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Musical Notation Basics
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Treble Clef
A symbol indicating that the second line from the bottom of the staff represents the pitch G above middle C.
Bass Clef
A symbol indicating that the fourth line from the bottom of the staff represents the pitch F below middle C.
Alto Clef
A symbol indicating that the third line from the bottom of the staff represents middle C.
Tenor Clef
A symbol indicating that the fourth line from the bottom of the staff represents middle C.
Sharp
A symbol that raises the pitch of a note by one half step.
Flat
A symbol that lowers the pitch of a note by one half step.
Natural
A symbol that cancels a previous sharp or flat within a measure.
Whole Note
A note symbol with a duration of four beats in common time.
Half Note
A note symbol with a duration of two beats in common time.
Quarter Note
A note symbol with a duration of one beat in common time.
Eighth Note
A note symbol with a duration of half a beat in common time.
Sixteenth Note
A note symbol with a duration of a quarter of a beat in common time.
Dotted Note
A note symbol with a dot that increases the duration of the basic note by half of its original value.
Tie
A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch, indicating they should be played as a single note with their durations added together.
Slur
A curved line that indicates a group of notes should be played legato, or smoothly and connected.
Fermata
A symbol placed above a note or rest to indicate it should be held longer than its normal duration.
Staccato
An articulation marking that indicates a note should be played shorter than its notated duration, usually half, giving it a detached sound.
Crescendo
A directive to gradually increase the volume of the music.
Diminuendo
A directive to gradually decrease the volume of the music.
Accent
An articulation marking that indicates a note should be played with more force and emphasis than those around it.
Time Signature
Two numbers, one on top of the other, at the beginning of the staff that indicate the number of beats in a measure and what note value is equal to one beat.
Key Signature
A group of sharps or flats placed after the clef at the beginning of each line of music that indicates the key of the music.
Bar Line
A vertical line through the stave that divides the music into measures or bars.
Double Bar Line
Two vertical lines that signify the end of a section of music or the end of a piece.
Repeat Sign
A sign that indicates a section should be repeated, consisting of a double bar line with two dots.
Da Capo (D.C.)
An Italian term meaning 'from the beginning' used as an instruction to repeat the previous part of the music from its start.
Dal Segno (D.S.)
An Italian term meaning 'from the sign' used to instruct the player to repeat from the nearest segno before proceeding.
Coda
A passage that brings a piece of music to an end, often using a symbol resembling a target.
Segno
A sign used in musical notation to mark a repeat from a particular point, indicated by a symbol with an 'S' shape.
Fine
An Italian word that appears in music notation indicating the end of a composition or a section of it.
Dynamics
A term which refers to the volume of a sound or note and the changes in volume experienced within a piece of music.
Forte
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played loudly.
Piano
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played softly.
Mezzo Forte
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played moderately loud.
Mezzo Piano
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played moderately soft.
Fortissimo
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played very loudly.
Pianissimo
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played very softly.
Sforzando
A dynamic marking that indicates a sudden, sharp accent on a note or chord.
Legato
A term indicating that musical notes are to be played smoothly and connected without any breaks.
Arpeggio
A musical term instructing to play the notes of a chord consecutively in a sequence, rather than simultaneously.
Glissando
A musical term indicating that a series of notes should be played in a continuous sliding motion from one pitch to another.
Trill
A musical term that indicates a rapid alternation between the specified note and the next higher note within its duration.
Mordent
A musical ornamentation where the principal note is rapidly alternated with the note below.
Turn
An ornament that consists of four notes that make a turn above and below the principal note, which is hit last.
Grace Note
An extra note added as an embellishment and not essential to the harmony or melody, played quickly before the main note of a piece of music.
Staff
Five horizontal lines and four spaces that represent different pitches in musical notation.
Ledger Line
A short line added for notes above or below the range of a staff.
Stem
The vertical line attached to the note head that indicates the note's duration and, in conjunction with beams, helps to show the rhythm.
Beam
A horizontal line connecting the stems of two or more eighth notes and other similarly valued notes in sequence.
Breath Mark
An indication in the music for the player to take a breath or for a slight pause.
Caesura
A symbol indicating a brief, silent pause, during which time is not counted.
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