General Piano Terms Flashcards
1
Q
What is a Triad?
A
A Triad is a three note chord. A Triad is a chord composed of three notes.
2
Q
What are the three notes of a triad and their names?
A
The 1, 3, and 5 keys. #1 key -the root note, #3 - the third note, #5 - the fifth note.
3
Q
How would you play a triad for the C major chord in the right hand?
A
In the C major chord we play the 1st step(C), 3rd step(E), and the 5th step(G) of the C major scale.
4
Q
How would you play a triad for the C major chord in the left hand?
A
For left hand chords use the same 1, 3, and 5 fingering, but backwards. C-#5, E-#3, G-#1.
5
Q
What is an ‘Augmented Chord’?
A
Where you take the 5th note of a major chord and raise it a 1/2 step.
6
Q
What is a ‘Diminished Chord’?
A
Where you take the 5th note of a minor chord and lower it a 1/2 step.
7
Q
How is an Augmented Chord written on sheet music? Use the notes C and D as an example.
A
The C augmented chord is written as C-aug. The D augmented chord is written as D-aug.
8
Q
How is a Diminished chord written on sheet music? Use the notes C and D as an example.
A
C diminished chord: C- dim.
D diminished chord: D-dim.
9
Q
What is an Octave?
A
Any eight notes.
10
Q
What does Transposing, aka Transposition mean?
A
Changing a piece of music to a higher or lower key in order to suit the voice. In transposing the song will be the same, but is played at a higher or lower pitch.
11
Q
What does Moderato mean?
A
To play the music at a moderate speed(not too fast, walking speed).
12
Q
What does Dim Poco A Poco mean?
A
To play the music gradually softer.
13
Q
What do Crescendo and Diminuendo mean, and what are their symbols and abbreviations?
A
Crescendo/cres-play the music gradually louder()
14
Q
What does D.S al Coda mean?
A
It means to go back to the sign(an S with a line through it), and then play until I see the ‘Coda’ sign, then jump to the Coda sign near the end of the song.
15
Q
What does Legato mean? What does Andante mean?
A
Legato - play music in a smooth and connected manner.
Andante - play music slowly.
16
Q
What does Forte mean, and what is it’s symbol?
What does piano mean, and what is it’s symbol?
A
Forte - play music loudly(F).
Piano - play music softly(P).
17
Q
What does a dot placed above or below a note mean?
A
It means that note is played in a short, sharp manner. This style of playing is called Staccato. Playing music in Staccato is like touching a hot iron.
18
Q
What is a bar line?
What is a double bar line?
A
A bar line is a vertical line on sheet music.
A double bar line means the end of a song on sheet music.
19
Q
How many sharps and flats are there in the key of C major.
A
None. The key of C major has no sharps or flats.
20
Q
What is an interval?
What is the interval of the notes C to E?
A
An Interval is the distance between two or more notes on the keyboard.
The interval of the notes C to E is the interval of 3.
21
Q
What is a repeat sign, and what does it look like?
A
A repeat sign are two dots in front of the double bar line. These two dots mean to go back to the beginning of the song and play once again.
22
Q
What does ‘Ritardando’ mean, and what are it’s two abbreviations?
What does ‘Dim E Ritard’ mean.
A
Ritardando - play music gradually slower. Rit. and Ritard are it’s two abbreviations.
Dim E Retard - play music gradually slower and softer.
23
Q
What does Mezzo Forte mean, what is it’s symbol?
A
Mezzo Forte(MF) - play the music moderately loud.
24
Q
What does the Fermata sign look like, and what does it mean?
How is it pronounced?
A
The fermata sign is a curved line with a dot underneath it.
It means to hold the note underneath it longer than it’s actual value. The fermata sign is also called the ‘fisheye’.
Fer-mah-tah.
25
What does 'Allegro' mean? What does 'Allegretto' mean?
It means to play the music fast and lively.
| Allegretto means to play the music lively, or fairly rapid.
26
What does 'Mezzo Piano' mean, and what is its symbol?
| What does 'Pianissimo' mean, and what is it's symbol?
```
Mezzo Piano(MP) - Play music moderately softly.
Pianissimo(PP) - Play music very softly.
```
27
What does 'Legato' mean?
Play music in a smooth and connected manner, with no break in the sound. It means to play the notes as smoothly as I can.
28
What is a slur, and how should it be played?
A slur is a curved line under or over a group of notes. When I see a slur play the notes legato style.
29
What does the damper pedal sign, also known as the 'Pedal Mark' look like, and how do you play it?
It means to use the damper pedal during certain sections of the song. I___________________________I
Pedal Hold Pedal
Down pedal down Up
30
What is the 'Triad Vocabulary' using the notes C to B?
CEG GBD
DFA ACE
EGB BDF
FAC
31
What is meant by the root note of a chord?
| What is the root note of the C, F, and G major chords?
The root note of the chord is the note that the chord is named after.
C, F, and G.
32
What are chord symbols?
| What is the chord symbol for the C major chord and the G7th chord?
Chord symbols are used in popular music to identify chord names.
Symbol for the C major chord - C.
Symbol for the G7th chord - G7.
33
What are 'Tied Notes'?
When notes that are on the same line or space are joined with a curved line, we call them tied notes
34
What does 'Fortissimo' mean, and what is it's symbol?
What does 'Andante' mean?
Fortissimo(FF): Play music very loud.
Andante: Play music slowly, slower than in Moderato.
35
What does 'Piano' mean, and what is it's symbol?
Piano(P): Play music softly.
36
What is a 'Tempo Mark', and where is it located on the sheet music?
A tempo mark lets you know the tempo, or speed that the song is to be played.
The tempo mark is found directly above the time signature on the sheet music.
37
When two notes the of same pitch are joined by a tie, what should I keep in mind?
Play the first note only and hold for a combined value of both.
38
Cm, Gm, Fm; what does the lower case letter m mean?
The lower case m means that the chord or scale is to be minored. The lower case m indicates a minor key.
39
What does the term 'Accelerando' mean?
| What does the term 'A Tempo' mean?
Accelerando: Play the music gradually faster and faster.
| A Tempo:Go back to playing the music at the original tempo(speed).
40
What does a quarter rest mean, and what does it look like?
A quarter rest means pause for a value of 1 beat.
| { - A quarter rest looks like a squiggly line.
41
Where is the damper pedal, and how should I use my foot on the pedal?
The damper pedal is on the far right side. When using the pedal always keep my heel on the floor and use my ankle like a hinge.
42
Two or more eighth notes are connected by a ___?
| What is the proper rhythm, or way to play eighth notes?
A beam.
| Play the eighth notes in a gently flowing, steady even rhythm.
43
What is a 'Blocked Chord'?
What is a 'Broken Chord'?
Block Chord:When all the notes of the chord are played together, when their all played together at the same time.
Broken Chord:When all the notes of the chord are played separately.
44
You have a major scale, aka major key, and you want to know what the minor scale, or minor key is of that major scale. How do you find out what that is?
By counting three half steps down from that major key/major scale. For example, three half steps down from C is A. So the minor key, or minor scale of the C major scale is A minor.
45
What does an octave sign look like, and what does it mean?
How many notes are in an 'Octave'?
8VA-this is an octave sign. When 8VA is written below the staff, it means to play the notes 1 octave, or 8 notes lower than written. When 8VA is written above the staff, play the notes 1 octave, or 8 notes higher than written.
There are eight notes in an octave. This interval, or distance of eight notes is called an octave.
46
What does 'Fine' mean?
What does 'D.C. al Fine' mean?(Da Capo al Fine)
Fine: the end.
D.C. al Fine: go back to the beginning of the song and play it to the Fine sign. D.C. is Italian for Da Capo- which means the top, or the head.
47
What does 'Ritardando' mean?
Play the music gradually slower.
48
Even numbered intervals move from __ to __ on the staff?
Odd numbered intervals move from __ to __on the staff?
Even numbered intervals: a line to a space, or a space to a line.
Odd numbered intervals: a line to a line, or a space to a space.
49
The interval of a sixth covers__keys or letter names on the staff? The interval of a fifth covers__keys or letter names? The interval of a fourth covers__keys or letter names?
On the staff, a sixth goes from....?
Six.
Five.
Four.
A line to a space, or a space to a line.
50
If a song is based on the C major scale, then what key is it in?
Songs based on the C major scale are written in the key of C major.
51
In the key of C major, the first note C is called__?
" " " " " " " fifth note G is called__?
" " " " " " " 7th note B is called__?
The root, or tonic note.
The dominant note.
The leading note.
52
What is a half rest, and what does it look like?
What is a whole rest, and what does it look like?
A half rest is equal to two beats, and is a square pointing upwards.
A whole rest is equal to 4 beats, or any whole measure. It's a square pointing downward.
53
Can a whole rest be equal to 3 beats, or 4 beats as well?
Yes. If the time signature is in 4/4 time, the whole rest is equal to 4 beats. If the time signature is in 3/4 time, the whole rest is equal to 3 beats.
54
What does the time signature 2/4 mean?
The #2 means that there are 2 beats in each measure. The #4 means that the quarter note gets one beat.
55
What is an 'Accidental'?
Any sharp or flat that is not in the key signature. Think of accidentals as rogue sharps or flats.
56
What are the three types of minor scales?
1. The natural minor scale.
2. The harmonic minor scale.
3. The melodic minor scale.
57
What is a flat sign?
What should I also keep in mind about the flat sign?
A flat sign before a note means to play the key to the immediate left, regardless of whether it's a black or white key. It means to play the key that is a half step lower.
When a flat appears before a note, it applies to that note for the rest of the measure.
58
What is a 'Half Step'?
What is a 'Whole Step'?
Half Step: The distance from any key to the very next key, whether it's a black or white key. Half steps have no keys between them.
Whole Steps: a whole step is equal to two half steps. Whole steps have one key between them, whether it's a white or black key.
59
What is the difference between a triad and a chord?
A triad is always only three notes. A chord can consist of three or more notes.
60
What does the term 'Key signature' mean?
Songs that you play are based on certain scales. If there are sharps or flats in that scale, they will be marked at the beginning of the song on the sheet music. These markings at the beginning of the song are called the 'Key Signature'.
61
If a song that I'm playing is written in the key of C, what will the key signature tell me?
There will be no sharps or flats listed in the key signature because their are no sharps or flats in the key of C.
62
What is a sharp, and how is it written on the sheet music?
A sharp means to play the key that is a half step higher. The sharp symbol looks like the pound sign(#).
63
What's up with a sharp or flat that's in front of a note, but only for that one measure when theres no sharps or flats in the rest of the song.
The note is sharpened or flattened only for that one measure, but not for any other measures. In any other measure of the song the sharp or flat would have to be written again.
64
What are 'Dynamic Symbols'?
What are some dynamic symbols?
They are symbols that tell you to play the song fast or slow, as well as softly or loudly.
P, MP, MF, crescendo, diminuendo, etc.
65
What is a 'Natural' sign, what does it mean?
A natural placed before a note cancels sharps or flats
66
In the C chord(C, E, G)what is the note C known as?
The C chord is also known as the __ chord?
The root, or tonic note.
The C chord is also known as the 1 chord.
67
What does 'Tonic note' mean?
What does 'Dominant note' mean?
The first note of the scale or chord. The first note to be played.
The fifth note of the scale or chord. The fifth note to be played
68
What is a relative minor scale?
How do you find out the relative minor of a major scale?
What is the relative minor of the C major scale?
A minor scale that shares the same key signature as it's corresponding major scale.
By going up to the 6th note of the major scale, or going 3 half steps down from the root, or tonic note.
The relative minor of the C major scale is A minor.
69
What does a 'Double Barline' look like on the sheet music, where is it found, and what does it mean?
The double bar line is found at the end of the song on the sheet music. It has two lines close together, one thin and one thick line. It means that the song is over, that the piece has ended.
70
What do two dots placed in front of the double bar line mean?
To go back to the beginning of the song and repeat.
71
What does the term 'Chord Inversion' mean?
To stack the notes of a chord in a different order. It's the same chord notes, just played in a different order.
72
If the time signature is in 3/8th time, how many beats are in each measure?
What note gets the count of one?
Three beats.
The eight note.
73
What is meant by the term 'A Roll'? What does it look like and what does it mean?
A roll is a wavy vertical line before a chord. It means that you should play the notes quickly one after the other, rather than at the same time.
Rolled chords are usually played starting from the lowest to the highest note, unless I see a downward pointing arrow, which means play the notes starting from the highest note to the lowest note.
74
What does 'Leading Tone' mean?
What note is the leading tone of the F major scale?
The note that's a half step below the root, or tonic note of the scale, the 7th note of the scale.
The note E is the leading tone.
75
When you play two or more notes together at the same time, it's called an ___ interval.
When you play two or more notes separately, it's called an ___ interval.
An Harmonic interval.
A Melodic interval.
76
What does an eighth note look like?
How many beams do eighth notes get? How about the 16th and 32nd notes, how many beams do they get?
It looks just like a quarter note, but with a flag at the end of the stem.
Eighth notes - 1 beam.
16th notes - 2 beams.
32nd notes - 3 beams.
77
What does 'Parallel Motion' mean?
What does 'Contrary Motion' mean?
Parallel Motion: Notes played in both the right and left hand that are moving in the same direction.
Contrary Motion: Notes played in both the right and left hand that are moving in opposite directions.
78
What does 'Accidental' mean?
Accidentals are sharps, flats and naturals that are not in the songs key signature, but are added to certain measures in the song.
79
What does 'Pianissimo' mean, and what is it's symbol?
It means to play the music very softly, softer than the dynamic sign P(Piano). The symbol for pianissimo is
PP.
80
What are the tonic, dominant, and leading tone notes in the key of G and F major.
In the key of G major: G is the root, or tonic note.
D is the dominant note.
F# is the leading tone.
In the key of F major: F is the root, or tonic note.
C is the dominant note.
E is the leading tone.
81
What does the letter C mean when you see it at the beginning of the song, at the spot where the time signature is?
The letter C stands for 'Common Time'. Common time is the same as 4/4 time.
82
What does the letter C(with a line down the middle of the C)mean?
What does "Alla Breve' mean?
This stands for 'Cut Time', or 2/2 time. Cut time is played with 2 beats per measure.
This is Italian for Cut Time.
83
In 'Cut Time', how much time is given to a half note, quarter note, and eighth note?
A half note gets 1 beat.
A quarter note gets a 1/2 beat.
An eighth note gets a 1/4 beat.
84
What does a tenuto, or stress mark look like, and what does it mean?
A tenuto, aka stress mark, is a straight line written underneath a note. This means to hold the note for it's full time value.
85
In 6/8 time, how many beats are there in each measure?
| How many beats do eighth notes and eighth rests get?
6 beats.
| They both get 1 beat.
86
What does D.C. al Coda mean?
What does a Coda look like, and what does it mean?
Return to the beginning of the song and then play until I see the Coda symbol. Once I see the Coda symbol, jump to the Coda symbol near the end of the song.
A coda is a circle with two lines in the shape of a cross written through it. Coda means 'The End', or the ending of the song.
87
What does a 'Triplet' look like?
What is the time value of a Triplet?
A Triplet is 3 eighth notes that are all connected to each other by a beam, with the number 3 written above it.
A triplet is equal to 1 quarter note.
88
What's the proper fingering for a 'Chromatic' scale'?
When is a 'Chromatic' scale used in a song?
Use finger 3 for all the black keys. Use finger 1 for every white key except the white key half steps E-F and B-C. For those keys use finger 2.
It's used as a bridge, or a way to connect one musical phrase to another musical phrase.
89
What does the term 'Poco Rit.' mean? What does Poco mean in Italian?
Poco Rit. means to slow down a little, play the music a little slower. In Italian, poco means little.
90
The letters FF, what is this dynamic symbol called, and what does it mean?
FF means Fortissimo. It means to play the music very loudly, louder than Forte(F).
91
What is a tonic, dominant, and leading note?
Tonic note - the root note, or the first note of the scale or chord.
Dominant note - the fifth note of the scale or chord.
Leading note - the 7th note of the scale. The leading note is a 1/2 step below the tonic note.
92
What does a grace note look like, and how should you play it?
What three things should I keep in mind about the Grace note?
A grace note is a small note about the size of an eighth note that has a line written through it's stem. For a grace note play this note quickly before the note that follows it.
1. My finger should just brush against the grace note. It should slide against it.
2. Think of an imaginary diagonal line going from the grace note to the other key next to it.
3. A grace note has no time value.
93
What's the difference between a Natural Minor scale and a Harmonic Minor scale?
Harmonic Minor: Raise the 7th note a half step.
| Natural Minor: Not so in the natural minor scale.
94
How is an eighth note, eighth rest, and 16th note written on sheet music?
How is a 16th rest written on sheet music?
Eighth note: 1 flag written on its stem.
Eighth rest: 1 flag written on it's stem.
16th note: two flags written on it's stem.
16th rest: two flags on it's stem.
95
What are 'Dynamic marks'?
Symbols that indicate what volume the song should be played at. Dynamic marks are like the volume control on the T.V.
96
```
What do the following 8 dynamic symbols mean:
PP F
P FF
MP Crescendo
MF DImuendo
```
```
PP: Pianissimo-play very softly
P: Piano-play softly
MP: Mezzo Piano-play moderately softly
MF: Mezzo Forte-play moderately loud
F: Forte-Play loud
FF: Fortissimo-Play very loud
Crescendo(Cres./)-Play gradually softer
```
97
What are 'Tempo Marks'?
Symbols that indicate what speed to play the song at. Tempo marks are like the gas pedal on a car.
98
What do these six tempo marks mean?
Adagio Allegretto
Andante Allegro
Moderato Vivace
```
Adagio: Play music slowly.
Andante: Play music at a walking speed.
Moderato: Play music at a moderate speed, not too fast.
Allegretto: Play music rather fast.
Allegro: Play music fast and lively.
Vivace: Play music very fast.
```
99
What does the phrase 'A Tempo' mean?
Return to the original speed, or the beginning tempo.
100
What is a 'Chromatic' scale?
A 12 note scale composed only of half steps.
101
What does the dynamic symbol 'SFZ' mean?
What does the tempo mark 'Tremelo' mean, and what does it look like?
SFZ stands for 'Sforzando'. It means to play the music with a sudden, strong accent.
It means to play rapidly back and forth between the notes. The tremelo sign consists of two diagonal lines written between two notes.
102
What is a trill, and what does it look like?
A trill means to rapidly play two notes that are next to each other. A trill is written as the letters TR, with a diagonal line written through the letter T.
103
What's the difference between a natural minor scale and a harmonic minor scale?
In the natural minor scale none of the keys are sharpened or flattened.
In the harmonic minor scale you raise the 7th note a half step.
104
What is a 'Tonic Note'?
| What is a 'Dominant Note'?
The tonic note is the first note of the scale.
| The dominant note is the 5th note of the scale.
105
What does the word 'Adagio' mean?
What does the word 'Molto' mean? Use the term 'Molto Rit.' as an example
Play the music slowly, slower then andante.
Molto means very. For example, Molto Rit.(retardando) means to play very slowly.
106
What is a sharp sign? What does it do and what does it look like?
What is a flat sign? What does it do and what does it look like?
The sharp sign means to play the next key to the right, whether it's a black or white key.
The flat sign means to play the next key to the left, whether it's a black or white key?
107
What does this sign mean, and what is it called?(>)
This is called an accent sign. When I see an accent sign over or under a note, play that note louder, give it more emphasis.
