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Music Theory > Music Symbols > Flashcards

Music Symbols Flashcards

In the world of music notation, many different symbols are used to dictate what, as well as how, a piece is to be played. There are signs for changes in volume, speed, rhythm, and many, many other aspects of written music. Here is an extensive list of the most common, and some not-so-common symbols found in classical notation.

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1
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Staff or stave

A

The fundamental latticework of music notation, upon which symbols and notes are placed.

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2
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Ledger or ledger lines

A

Ledger lines are used to extend the staff to pitches falling above or below it, and extend a small distance to each side.

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3
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Bar line

A

Bar lines are used to separate measures.

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4
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Double bar line

A

Double bar lines are used to separate two sections or phrases of music.

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5
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Dotted bar line

A

A dotted bar line subdivides long measures into shorter segments for ease of reading.

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6
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Accolade, brace

A

An accolade or brace connects multiple lines of music that are played simultaneously. Depending on the instruments playing, the brace, or accolade, will vary in design and style.

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7
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Treble clef (G clef)

A

The treble clef symbol is used to show where the pitch G, denoted by the center spiral, above middle C is located on the staff. It is also the most commonly used clef in music notation.

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8
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Alto and tenor clef (C clef)

A

This clef points to the line or space representing middle C. Also called the “alto clef”.

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9
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Bass clef (F clef)

A

The line or space between the dots in this clef denotes F below middle C.

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10
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Neutral clef

A

The neutral clef is used for pitchless instruments, such as some of those used for percussion.

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11
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Breve or double whole note

A

Note lasting twice as long as the whole note, or twice as long as the number of beats per measure.

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12
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Semibreve, or whole note

A

Note lasting the full count of the measure

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13
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Minim, or half note

A

Note played for two quarter note counts

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14
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Crotchet, or quarter note

A

Note played for one quarter note beat

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15
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Quaver, or eighth note

A

Note lasting one eighth note beat

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16
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Semiquaver, or sixteenth note

A

Note lasting one sixteenth note beat

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17
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Demisemiquaver, or thirty-second note

A

Note lasting one thirty-second note beat

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18
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Hemidemisemiquaver, or sixty-fourth note

A

Note lasting one sixty-fourth note beat

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19
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Beamed notes

A

Beams connect eighth notes and notes of shorter value. Used for numerical grouping, making it easier on the reader.

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20
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Dotted note

A

Note lasting the full count of the note, plus half of its value. The quarter note shown would last a total of three eighth notes.

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21
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Multi-measure rest

A

Indicates the number of measures in a resting part without a change in meter, used to conserve space and to make for easier reading.

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22
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Double whole note rest

A

Rest lasting the duration of two measures

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23
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Whole rest

A

Rest lasting the duration of a measure.

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24
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Half note rest

A

Rest lasting one half the duration of the measure

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25
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Quarter note rest

A

Rest lasting one quarter of the duration of a measure

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26
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Eighth note rest

A

Rest lasting one eighth the duration of the measure.

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27
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Sixteenth note rest

A

Rest lasting one sixteenth the duration of the measure.

28
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Thirty-second note rest

A

Rest lasting one thirty-second the duration of the measure.

29
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Sixty-fourth note rest

A

Rest lasting one sixty-fourth the duration of the measure.

30
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Flat

A

Lowers the pitch of a note by one semitone, or half step.

31
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Sharp

A

Raises the pitch of a note by one semitone, or half step.

32
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Natural

A

Cancels a previous accidental, or modifies the pitch of a sharp or flat as defined by the given key signature.

33
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Double flat

A

Lowers the pitch of a note by two chromatic semitones. Usually used when the note to be modified is already flatted by the key signature.

34
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Double sharp

A

Raises the pitch of a note by two chromatic semitones. Usually used when the note to be modified is already sharped by the key signature.

35
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Piano

A

Soft. Usually the most often used volume dynamic.

36
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Pianissimo

A

Music is to be played very softly.

37
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Pianississimo

A

Extremely soft. Not often in musical notation are pieces to be played softer than pianississimo.

38
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Mezzo piano

A

Music is to be played half as soft as piano.

39
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Forte

A

Music is to be played loud.

40
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Mezzo forte

A

Half as loud as forte. More commonly used than mezzo-piano. Mezzo-forte is used as the default volume level when no dynamic is given.

41
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Fortissimissimo

A

Extremely loud. One does not often see louder dynamics than this, which are specified with additional fs.

42
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Sforzando

A

Denotes a sharp, fierce accent on a single sound or chord. When written out in full, it applies to the sequence of sounds or chords under or over which it is placed.

43
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Crescendo

A

A gradual increase in volume. Can be extended under many notes to indicate that the volume steadily increases during the passage.

44
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Diminuendo

A

A gradual decrease in volume. Can be extended under many notes to indicate that the volume steadily decreases during the passage.

45
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Forte piano

A

A section of music in which the music should initially be played loudly (forte), then immediately softly (piano).

46
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Staccato

A

This indicates that the note is to be played shorter than notated, in a sharper manner, while still maintaining its full value.

47
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Staccatissimo

A

Indicates a longer silence after the note, a sharper more accentuated staccato. Usually applied to quarter notes or shorter.

48
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Tenuto

A

The note is to be played with its full value, or slightly longer.

49
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Marcato

A

The note is played much louder or with a much stronger attack than any surrounding unaccented notes.

50
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Left-hand pizzicato or stopped note

A

A note on a stringed instrument where the string is plucked with the left hand (the hand that usually stops the strings) rather than bowed. On the horn, this accent indicates a “stopped note” (a note played with the stopping hand shoved further into the bell of the horn).

51
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Snap pizzicato

A

On a stringed instrument, a note played by stretching a string away from the frame of the instrument and letting it go, making it “snap” against the frame. Also known as a Bartók pizzicato.

52
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Natural harmonic or open note

A

On a stringed instrument, denotes that a natural harmonic is to be played. On a valved brass instrument, denotes that the note is to be played “open” (without lowering any valve, or without mute).

53
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Fermata

A

Symbol denoting that the note it is placed above is to be held indefinitely, until the conductor says otherwise. This halts the tempo and appears over all parts at the same metric location in a piece.

54
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Up bow or sull’arco

A

On a bowed string instrument, the note is played while drawing the bow upward. On a plucked string instrument played with a plectrum or pick, the note is played with an upstroke.

55
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Down bow or Giù arco

A

Like sull’arco, except the bow is drawn downward. On a plucked string instrument played with a plectrum or pick , the note is played with a downstroke.

56
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Trill

A

A rapid alternation between the specified note and the next higher note (according to key signature) within its duration. When followed by a wavy horizontal line, this symbol indicates an extended trill.

57
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Mordent

A

Rapidly play the principal note, the next higher note (according to key signature) then return to the principal note for the remaining duration. In much music, the mordent begins on the auxiliary note, and the alternation between the two notes may be extended.

58
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Mordent (inverted)

A

Rapidly play the principal note, the semitone below it, then return to the principal note for the remaining duration. In much music, the mordent begins on the auxiliary note, and the alternation between the two notes may be extended.

59
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Turn

A

When placed directly above the note, the turn (also known as a gruppetto) indicates a sequence of upper auxiliary note, principal note, lower auxiliary note, and a return to the principal note. When placed to the right of the note, the principal note is played first, followed by the above pattern. A vertical line placed through the turn reverses the order of the auxiliary notes.

60
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Appoggiatura

A

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).

61
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Acciaccatura

A

The acciaccatura lasts very briefly, as though passed on the way to the principal note, which receives virtually all of its notated duration.

62
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Da capo

A

Tells the performer to repeat playing of the music from its beginning. This is followed by al fine, which means to repeat to the word fine and stop, or al coda, which means repeat to the coda sign and then jump forward.

63
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Segno

A

Signal marking where the repeat from the segno begins.

64
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Dal segno

A

Tells the performer to repeat playing of the music starting at the nearest segno. This is followed by al fine or al coda just as with da capo.

65
Q

Explain the given symbol:

Coda

A

Indicates a forward jump in the music to its ending passage, marked with the same sign. Only used after playing through a D.S. al coda or D.C. al coda.

Music Theory (8 decks)

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