Theory Flashcards
Chromatic semitone
A semitone that consists of two notes with the same letter name.
Diatonic semitone
A semitone that consists of two notes with different letter names.
Adagio
Slow (slower than andante, but not as slow as largo)
Lento
Slow
Largo
Very slow and broad
Larghetto
Not as slow as largo
Andante
Moderately slow; at a walking pace
Andantino
A little faster than andante
Allegretto
Fairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
Moderato
At a moderate tempo
Allegro
Fast
Presto
Very fast
Prestissimo
As fast as possible
Enharmonic change
Changing the name of a note without changing its pitch. E.g., changing F sharp to G flat.
Scale
A series of notes in succession.
Major scale
Tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone
A caret sign (^) placed above a number
Identifies a number as a scale degree
Major scale semitones
Between notes 3 and 4 and notes 7 and 8
Tonic
First note of a scale
Key
The particular scale a piece of music is based on
Key signature
A collection of sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff that indicates the key of the music
Order of sharps in a key signature
F C G D A E B
Order of flats in a key signature
B E A D G C F
1st degree of the scale
Tonic
2nd degree of the scale
Supertonic
3rd degree of the scale
Mediant
4th degree of the scale
Subdominant
5th degree of the scale
Dominant
6th degree of the scale
Submediant
7th degree of the scale
Leading note
8th degree of the scale
Tonic (upper)
Circle of fifths
Relates keys by perfect 5ths
Accidental
A symbol, placed in front of a note, that raises or lowers its pitch.
Circle of 5ths - keys in sharp direction
C G D A E B F# C#
Circle of 5ths - order in flats direction
C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb
Three pairs of enharmonic keys
D flat / C sharp G flat / F sharp C flat / B
Cantabile
In a singing style
Con pedale, con ped.
With pedal
D.C. al Fine
Repeat from the beginning and end at Fine
Dolce
Sweet
Fine
The end
Grazioso
Graceful
Legato
Smooth
Maestoso
Majestic pace
Mano destra, M.D.
Right hand
Mano sinistra, M.S.
Left hand
Marcato
Marked or stressed
Tenuto
Held, sustained
Relative minor of a major key
Three semitones lower than a major key, same key signature
Relative minor of C Major
Relative major of A Minor
Relative minor of G major
Relative major of E minor
Relative minor of D major
Relative major of B minor
Relative minor of A major
Relative major of F# minor
Relative minor of E major
Relative major of C# minor
Relative minor of B major
Relative major of G# minor
Relative minor of F# major
Relative major of D# minor
Relative minor of C# major
Relative major of A# minor
Relative minor of F major
Relative major of D minor
Relative minor of Bb major
Relative major of G minor
Relative minor of Eb major
Relative major of C minor
Relative minor of Ab major
Relative major of F minor
Relative minor of Db major
Relative major of Bb minor
Relative minor of Gb major
Relative major of Eb minor
Relative minor of Cb major
Relative major of Ab minor
C major and A minor key signature
Keys with no flats or sharps
G major key signature
Major Key with F#
D major key signature
Major key with F# C#
A major key signature
Major key with F# C# G#
E major key signature
Major key with: F# C# G# D#
B major key signature
Major key with F# C# G# D# A#
F# major key signature
Major key with F# C# G# D# A# E#
C# major key signature
Major key with F# C# G# D# A# E# B#
F major key signature
Major key with Bb
Bb major key signature
Major key with Bb Eb
Eb major key signature
Major key with Bb Eb Ab
Ab major key signature
Major key with Bb Eb Ab Db
Db major key signature
Major key with Bb Eb Ab Db Gb
Gb major key signature
Major key with Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb
Cb major key signature
Major key with Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb
Relative major of a minor key
Three semitones higher than a minor key, same key signature
Tonic major and tonic minor
A major scale and a minor scale that have the same tonic. E.g., F major is the tonic major of F minor and F minor is the tonic minor of F major.
Natural minor scale
A minor scale written with no accidentals.
Harmonic minor scale
Formed by raising the 7th degree of the natural minor scale. Requires an accidental.
Melodic minor scale
Formed by raising the 6th and 7th degrees of the natural minor scale ascending, and lowering the 6th and 7th degrees descending.
Semitones in melodic minor scale
Semitones between 2nd and 3rd and 7th and 8th ascending, 2nd and 3rd and 5th and 6th descending.
Accent
A stressed note or chord
Crescendo, cresc.
Becoming louder
Decrescendo, decresc.
Becoming softer
Diminuendo, dim.
Becoming softer
Dal segno, D.S.
From the sign
Fermata
A pause; hold the note or rest longer than its written value
Ottava, 8va
Play one octave above the written pitch
Ottava, 8va
Play one octave below the written pitch
Repeat signs
Repeat the music within the double bars
Slur
Play the notes legato
Staccato
Play the notes detached
Tie
Hold for the combined value of the tied notes
Interval
The distance between two notes
Melodic interval
When the notes of an interval are played one after the other
Harmonic interval
When the notes of an interval are played at the same time
Perfect intervals
Unison, 4th, 5th, octave
Major intervals
Major 2nd, major 3rd, major 6th, and major 7th
Minor interval
One semitone smaller than a major interval
Minor intervals
Minor 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th
Simple duple time
Upper number of the time signature is always 2. Number of beats in the measure is 2.
Cut time / alla breve
2/2 time (C with vertical line through it)
Simple triple time
Upper number of the time signature is always 3. Number of beats per measure is 3.
Simple triple time accent
Strong - weak - weak
Cut time accent
Strong - weak
Simple quadruple time
Upper number of the time signature is always 4. Number of beats per measure is 4.
Simple quadruple time accent
Strong - weak - medium - weak
Breve
Double whole note
Double whole rest
Breve rest
Common time
4/4 time, symbol is C
Anacrusis
The notes in the incomplete measure at the start of a piece. Also called pickup. Subtracted from the last measure.
Triplet
A group of three notes that are played in the time of two notes of the same value.
Whole rest
Used to indicate a whole measure of silence in any time signature.
Chord
Combination of notes that are played together
Triad
Three-note chord
Solid (blocked) triad
All three notes are written or sound at the same time
Broken triad
Each note is written or is played one after the other
Root
Lowest note of a triad
Third note
The middle note of a triad. Interval of a 3rd above the root.
Fifth note
Top note of a triad. Interval of a 5th above the root.
Major triad
Consists of the intervals of a major 3rd and a perfect 5th above the root.
Minor triad
Consists of the intervals of a minor 3rd and a perfect 5th above the root.
Tempo
Speed at which the music is performed
A tempo
Return to the previous tempo
Tempo primo, Tempo I
Return to the original tempo
Rallentando, rall.
Slowing down
Ritardando, rit.
Slowing down gradually
Forte
Loud
Fortissimo
Very loud
Mezzo forte
Moderately loud
Mezzo piano
Moderately soft
Piano
Soft
Pianissimo
Very soft
Accidental
A sign placed before a note to alter its pitch
Transposition in basic rudiments
Writing melodies at a different octave
Half rest
Silence for two beats
A Harmonic Minor key signature
Key with G#
A Melodic Minor
Key with F# G# Up, F G Down
E Harmonic Minor
Key with F#, D#
E Melodic Minor
Key with F#, C#, D# Up F#, C, D Down
F Harmonic Minor
Key with Bb E natural Ab Db
F Melodic Minor
Key with Bb Ab Up, Bb Eb Ab Db Down
A Major triad
A C# E
A minor triad
A C E
