Musical Terms Flashcards
An ascending or descending series of notes in tone/semitone steps
Scale
The distance between two pitches
Interval
Three or more pitches played together
Chord
A 2-count note / rest
Minim
A 1-count note / rest
Crotchet
A half-count note / rest
Quaver
A quarter-count note / rest
Semiquaver
A 4-count note / rest
Semibreve
Clef for high sounds
Treble
Clef for low sounds
Bass
Alto and Tenor clefs
C-clef
Another term for 2/2 meter
Cut time
Another term for 4/4 meter
Common time
Time signatures based on pulses that are subdivided by 3
Compound time
Time signatures based on pulses that are subdivided by 2
Simple time
A beat within simple time that has been subdivided into 3 equal-valued notes
Triplet
A song that is half spoken and half sung
Recitative
A song that is spoken in complex rhythms
Rap
A very skilled musician that plays difficult solos
Virtuoso
High female voice
Soprano
Low female voice
Alto
High male voice
Tenor
Low male voice
Bass
‘All play’ indication for the whole ensemble to play
Tutti
Ensemble
Musical group
The lines that connect quavers and semiquavers into groups
Beams
The lines that extend (up/down) from the note heads of all notes except semibreves
Stems
Sharps and flats that are written next to the clef
Key signature
To play a melody backwards
Retrograde
A note that is sustained while other melodies are being played
Pedal note / Drone
