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Music Theory > Symbols and Notation > Flashcards

Symbols and Notation Flashcards

Comprehensive study of terms. symbols, and concepts in modern music theory.

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Ultimate Music Theory flashcards
1
Q

What is the Staff?

A

The staff is the fundamental latticework of music notation, upon which symbols are placed. The five staff lines and four spaces correspond to pitches of the diatonic scale.

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2
Q

Define piano

A

The music is to be played softly

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3
Q

Define pianissimo

A

Music is to be played very softly

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4
Q

Define mezzo piano

A

The music is to be played “medium soft”

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5
Q

Define Forte

A

Music is to be played loud

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6
Q

Define forte-piano

A

Music is to be played initially loud, then immediately softly.

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7
Q

What is the G clef? (Treble clef)

A

The centre of the spiral defines the line or space as G above middle C.

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8
Q

What is the *C clef * (also called the alto clef and *tenor clef *) ?

A

The C or alto clef, points to the line (or space, rarely) representing middle C . Positioned here, it makes the centre line on the staff middle C. This clef is used in modern notation for the viola. further reading

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9
Q

What is the Bass clef or F clef?

A

The line or space between the dots denotes F below middle C

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10
Q

What is the Neutral clef?

A

It is used for instruments without pitch, such as percussion instruments.

​ or

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11
Q

What are bar lines?

A

Bar lines are used to separate measures.

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12
Q

What are double bar lines?

A

Double bar lines separate two sections or phrases, usually where a change in key or time signature occurs.

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13
Q

What is a dotted bar line?

A

A dotted bar line subdivides long measures into shorter sections.

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14
Q

What is or da capo?

A

Tells the performer to repeat playing of the music from the beginning.

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15
Q

What is or dal segno?

A

Tells performer to repeat playing music starting at the nearest Segno ( )

(This is followed by* al fine* or al coda, just as with da capo).

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16
Q

What is a Segno?

A

Segno is the signal marking where the repeat from the Segno begins.

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17
Q

What is ottava alta or 8va?

A

The 8va sign (pronounced ottava alta) is placed above the staff to indicate the passage is to be played one octave higher.

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18
Q

What is ottava bassa or 8vb?

A

The 8vb sign (ottava bassa) is placed below the staff to indicate the passage is to be played one octave lower.

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19
Q

What is Quindicesima or 15ma?

A

The 15ma sign (quindicesima alta) is placed above the staff to indicate the passage is to be played two octaves higher.

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20
Q

What is quindicesima 15mb?

A

The 15mb sign (quindicesima bassa) is placed below the staff to indicate the passage is to be played two octaves lower.

21
Q

What is a Coda?

A

A forward jump to ending passage, marked with the coda ( ) sign. Only used after playing through al coda, or al coda.

22
Q

What is Appoggiatura?

A

The first 1/2 of the principal note’s duration has pitch of the grace note (or 2/3 duration if the principal note is a dotted note).

23
Q

What is Acciaccatura?

A

Played at the same time as principal note, the grace note is used to create dissonance in a harmony.

24
Q

What is a heavy (or bold) double bar line?

A

Denotes the end of a piece of music.

25
Q

What is a large / maxima note?

A

Octuple whole note (or octuple note)

26
Q

What is a long note?

A

A quadruple whole note (or quadruple note)

27
Q

What is a breve?

A

A double whole note (or double note)

28
Q

What is a semibreve?

A

A whole note

29
Q

What is a minim?

A

A half note

30
Q

What is a Crochet?

A

A quarter note

31
Q

What is a Quaver?

A

An eighth note

32
Q

What is a semiquaver?

A

A sixteenth note

33
Q

What is a demisemiquaver?

A

A 32nd note (half as long as a sixteenth note).

34
Q

What is a beamed note?

A

Beams connect eighth notes (quavers) and shorter value notes. They reflect the rhythmic grouping of notes.

35
Q

What is a beamed note?

A

Beams connect eighth notes (quavers) and shorter value notes. They reflect the rhythmic grouping of notes.

36
Q

What is Sforzando?

A

A sharp, fierce accent on a single sound or a chord. Also applies to the sequence of sounds or chords under or over which it is placed.

37
Q

What is a Staccato?

A

The note is to be played shorter, in a stronger manner, as compared to the surrounding notes.

38
Q

What is staccatissimo or spiccato?

A

An even stronger, more accentuated Staccato.

39
Q

What is an accent?

A

A note that is played louder or with a harder attack than surrounding unaccented notes. May appear on notes of any duration.

40
Q

What is a tenuto?

A

This symbol indicates that a note should be played for its full value, or slightly longer; it may also indicate a slight dynamic emphasis.

41
Q

What is a Marcato?

A

Played somewhat louder, or more forcefully than a note with a regular accent mark. Used in organ notation to denote that a pedal note is to be played with the toe.

42
Q

What is a Fermata?

A

A note, chord or rest sustained longer than its customary value. Usually appears over all parts at the same metrical location in a piece, to show a halt in tempo.

43
Q

What is a Mordent?

A

To rapidly play the principal note, the next higher note, then again the principal note (all in the duration of the principal note).

44
Q

What is a Mordent (inverted)?

A

To play the principal note, then the next lower note, then again the principal note (all in the duration of the principal note).

45
Q

What is a 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 principle note is played first, followed by the above pattern.

or

46
Q

What is an inverted turn?

A

Placing a vertical line through the turn symbol or inverting it indicates the order of the auxiliary notes is to be reversed.

47
Q

What is a Trill?

A

A rapid alteration between the specified note and the next higher note within its duration. When followed by a wavy horizontal line, this indicates an extended or running trill.

48
Q

What is a Crescendo?

A

A gradual increase in volume (of a section of music).

49
Q

What is a diminuendo or decrescendo?

A

A gradual decrease in volume (also called a decrescendo).

Music Theory (3 decks)

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