Basic Music Terminology (comprehensive) Flashcards
What is the function of a final double bar?

Final Double Bar
A final double bar designates the end of a piece.

What do you call these numbers, and what is their function?
What do these particular numbers indicate?

Time Signature/Meter
The function of the time signature/meter is to indicate the duration of each measure.
This is how you read the numbers in this time signature/meter:
top 2 = 2 beats per measure
bottom 2 = each beat is 1 half note/rest long
→ 2 half note/rest beats per measure

What do you call this rhythmic rest value and how does it relate to the other rhythmic rest values?

Whole Rest
2 half rests long
4 quarter rests long
8 eighth rests long
16 sixteenth rests long

What do you call a horizontal letter “V” with the open end on the left placed above or below a note?
What should you do when you see this marking?

Accent
Play with a stronger tone at the beginning of a note

What do you call the short lines that are added for notes above or below the range of the staff?

Ledger Lines

What does poco rit. short for, and what does it mean in terms of tempo?
poco ritard
Gradually slow down the tempo slightly
What do you call the small notes following the trilled note in the picture?
Rhythmically how should you play it?

Nachschlag
Nachschlags should always be played before the beat of the next written note, so rhythmically you must detract time from the end of the previous written note in order to fit the Nachschlag notes in before the beat of the next written note.
Example (below): A whole note Trill in 4/4 meter, followed by Nachschlag G and A, then Bflat whole note
→ Trill between A and B-flat for the majority of the measure, leave just enough time at the end of the measure to play the Nachschlag G and A before moving to the Bflat on the first beat of the next measure.

What do you call a dash above or below a note?
What should you do when you see this dash?

Tenuto
Play the full duration of a note

What is the abbreviation for “Da Capo al Fine”?
What does “Capo” and “Fine” mean in English?
What do you do when you see a “Da Capo al Fine”?
D.C. al Fine
The abbreviation for “Da Capo al Fine” is “D.C. al Fine”.
“Capo” means “head” (the beginning) and “Fine” means “the end”.
→ Go back to the “head” (the beginning) and play until you see the “Fine” (the end).
“D.S. al Fine”
What does “D.S.” stand for?
What does “S.” and “Fine” mean in English?
What does a “S.” symbol look like?
What should you do when you see a “D.S. al Fine”?
D.S. al Fine
“D.S.” stands for “Dal Segno”.
“Segno” means “sign” and “Fine” means “the end”.
The “Segno” symbol is an “S” with a diagonal slash through it with dots on each side (see the picture below).
→ Play until you see the “sign”, go back to the location of the “sign” earlier in the piece, and play until you see the “Fine” (the end).

Describle the relationship of an eighth note rhythm to the other rhythmic note values.

Eighth Note
An eighth note is…
⅛ the length of a whole note
¼ the length of a half note
½ the length of a quarter note
2 sixteenth notes long

What do you call these symbols when they are used in contradiction to the key signature of a piece?

Accidentals

What does piu mosso mean in English?
piu mosso
More motion (Faster tempo)
What does leggiero mean in English?
leggiero
Lightly
Describle the relationship of a quarter rest rhythm to the other rhythmic rest values.

Quarter Rest
A quarter rest is…
¼ the length of a whole rest
½ the length of a half rest
2 eighth rests long
4 sixteenth rests long

What does this dynamic marking stand for?
What should you do when you see this dynamic marking?

Mezzo Forte
play with a moderately loud volume (one level louder than mezzo piano, one level softer than forte)

What does sostenuto mean in English?
sostenuto
Sustained
What tempo does Moderato indicate?
Moderato
Moderate tempo
What does con grazia mean in English?
con grazia
With Grace
What does the Up-Bow symbol look like?
What should you do when you see it?
Up-Bow
The Up-Bow symbol looks like a capital “V”.
Move the bow toward the frog

What do you call a dash combined with a dote above or below a note?
What should you do when you see this dash combined with a dot?
Detaché
Play only slightly shorter than full length of a note
What do you call these numbers, and what is their function?
What do these particular numbers indicate?

Time Signature/Meter
The function of the time signature/meter is to indicate the duration of each measure.
This is how you read the numbers in this time signature/meter:
top 4 = 4 beats per measure
bottom 4 = each beat is 1 quarter note/rest long
→ 4 quarter note/rest beats per measure

What is the function of a double bar?

Double Bar
A double bar line designates the end of a section of a piece.

What does allargando mean?
allargando
More stately, Slow down the tempo
















































































































































