 4/2 time.
breve rest - double whole rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that fills a whole measure in any Time Signature.
whole rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives two beats in 4/4 time.
half rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives one beat in 4/4 time.
quarter rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives a half of one beat in 4/4 time.
eighth rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives a quarter of one beat in 4/4 time.
sixteenth rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives an eighth of one beat in 4/4 time.
thirty-second rest
Name the musical sign or symbol indicating:
a rest that receives a sixteenth of one beat in 4/4 time.
sixty-fourth rest
Name the musical term indicating:
to lower the pitch of a note by one chromatic semitone or half step.
flat
Name the musical term indicating:
to raise the pitch of a note by one chromatic semitone or half step.
sharp
Name the musical term indicating:
to cancel an accidental (sharp, flat, double sharp or double flat) or a Key Signature of that specific note within a measure.
natural sign
Name the musical term indicating:
to lower the pitch of a note by one chromatic whole tone or whole step.
double flat
Name the musical term indicating:
to raise the pitch of a note by one chromatic whole tone or whole step.
double sharp
Name the musical term indicating:
to play the music soft.
piano
Name the musical term indicating:
to play the music very soft.
pianissimo
Name the musical term indicating:
to play the music very very soft.
pianississimo
Name the musical term indicating:
to play the music moderately soft.
mezzo piano
Name the musical term indicating:
to play the music loud.
forte
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
mezzo forte - moderately loud
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
fortississimo - very very loud
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
sforzando - a sudden strong accent of a single note or chord
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
crescendo - becoming louder
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
diminuendo or decrescendo - becoming softer
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
fortepiano - loud, then suddenly soft
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
staccato - detached, separated
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
staccatissimo - very detached
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
tenuto - held, sustained (hold for the full value)
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
marcato - marked or stressed
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
pizzicato (left hand pizzicato or stopped note) - for stringed instruments: pluck the string instead of bowing;
for guitar: press the strings at one of the frets
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
snap pizzicato - for stringed instruments: a note played by stretching the string away from the frame of the instrument causing it to “snap” against the frame
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
flageolet - for stringed instruments: the circle above the note indicates an open note or a natural harmonic
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
fermata - a pause; hold the note or rest longer than its written value
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
up bow (sull’arco) - for stringed instruments: an up bow mark indicates that the note be played drawing the bow upward (up stroke)
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
down bow (giù arco) - for stringed instruments: a down bow mark indicates that the note be played drawing the bow downward (down stroke)
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
trill - rapid alternation between the principal note and the one directly above it (according to the Key Signature) within its duration
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
mordent - rapidly play the principal note, the next higher note (according to the Key Signature) then return to the principal note for the remaining duration
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
inverted mordent - rapidly play the principal note, the next lower note (semitone or half step) below it, then return to the principal note for the remaining duration
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
turn (gruppetto) - indicates a sequence of upper auxiliary note, principal note, lower auxiliary note and a return to the principal note
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
appoggiatura (grace note) - the first half of the principal note’s duration has the pitch of the grace note (the first two-thirds if the principal note is a dotted note)
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
acciaccatura - an ornament note, written with a stroke through its flag, that is played on the beat at the same time as the principal note and then quickly released
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
da capo - from the beginning
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
segno (dal segno) - indicates the beginning of the repetition of the music from the sign
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
D.S. (dal segno) - repeat from the sign
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
coda - indicates a forward jump in the music to its ending passage (marked with the same sign), and is used after a D.C. or D.S. to indicate an end
Name and explain the musical sign or symbol.
marcatissimo (strong marcato) - indicates a louder dynamic accent or very strong accentuation
Name the musical term indicating:
to play moderately loud.
mezzo forte
Name the term indicating:
to play very very loud.
fortississimo
Name the musical term indicating:
to play a sudden strong accent of a single note or chord.
sforzando
Name the musical term indicating:
to play becoming louder.
crescendo
Name the musical term indicating:
to play becoming softer.
diminuendo or decrescendo
Name the musical term indicating:
to play loud, then suddenly soft.
fortepiano
Name the musical term indicating:
to play detached, separated.
staccato
Name the musical term indicating:
to play very detached.
staccatissimo
Name the musical term indicating:
to play the note held, sustained (hold for the full value).
tenuto
Name the musical term indicating:
to play marked or stressed.
marcato
Name the musical term indicating:
for stringed instruments, to pluck the string instead of bowing;
for guitar, to press the strings at one of the frets.
pizzicato (left hand pizzicato or stopped note)
Name the musical term indicating:
for stringed instruments, that a note is played by stretching the string away from the frame of the instrument causing it to “snap” against the frame.
snap pizzicato
Name the musical term indicating:
for stringed instruments, the circle above the note that indicates an open note or a natural harmonic.
flageolet
Name the musical term indicating:
a pause; to hold the note or rest longer than its written value.
fermata
Name the musical term indicating:
for stringed instruments, the mark that indicates the note be played drawing the bow upward (up stroke).
up bow (sull’arco)
Name the musical term indicating:
for stringed instruments, the mark that indicates the note be played drawing the bow downward (down stroke).
down bow (giù arco)
Name the musical term indicating:
a rapid alternation between the principal note and the one directly above it (according to the Key Signature) within its duration.
trill
Name the musical term indicating:
to rapidly play the principal note, the next higher note (according to the Key Signature) then return to the principal note for the remaining duration.
mordent
Name the musical term indicating:
to rapidly play the principal note, the next lower note (semitone or half step) below it, then return to the principal note for the remaining duration.
inverted mordent
Name the musical term indicating:
to play a sequence of the upper auxiliary note, principal note, lower auxiliary note and a return to the principal note.
turn (gruppetto)
Name the musical term indicating:
a small eighth note slurred to another note, is played with the first half of the principal note’s duration (the first two-thirds if the principal note is a dotted note).
appoggiatura (grace note)
Name the musical term indicating:
an ornament note, written with a stroke through its flag, that is played on the beat at the same time as the principal note and then quickly released.
acciaccatura
Name the musical term indicating:
to play from the beginning.
D.C. (da capo)
Name the musical term indicating:
where to begin the repetition of the music.
segno
Name the musical term indicating:
repeat from the sign.
dal segno
Name the musical term indicating:
a forward jump in the music to its ending passage (marked with the same sign), and is used after a D.C. or D.S. to indicate an end.
coda
Name the musical term indicating:
a louder dynamic accent or very strong accentuation.
marcatissimo (strong marcato)
