Glossary

accelerando– speed up

accent – articulation mark placed above or below a notehead; note is to be played louder

accidental – symbol that tells you to lower or raise a note a half step or a whole step

Aeolian – all-white-key mode from A to A. Same pitches as the natural minor scale.

alto clef – most common moveable C clef; used most often by the viola

anacrusis – incomplete measure that begins a piece; also known as an upbeat or pickup

answer – second appearance of the melody of a fugue that occurs at a perfect fifth away from the subject (first appearance of the melody)

appoggiatura – musical ornament that appears as a tiny note without a slash; its value is half of the following main note

articulation marks – symbol placed above or below a note that specifies how it should be performed

asymmetrical meters meters that combine simple divisions of two and compound divisions of three, but the divisions remain constant. Also called composite meters.

augmentation – durations made longer, usually doubled

augmented interval (+) – interval quality when a perfect interval or major interval is increased by a half step while maintaining the interval number

bar – see measure

bar line – vertical line on a staff that breaks music into easy-to-understand segments called measures or bars

bass clef – symbol placed at the start of the staff; used for lower-sounding voices and instruments

beam – horizontal line used to connect flags together that fall within a beat

beat – the constant pulse you feel when you experience music

beat classification – duple, triple, or quadruple

beat division – see division

beat subdivision – see subdivision

blues scale – scale based on the minor pentatonic scale with the addition of raised scale degree 4. Often used in improvisation.

breve – note that is worth twice the value of a whole note; also called a double whole note

breve rest – rest that is worth twice the value of a whole rest; also called a double whole rest

borrowed division – when a simple meter’s beat is equally divided into three or when a compound meter’s beat is evenly divided into two

C clef – moveable clef that points at middle C

cautionary accidental – see courtesy accidental

changing meter – when time signatures change throughout a work

chromatic half step – half steps that have the same note name

chromatic scale – scale made entirely of half steps

circle of fifths – graphic representation of how all the major and minor keys are built by moving up and down by fifths; each key either gains a sharp (clockwise) or gains a flat (counterclockwise)

clef – symbol placed at the start of the staff that tells us the pitches

common time – time signature equivalent to 4/4

composite meter – an irregular meter whose top number shows how many beats are divided (e.g., 3+2)

compound interval – intervals a ninth and larger

compound meter – meter in which the dotted note is the beat and divides equally into three

concert pitch – the note one hears

consonant interval – stable-sounding interval. Two types: perfect consonance and imperfect consonance.

countersubject – In a fugue, the melody that continues at the end of the subject (in the first voice), while the answer is performed in the second voice.

courtesy accidental – accidental that is not necessary, but is added to clear any confusion; also known as a cautionary accidental

crescendo – music grows louder

cross rhythm – see polyrhythm

cut time – time signature equivalent to 2/2

D. C. al coda da capo al coda; return to the beginning, but when you reach the coda symbol, jump to the other coda symbol

D. C. al fine da capo al fine; go back to the beginning and perform until the double bar line

D. S. al coda dal segno al coda; go back to the sign, but when you reach the coda symbol, jump to the other coda symbol

D. S. al fine dal segno al fine; go back to the symbol and perform until the double bar line

decrescendo – music grows softer; also diminuendo

diatonic half step – half steps that have different note names

diatonic modes – modes also known as church modes that are even older than the major mode and minor mode. They include the Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian.

diatonic scale – scale that uses every letter name once and only once

diminished interval (o) – interval quality when a perfect interval or minor interval is reduced by a half step while maintaining the interval number.

diminuendo – music grows softer; also decrescendo

diminution – durations made shorter, usually by halving

dissonant interval – unstable-sounding interval. Includes all seconds, sevenths, diminished, and augmented intervals

division – when a beat is evenly divided into two or a dotted beat is evenly divided into three; also known as beat division

dominant – [latex]\hat5[/latex]; five above the tonic

Dorian – all-white-key mode from D to D. Like the minor scale, but [latex]\hat6[/latex] is raised.

dot – dot following a note or a rest that adds half the value of the note or rest

dotted note – note with a dot following it; the dot adds half the value of the note

double bar line – specific type of bar line that has two closely-placed bar lines next to each other

double-dotted note/rest – note/rest with two dots following it; the first dot represents half the value of the note, while the second dot represents half the value of the first dot

double flat – symbol that indicates a note is a whole step lower than the white key

double sharp – symbol that indicates a note is a whole step higher than the white key

double whole note – see breve

double whole rest – see breve rest

downbeat – the accented first beat of a measure

duplet – a type of borrowed division when a dotted note is equally divided into two

dyad – two notes. Term often implies the notes sound simultaneously.

dynamics – symbols that tell musicians at what volume (how soft or how loud) to perform specific sections

eighth note – filled notehead with a stem and one flag; note that is half a quarter note and twice as much as a sixteenth note

eighth rest – rest that is half a quarter rest and twice as much as a sixteenth rest

embellishment – see ornament

enharmonic equivalents – two notes that are the same key on the keyboard (or sound the same), but have different note names (i.e., are spelled differently)

enharmonically equivalent interval – intervals that sound the same but are spelled differently

enharmonically equivalent keys – keys that share the same pattern of white and black keys on the keyboard but are spelled differently (e.g., G-flat and F-sharp major)

fermata – articulation mark that indicates to perform a note for longer than its value

final – [latex]\hat1[/latex] of a diatonic mode or pentatonic mode.

final double bar line – double bar line that indicates the end of a piece or major section

flag – shorter curved line(s) connected to the tip of the stem

flat – symbol that indicates a note is a half step lower than the white key

fortedynamic marking that means loudly

fugue – strict compositional technique in which the opening melody (called the subject) recurs throughout the work at different intervals. The second appearance of the melody is called the answer.

grace note – musical ornament that is a tiny note with a slash that is played quickly and right before the main note falls on the beat; also called acciaccatura

grand staff – treble clef and bass clef connected together and to be played at the same time

half note – unfilled notehead with a stem; note that is worth half a whole note and twice as much as a quarter note

half rest – rest that sits on the third line of the staff; it is worth half a whole rest and twice as much as a quarter rest

half step – smallest distance between keys on a keyboard

harmonic interval – when two notes are performed simultaneously

harmonic minor scale – type of minor scale with raised subtonic (i.e., leading tone instead of subtonic)

harmonizing a melody – different notes occurring at the same time supporting a melody

hemiola – when three beats per measure temporarily shifts to accents every two beats

heterophony –  when the same melody occurs simultaneously in different voices, but with alterations or embellishments. It is seldom used in Western art music.

homophony –  a type of musical texture in which there is one melody while other voices or instruments perform a subordinate role

imperfect consonance – less stable than perfect consonances; includes major and minor thirds and sixths

instrument in C – instrument whose written pitch (what you see or perform) is the same as its concert pitch (what you hear)

interval – distance between two notes

interval inversion – when the bottom note of an interval becomes the top note (or vice versa)

interval number – interval descriptor that is usually a number between 1 and 8 (sometimes 9 or 10)

interval quality – interval descriptor that includes major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished

intervallic transposition – transposing by using intervals (as opposed to key signatures)

irregular meter – untraditional time signatures that do not fit into the categories of simple/ compound duple, triple, or quadruple

key – tonal center and mode combined, such as C major

key signature – group of flats or sharps located at the start of every system that says what the key may be

leading tone – [latex]\hat7[/latex]; scale degree that is a diatonic half step below the tonic and “leads” to the tonic

ledger line – a short line that represents a line on the staff if the staff were to continue (down or up) beyond its five lines

Locrian – all-white-key mode from B to B. Like the natural minor scale, but [latex]\hat2[/latex] and [latex]\hat5[/latex] are lowered.

Lydian – all-white-key mode from F to F. Like the major scale, but [latex]\hat4[/latex] is raised.

madrigal – a secular polyphonic song for multiple voices without instruments. The text often plays a strong role, and its peak was during the Renaissance.

major interval – possible interval quality for the second, third, sixth, and seventh. In major keys, the second, third, sixth, and seventh are major.

major mode – mode that is often associated with happy music; based on the major scale

major pentatonic – mode with only five notes from the major scale, omitting [latex]\hat4[/latex] and [latex]\hat7[/latex].

major scale – scale with the pattern wwhwwwh; major keys are based on their major scales

major tetrachord – four notes with the pattern whole-whole-half

marcato – articulation mark placed above or below a notehead; note is to be played even louder than an accent

me-modes – modes in which the third is a minor third. They include the Aeolian, Dorian, Phrygian, and Locrian modes.

measure – segment in music separated by bar lines; also called bar

measure number – number system for measures

mediant – [latex]\hat3[/latex]; scale degree halfway between the tonic and the dominant

melodic – when notes are sounded one at a time

melodic contour – the direction the melody ascends or descends

melodic interval – when two notes are performed one after the other

melodic minor scale – type of minor scale where [latex]\hat6[/latex] and [latex]\hat7[/latex] are raised while ascending, and return to the natural minor scale when descending; the ascending and descending melodic minor scales are different

melodic transposition – changing all pitches by the same proportion; when you write or perform the same melody in a different key

meter – regularly occurring pattern of strong beats and weak beats

meter classification – simple or compound

mi-modes – modes in which the third is major. They include the Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes.

middle C – name of note commonly used to give a visual sense of location; centered approximately in the middle of a piano keyboard

minor interval – possible interval quality for the second, third, sixth, and seventh. In minor keys, the third, sixth, and seventh are major.

minor mode – mode that is often associated with sad music; based on the natural minor scale

minor pentatonic – mode of five pitches based on the natural minor scale, but omitting [latex]\hat2[/latex] and [latex]\hat6[/latex].

minor scale – see melodic minor scale, harmonic minor scale, or natural minor scale

Mixolydian – all-white-key mode from G to G. Like the major scale, but [latex]\hat7[/latex] is lowered.

modal transposition – changing pitches by changing the mode from major or minor (or vice versa)

mode – tells us the collection of pitches used based on a tonal center; the major mode and minor mode are the most common modes

molto – much

monophony – when one (or all) instruments or voices perform the same melody at the unison or octaves

mordent – musical ornament that tells the musician to play an upper neighboring note (e.g., C-D-C) or lower neighboring note (e.g., C-B-C)

moveable C clef – see C clef

musical alphabet – letter names used for pitches; from A to G

musical ornament – an added note or notes that decorates the main note; can be represented by a small note or by a symbol; also called embellishment

musical staff – see staff

musical texture – see texture

natural minor scale – scale with the pattern whwwhww; minor keys are based on their natural minor scales

natural sign – symbol that indicates that a previous accidental no longer applies and continues back to the white key

neutral clef – one of the clefs used for non-pitched music; also percussion clef

note – symbol that represents how high or low sounds are

notehead – oval-shaped part of a note

octave – distance between a pitch and the same pitch eight notes apart

octave designation – a subscript number placed to the right of the note name to specify exactly where the note is on the keyboard

octave sign – symbols or abbreviations that tell you to perform pitches an octave (or two) higher or lower than written

offbeat – the weak beats (such as beats 2 and 4 in common time) or the weak parts of beats

ornament – added note or notes that decorates the main note; can be represented by a small note or a symbol; also embellishment

ostinato – continually repeated rhythm or notes

ottava – a symbol (8va) placed above or below pitches to indicate notes should be played an octave higher or lower

parallel keys – major and minor keys that share the same tonic

pentatonic – mode with five notes; in this textbook, we distinguish between major pentatonic and minor pentatonic although there are many more.

percussion clef – one of the clefs used for non-pitched music; also neutral clef

perfect consonance – type of consonance that is most stable; includes the perfect unison, perfect fifth, perfect octave, and sometimes the perfect fourth.

perfect interval – possible interval quality for the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave. In major and minor keys, the unison fourth, fifth, and octave are perfect.

Phrygian – all-white-key mode from E to E. Like the minor scale, but [latex]\hat2[/latex] is lowered.

piano – dynamic marking that means softly

pickup – see anacrusis

pitch – note name

poco – little

poco a poco – little by little

polymeter – when two or more meters occur simultaneously

polyphony – texture of music in which multiple melodies occur simultaneously

polyrhythm – when two different divisions of the beat occur simultaneously. Also called cross rhythm.

quadruplet – type of tuplet in compound meters in which the beat is divided into four

quarter note – filled notehead with a stem; worth half a half note and twice as much as an eighth note

quarter rest – rest that is worth half a half rest and twice as much as an eighth rest

quindicesima – a symbol (15ma) placed above or below pitches to indicate notes should be played two octaves higher or lower

quintuplet – when a beat is equally divided into five

range – How high or how low an instrument can sound or a person can sing

register – sections of a musical range divided into low, middle, and high

relative keys – major and minor keys that share the same key signature

repeat signs – symbols that tell you to repeat a section or the entire piece

rest – symbol that represents silence

rhythm – how musical sounds are heard as points in time

rhythm number system – specific type of rhythm system that uses numbers on each beat and syllables for other parts of the beat

rhythmic transposition – changing all note and rest values by the same proportion

ritardando – slow down

scale – collection of pitches that ascends or descends in alphabetical order from one note to the same note an octave apart

scale degree name – names of members of a scale (i.e., names of scale degree numbers)

scale degree number – Arabic numeral with a caret above it that says which member of a scale a note is

septuplet – tuplet that is a division of seven

sextuplet – tuplet that is usually a subdivision in simple meters or a tuplet that is evenly divided into six

sforzando – variation of accent marks

sharp – symbol that indicates a note is a half step higher than the white key

simple interval – intervals an octave or smaller

simple meter – meter where the beat evenly divides into two

sixteenth note – filled notehead with a stem and two flags; note that is worth half an eighth note

sixteenth rest – rest that is worth half an eighth rest

slur – articulation mark that looks like a curved line that indicates that notes are held out their full value with minimal silence between notes

staccatissimo – articulation mark placed above or below a notehead; note is to be played extremely short

staccato – articulation mark of a dot placed above or below a notehead; note is to be played short

staff – set of five horizontal lines upon which notes are placed; also called musical staff.

stem – line connected to the notehead

subdivision – when a beat is evenly divided into four or a dotted beat is evenly divided into six; also known as beat subdivision

subdominant – [latex]\hat4[/latex]; scale degree five below the tonic

subito piano – suddenly soft

subject – opening melody of a fugue

submediant – [latex]\hat6[/latex]; scale degree halfway between the tonic descending to the subdominant

subtonic – lowered [latex]\hat7[/latex] in minor only; scale degree a whole step below the tonic

supertonic – [latex]\hat2[/latex]; scale degree a whole step above the tonic

syncopation – accents that occur on weak beats or weak parts of beats. Accents must occur several times and not just once.

system – a line of music

tempo – the speed at which music is performed

tempo markings – markings that tell musicians how fast or slow to perform

tendency tones – notes that have a strong desire to move in a specific direction

tenuto – notes held out to their full value

tessitura – the most common part of a range in a song for vocalists

tetrachord – collection of four notes

texture – how many melodies are performed and what else is happening at the same time

thirty-second note – filled notehead with stem and three flags; worth half the value of a sixteenth note

thirty-second rest – rest with three flags; worth half the value of a sixteenth rest

tie – a curved line that connects two of the same pitches and holds out the note (i.e., the note is sustained and not resounded)

timbre – the unique quality of a musical sound

time signature – two numbers at the beginning of a piece of music that says what gets one beat and how many beats per measure

tonal center – a note that tell us where “home” is; the music gravitates around the tonal center and does not feel complete unless we end at home

tonic – [latex]\hat1[/latex]; scale degree that begins and ends a scale; considered to be the “home”

transposing instrument – instrument whose written pitch (what you see or perform) is different than its concert pitch (what you hear)

transposition – the act of changing all notes equally by the same proportion

treble clef – specific type of clef that is placed at the beginning of the staff; used for higher-sounding voices and instruments

trill – musical ornament that tells the performer to repeat alternating notes; can vary in duration and can even continue for multiple measures

triplet – when a note (not a dotted note) is equally divided into three

tritone – literally “three (whole) steps”; interval of an augmented fourth (also a diminished fifth)

tuplet – any division of a beat that is not the regular division or subdivision

turn – musical ornament that decorates the main note by approaching it from a step above, returns to the main note, moves a step below, then returns to the main note

upbeat – see anacrusis

whole note – unfilled notehead without a stem

whole rest – rest that hangs below the fourth line; it is worth twice as much as a half rest

whole step – two half steps

written pitch – the note one sees or performs.

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Steps to Music Theory Copyright © 2022 by Susan de Ghizé is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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