Music Theory Flashcards
0 Flats & 0 Sharps
C Major or a minor
1 Sharp
G Major or e minor
2 Sharps
D Major or b minor
3 Sharps
A Major or f# minor
4 Sharps
E Major or c# minor
5 Sharps
B Major or g# minor
6 Sharps
F# Major or d# minor
7 Sharps
C# Major or a# minor
1 Flat
F Major or d minor
2 Flats
Bb Major or g minor
3 Flats
Eb Major or c minor
4 Flats
Ab Major or f minor
5 Flats
Db Major or bb minor
6 Flats
Gb Major or eb minor
7 Flats
Cb Major or ab minor
Accelerando (accel.)
Gradually getting quicker
Adagio
Slow
Allegretto
Fairly quick, but not as quick as allegro.
Allegro
Quick, literally cheerful.
Andante
At a medium walking speed.
Cantabile
In a singing style
Crescendo (cresc.)
Gradually getting louder.
Da Capo (D.C)
Repeat from the beginning.
Dal Segno (D.S)
Repeat from the sign.
Decrescendo (decresc.)
Gradually getting quieter.
Diminuendo (dim.)
Gradually getting quieter.
Fine
The End
f (forte)
Loud.
ff (fortissimo)
Very loud.
Legato
Smoothly
Lento
Slow
Mezzo
Half
mf (mezzo forte)
Moderately loud, half loud.
mp (mezzo piano)
Moderately quiet, half quiet.
Moderato
Moderately quick.
p (piano)
Quiet
pp (pianissimo)
Very quiet
Poco
A little.
Rallentando (rall.)
Gradually getting slower
Ritardando (rit.)
Gradually getting slower
Ritenuto (riten.)
Held back, slower immediately, not gradually
Staccato (stacc.)
Detached
Tempo
Speed, time
Alla (al.)
In the manner of
Allagando
Getting slower, louder
Andantino
Slightly faster than andante
Assai
Very quick
Dolce
Sweet, soft
Giocoso
Playful, merry, humorous
Grave
Very slow, serious
Larghetto
Rather slow, not as slow as largo
Largo
Slow
Maestoso
Majestic
Meno
Less
Presto
Fast, faster than allegro
Molto
Very, much
Mosso (molto)
Movement
Senza
Without
Sforzando (sfz)
Forced, accented
Tenuto (ten.)
Sustain to the note’s full value.
Vivace (vivo)
Lively, quick
Ad libitum (ad lib.)
The marked passage can be played freely, at choice
Alla breve
With a minim beat, for example in cut time or 2/2
Brio
With vigor
Largamente
Broadly
Marcato (marc.)
Emphatic, accented
Rubato
Disregarding strict time for expressive effect
Subito
Suddenly
Cadence
A short sequence of notes of chords at the end of a musical phrase.
Chord
More than two notes played at the same time.
Circle of 5ths
A diagram charting the relationship between the 12 note/keys in the chromatic scale.
Dominant
The 5th note of a scale, an interval of a perfect 5th above the tonic.
Extended
Extended chords contain extra notes added from further up the keyboard.
Harmonic interval
Notes of different pitches played together at the same time, as opposed to one after the other.
Harmony
A tune that complements a melody when played at the same time.
Interval
The difference between 2 note pitches.
Inversion
The order of notes in a chord is changed.
Mode
A type of scale built by starting another scale from a note other than its root.
Semitone
The smallest interval in a chromatic scale.
Transpose
To shift a piece of music, note, to chord up or down in pitch by a certain number of semitones.
Articulation
The various techniques which may be used to modify the performance.
Major Triad
A chord that is built with a major 3rd and a minor 3rd.
Minor Triad
A chord built with a minor 3rd and major 5th.
Augmented Triad
A chord built with a major 3rd and another major 3rd.
Diminished Triad
A chord that is built with a minor 3rd and a minor 5th.
1st Inversion
When the root of a chord becomes the 3rd note in the chord.
2nd Inversion
When the 5th of the chord is the lowest note of the chord.
7th Chord
The combination of a triad and an interval of a 7th.
Major 7th Chord
A major triad and a major 3rd on top. (Ex. C-E-G-B)
Dominant 7th Chord
A major triad with a minor 3rd on top. (Ex. C-E-G-Bb)
Minor 7th Chord
A minor triad with a minor 3rd on top. (Ex. C-Eb-G-Bb)
Half-Diminished 7th Chord
A diminished triad with a major 3rd on top. (Ex. C-Eb-Gb-Bb)
Diminished 7th Chord
A diminished triad with a minor 3rd on top. (Ex. C-Eb-Bb-Gbb)
Minor-Major 7th Chord
A minor triad with a major 3rd on top. (Ex. C-Eb-G-B)
Augmented-Major 7th Chord
An augmented triad with a major 7th on top. (Ex. C-E-G#-B)
Augmented 7th Chord
An augmented triad with a minor 7th on top. (Ex. C-E-G#-Bb)
1st Inversion 7th Chord
When the root is at the top of the chord. (Ex. E-G-B-C)
2nd Inversion 7th Chord
When the 5th is at the bottom of the chord. (Ex. G-B-C-E)
3rd Inversion 7th Chord
When the 7th is at the bottom of the chord. (Ex. B-C-E-G)
Roman Numerals: Major
I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii*
Roman Numerals: Natural Minor
i, ii*, III, iv, v, VI, VII
Roman Numerals: Harmonic Minor
i, ii, III+, iv, V, VI, vii
Roman Numerals: Melodic Minor
i, ii, III+, IV, V, vi, vii
Non-Chord Tones
Notes that do not belong in a certain chord.
Step
Equal to an interval of a generic second. (Ex. E to F)
Skip
Equal to an interval of a generic third or more. (Ex. E to G)
Passing Tone (PT)
Approached by a step and then continues by another step. (Ex. E to F to G) —> F is the Passing Tone.
Neighboring Tone (NT)
Approached by a step and then returns to original note by a step. (Ex. G to A to G) —> A is the Neighboring Tone.
Anticipation (ANT)
Approached by a step and then remains the same. (Ex. E to F to F) —> The first F is the Anticipation.
Escape Tone (ET)
Approached by a step and then skips in the opposite direction. (Ex. A to B to G) —> B is the Escape Tone.
Appoggiatura (APP)
Approached by a skip then a step in the opposite direction. (Ex. G to B to A) —> B is the Appoggiatura.
Suspension (SUS)
Keeps a note the same and then steps downward. (Ex. G to G to F) —> The second G is the Suspension.
Retardation (RET)
Keeps a note the same and then steps upward. (Ex. E to E to F) —> The second E is the Retardation.
Neapolitan Chord
A major triad that is built on a special note.
