Music theory · Glossary

Musical terms — every word on the Grades 1–5 lists, defined

200+ Italian tempo, dynamic, articulation and expression markings — plus the theory concepts examiners expect you to define. Each term links to its meaning, translations, and the grade it first shows up in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity papers.

Dynamics

calandogetting softer and slower crescendogradually getting louder decrescendogradually getting softer diminuendogradually getting softer forteloud fortissimovery loud mezza voceat half voice mezzohalf / medium mezzo fortemoderately loud mezzo pianomoderately soft morendodying away perdendosidying away, fading pianissimovery soft pianosoft sforzandosuddenly strongly accented (sfz)smorzandodying away, softening sotto vocein an undertone, subdued

Articulation

accentoaccented / stressed legatissimoas smoothly as possible legatosmooth, connected marcatomarked, emphasized portatoslightly detached (between staccato and legato)staccatissimoas short as possible staccatoshort and detached tenutoheld, sustained

Ornaments

acciaccaturashort crushed grace note appoggiaturaleaning note (takes part of main note value)mordentrapid alternation with the note above or below trillrapid alternation between the note and the one above turnfour-note ornament circling the written pitch

Form & structure

attaccacontinue without a break codatail — concluding section come primaas at first da capofrom the beginning dal segnofrom the sign (𝄋)finethe end ritornellorecurring section seguefollows on (without a pause)

Expression & other terms

8vaan octave higher than written (ottava alta)ad libitumat the performer’s pleasure (ad lib.)agitatoagitated, excited animatoanimated, lively assaivery benwell cantabilein a singing style con animawith soul / feeling con briowith spirit con fuocowith fire con motowith motion dolcesweetly, softly espressivowith expression giocosoplayful, merry graziosogracefully l.h.left hand (mano sinistra)lacrimosotearfully lamentosomournfully leggierolight, delicate locoreturn to the written pitch (after 8va)maestosomajestically menoless moltovery, much nobilmentenobly pateticowith great emotion pesanteheavy, weighty piùmore pocoa little poco a pocolittle by little r.h.right hand (mano destra)religiosoin a devotional style risolutoresolute, bold rubatowith some freedom of time scherzandoplayfully semplicesimply, plain semprealways senzawithout similein the same way solennesolemnly subitosuddenly tranquillocalmly, peacefully trionfaletriumphantly

Theory concepts

AllemandeBaroque dance in moderate 4/4 — usually opens a suite Alto rangeRoughly G3 – D5 AnacrusisA pickup — notes before the first full bar Answer phraseA phrase that ends on a resolved cadence (V → I)ArcoBowed (cancels pizzicato)Bar lineVertical line dividing the stave into bars Bass clefF clef — two dots flank the line for F3 Bass rangeRoughly E2 – C4 Binary formTwo-section form: A — B BourréeQuick Baroque dance in 2/2 with an upbeat Cello clefBass clef (occasionally tenor for high passages)Cello rangeC2 to roughly C6 Chromatic semitoneA semitone between two same letter names (e.g. F – F♯)Compound intervalAn interval larger than an octave — e.g. 9th, 10th CouranteLively Baroque dance in 3/2 or 6/4 — French style Crotchet (US name)Quarter note Demisemiquaver32nd note — half a semiquaver Diatonic semitoneA semitone between two different letter names (e.g. E – F)DominantThe 5th degree of the scale Dominant (degree)5th — strongest pull back to the tonic Double bar lineTwo thin lines marking the end of a section Double bass clefBass clef — sounds an octave lower than written Double flat (𝄫)Lowers a note by two semitones (a whole tone)Double sharp (𝄪)Raises a note by two semitones (a whole tone)Doubling ruleIn root-position triads, double the root by default DupletTwo notes played in the time of three of the same value Final bar lineThin + thick lines marking the end of the piece FlatLowers the pitch by one semitone (♭)GavotteModerate Baroque dance in 4/4 — starts on beat 3 GigueFast Baroque dance in 6/8 or 12/8 — usually ends a suite Harmonic minor scaleNatural minor with the 7th raised a semitone Imperfect cadenceAny chord → V — sounds unfinished Interrupted cadenceV → vi (or V → VI in minor) — surprise resolution Inversion of a 3rdA 6th (3 + 6 = 9)Inversion of a 4thA 5th (4 + 5 = 9)Inversion of a 5thA 4th (5 + 4 = 9)Leading note7th — pulls upward to the tonic Leger lineShort line above or below the stave for higher / lower notes Mediant3rd — midway between tonic and dominant Melodic minor scale (ascending)Natural minor with the 6th and 7th raised Melodic minor scale (descending)Same as the natural minor (no raises)Minim (US name)Half note MinuetElegant Baroque dance in 3/4 — moderate tempo Modulate to the dominantMove to the key built on the 5th degree Modulate to the relative minorMove to the minor key sharing your key signature ModulationMoving from one key to another within a piece NaturalCancels a sharp or flat (♮)Natural minor scaleUses the key signature of the relative major — no extra accidentals Parallel 5thsTwo voices moving in the same direction a perfect 5th apart — forbidden in classical 4-part writing Parallel 8vesTwo voices moving in the same direction an octave apart — forbidden in classical 4-part writing Perfect cadenceV → I — sounds finished Pivot chordA chord shared between the old key and the new key PizzicatoPlucked with the finger (string instruments)Plagal cadenceIV → I — the "Amen" cadence Quaver (US name)Eighth note Question phraseA phrase that ends on an open / unresolved cadence Real sequenceThe pattern is transposed exactly (interval-perfect)Relative minor of C majorA minor Relative minor of F majorD minor Relative minor of G majorE minor Repeat signTwo dots before a barline — go back and play again SarabandeSlow stately Baroque dance in 3/4 — emphasis on beat 2 Semibreve (US name)Whole note Semiquaver (US name)Sixteenth note SemitoneA half step — the smallest interval in Western music SequenceA pattern repeated at a different pitch level SharpRaises the pitch by one semitone (♯)SlurA curve over notes of different pitches — play smoothly (legato)Soprano rangeRoughly C4 – G5 Stave (staff)The 5 horizontal lines + 4 spaces music is written on SubdominantThe 4th degree of the scale Subdominant (degree)4th — five steps below the tonic Submediant6th — midway below the tonic Supertonic2nd — one step above the tonic Tenor rangeRoughly C3 – G4 Ternary formThree-section form: A — B — A TieA curve joining two notes of the same pitch — sound them as one Tonal sequenceThe pattern is transposed within the key (intervals may shift)ToneA whole step — two semitones apart TonicThe 1st degree of the scale — the home note Tonic (degree)1st — the keynote Treble clefG clef — curls around the line for G4 TripletThree notes played in the time of two of the same value Viola clefAlto (C) clef Viola rangeC3 to roughly E6 Violin clefTreble clef Violin rangeG3 to roughly E7 Voice crossingWhen a lower voice rises above the next voice up — avoid in 4-part writing Voice overlapWhen a voice moves to a pitch the adjacent voice held in the previous chord

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