Glossary of Musical Terms

A

a capella

solo or group singing without accompaniment

accelerando

An increase in tempo

accent

Stress on a beat, to make it stand out from others in the measure or phrase

accompaniment

Music that is played along with the main theme or voice

adagio

Slowly

allegro

Lively

alto

Normally the lowest female voice, also sometimes sung by high tenors or young boys

andante

Moderately slow

arpeggio

The notes of a chord played in succession, rather than together

atonal

Having no specific key

B

bar 

A section of music with one strong beat and one or more lesser beats

baritone 

A low male singing voice, between tenor and bass

bass 

The lowest male singing voice, or the lowest range of a type of instrument

beat 

The pulse of music, marking its rhythmic pattern

brass 

A type of wind instrument, consisting of a metal tube, with tone regulated by the position of the musician's mouth

C

cadence

A musical phrase or group of tones punctuating the end of a phrase or composition of music

chord

Three tones sounded together

chromatic

Having to do with sharps and flats

clef

The symbol at the beginning of a line of written music to signify the range of notes indicated

contralto

The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; ;the equivalent male form is counter-tenor.

crescendo

A gradual increase in volume

D

diminuendo

A gradual decrease in volume

dynamics

The markings in written music that indicate the volume to be used

F

flat

A lowering of the tone by a half-step

forte

Loud

G

glissando

A musical effect involving a slide from one note to another

H

harmony: Two or more tones sounding together in a pleasant manner

I

improvisation: Music that does not follow a written score instrumentation: The writing of music for instruments, or a musical composition intonation: Exactness of pitch or lack of it

K

key: The home note of a composition; the first note of the predominant scale used key signature: The sharps or flats at the beginning of a line of music

L

largo: Slow and stately legato: Smooth lento: Slow

M

measure: A bar of music

N

notation: Written music note: A single sound or its representation

O

octave: a series of eight notes occupying the interval between (and including) two notes, one having twice or half the frequency of vibration of the other.

P

percussion: A class of instruments that are played by striking a surface with the hand, a stick, or a mallet phrase: A segment of music comprising a complete musical thought piano: Softly pitch: The frequency of vibration of a note; the ability to distinguish between one note and another presto: Fast

R

register: a particular part of the range of a voice or instrument. rest: A pause in written music rhythm: The arrangement of notes by duration and accent ritardando: A gradual slowing of the music

S

scale: A series of tones arranged in a specific graduated order score: Written music that shows all parts sforzando: Forceful, usually accented sharp: A raising of the tone by a half-step solo: For one player (musician), or to be played alone. soprano: A high female singing voice staccato: The playing of notes in a short, detached manner staff: A set of five lines used to indicate notes in a written form string: A class of instrument played by the vibration of a string or series of strings set to particular tensions

T

tempo: The speed of a composition of music tenor: Normally the highest male singing voice theme: A short yet complete musical passage tone: A musical sound, or the quality of the musical sound tonic: A pitch that is the first degree of a major or minor scale and the tonal center of a piece composed in a particular key treble: The highest voice or part of a composition trill: A musical effect involving the alternating sounds of a note and the note above it

U

upbeat: The preparatory sign given prior to the first beat in a bar unison: One or more voices or instruments sounding together as one

V

vibrato: A musical effect involving vibration, used by instrument or voice voice: A particular musical line; refers to instrumentation as well as vocal

W

woodwind: A class of instruments that requires blowing into or across a wooden tube, with tone changed by placement of the fingers over air holes