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. Learn more with the Advanced Workbook - 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 - 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 - A brace (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 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 recieves 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 recieves 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 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 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 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 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 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
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
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 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 a 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.