Grade 1 Flashcards
What is 2/4 time?
Simple duple time - 2 crotchet beats to a bar
What is 3/4 time?
Simple triple time - 3 crotchet beats to a bar
What is 4/4 time?
Simple quadruple time - 4 crotchet beats to a bar
It is also Common time (C)
What is an anacrusis?
An anacrusis is when the melody begins on an off beat
What is a tie?
A tie is a curved line joining two or more notes if the same name. You play the first note and hold the others for their full value.
What is a slur?
A slur is a curved line joining several notes of different names, to be played “legato” (smoothly).
What is the purpose of a Double Bar Line?
A Double Bar Line denotes the end of an important section or piece of music.
What is the purpose of a Bar Line?
A Bar Line denotes the end of a bar of music which is divided equally.
What is a Chord or Triad?
A Chord or Triad is built up on the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the scale.
What is a scale?
A scale is a succession of notes played in alphabetical order.
What is a Staff or Stave?
The Staff or Stave is the five lines and four spaces.
What is a Major Scale?
A major scale is made up of tones and semi-tones. The semitones occurs between the 3rd/4th and 7th/8th degrees.
What is a sharp?
A sharp raises the note a semitone.
What is a flat?
A flat lowers the note a semitone.
What is a natural
A natural brings the note back to its original pitch.
What is a semitone?
A semitone is the smallest interval on the piano from one note to the next e.g C - C#.
What is a tone?
A tone is two semitones. E.g. C-D.
What is a key signature?
A Key Signature is the sharps or flats written at the beginning of a melody telling you which key to play it in.
What is a Time Signature?
A Time Signature is the figures written at the beginning of a melody telling you what time it is in. The top figure tells you how many beats in a bar and the bottom figure tells you what kind of beats they are.
What are accidentals?
Accidentals are the sharps, flats or naturals written before the note.
What is simple time?
Simple Time is all even beats in a bar.
What is the “G” or Treble Clef?
The “G” or Treble clef is the sign written at the beginning of a tune. It starts on the G - Line, thus naming all notes above or below it.
What is the “F” or Bass Clef?
The “F” or Bass Clef is the sign written at the beginning of a tune. It starts on the F - Line, thus naming all notes above or below it.
What is the order of flats?
B E A D G C F
What is the order of sharps?
F C G D A E B
What is the tonic?
The tonic is the key note or name of the scale.
What are ledger lines or spaces?
Ledger lines or spaces are the lines and spaces written above or below the staff or stave.
What is a rest?
A rest is silence.
What does Adagio mean?
Slowly.
What does andante mean?
At an easy walking pace.
What does moderato mean?
At a moderate speed.
What does allegro mean?
Lively and fast.
What does presto mean?
Very fast.
What is an accelerando?
Gradually becoming faster.
What is a rallentando or ritardando?
Gradually becoming slower.
What is a ritenuio?
Immediately slower or held back.
What is A Tempo
Return to former speed.
What is a crescendo?
Gradually becoming louder.
What is a decrescendo or diminuendo?
Gradually becoming softer.
What is forte?
Loud
What is piano?
Soft.
What is legato?
Smoothly, well connected.
What is staccato?
Short and detached.
