Symbols & Notation Flashcards
Define pianissimo
Music is to be played very softly
Define Piano
The music is to be played softly
Define mezzo piano
The music is to be played “medium soft”
Define forte
Music is to be played loud
What is the Bass clef or F clef?
The line or space between the dots denotes F below Middle C
What is the Neutral clef?
It is used for instruments without pitch, such as percussion instruments.
What are Bar Lines?
Bar Lines are used to separate measures
What are double bar lines?
Double bar lines are used to separate two sections or phrases of music, usually where a change in key or time signature occurs.
What is a dotted bar line?
A dotted bar line subdivides long measures into shorter sections.
What is D.C. or Da Capo?
Tells the performer to repeat playing of the music from the beginning.
What is Segno?
Segno is the signal marking where the repeat from the Segno begins.
What is D.S. or Dal Segno?
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).
Define Coda
A forward jump to ending passage, marked with same sign. (Used only after playing through a D.S. Al Coda or D.C. Al Coda.
What is Appoggiatura?
The first half of the principal note’s duration has pitch of the grace note (2/3 if the principal note is a dotted note).
What is Acciaccatura?
Played at the same time as principal note, the grace note is used to create dissonance in a harmony.
What is a heavy double bar line?
Denotes the end of a piece of music.
What is a Crochet?
A quarter note
What is a Quaver?
An eighth note
What is a semi-quaver?
A sixteenth note
What is a Demi-semi-quaver?
A 32th note (half as long as a sixteenth note).
What is a Minim?
A half note
What is Sforzando?
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.
What is a Staccato?
The note is to be played shorter, in a stronger manner, as compared to the surrounding notes.
What is a Staccatissimo?
An even stronger, more accentuated Staccato.
What is a Tenuto?
A note that is played with full value, stressed more at its beginning.
What is a Marcato?
Played louder, with a much stronger attack than surrounding notes.
What is a Fermata?
A note to be played indefinitely, until conductor says otherwise.
What is a Crescendo?
A gradual increase in volume (of a section of music).
What is a Diminuendo?
A gradual decrease in volume (of a section of music).
What is a Breve?
A double whole note, or twice the duration of a whole note.
What is a Trill?
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 Trill.
What is a Mordent?
To rapidly play the principal note, the next higher note, then again the principal note (all in the duration of the principal note).
What is a Mordent (inverted)?
To play the principal note, then the next lower note, then again the principal note (all in the duration of the principal note).
What is a Turn?
To play the next higher note, the principal note, the next lower note, then the principal note again. Example: if principal note is A, it would be played: B-A-G-A
A vertical line through the Turn symbol reverses the order (G-A-B-A)
