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Musical Notations and Meanings
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Bass Clef
A symbol indicating that the fourth line from the bottom of the staff represents the pitch F below middle C.
Whole Note
A musical note with the time value of four beats in common time, represented as an open note head without a stem.
Decrescendo or Diminuendo
A symbol indicating that the volume should gradually decrease.
Mordent
An ornament indicating that a note should be played with a rapid alternation with the note above or below.
Alto Clef
A symbol where the third line of the staff denotes middle C, commonly used for viola music.
Natural (♮)
A symbol that cancels any previous sharps or flats on a note and returns it to its original pitch.
Quarter Note
A musical note with the time value of one beat in common time.
Dotted Note
A dot after a note that increases the note's duration by half of its original value.
Sforzando (sfz)
A musical indication for a sudden and strong accent on a note or chord.
Accelerando (accel.)
A term indicating that the music should gradually speed up.
Half Note
A musical note with the time value of two beats in common time.
Slur
A curved line indicating that the notes it encompasses should be played legato, or smoothly connected.
Glissando
A glide from one pitch to another, ensuring that every intermediate note is heard.
Arpeggio
A broken chord where the notes are played in succession rather than simultaneously.
Tenor Clef
A symbol where the fourth line of the staff denotes middle C; often used for high-range instruments like the cello and trombone.
Coda
A concluding section of a piece of music, sometimes using new material, sometimes a summarization.
Tie
A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch, indicating they should be played as a single note with a combined duration.
Pizzicato
A technique where stringed instruments are played by plucking the strings with the fingers instead of using the bow.
Staccato
A dot above or below a note head indicating the note should be played shortly and detached.
Fine
A term used to denote the end of a piece of music or the end of a particular section.
Repeat Sign
Two dots with a double bar line, indicating a section of music that should be repeated.
Pedal Mark
Indicates when the sustain pedal of the piano should be pressed or released.
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.
Da Capo (D.C.)
A directive to repeat a section of music from the beginning.
Metronome Mark
A number often given at the start of a piece of music, indicating the exact tempo.
Time Signature
A symbol at the beginning of a piece of music indicating how many beats are in each measure and which note value is equivalent to one beat.
Ritardando (rit.)
A term indicating that the music should gradually slow down.
Trill (tr)
A musical ornament that consists of a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, usually a semitone or tone apart.
Grace Note
A type of musical ornament that is played as a quick, extra note just before the main note of a melody, adding embellishment.
Fermata
A symbol placed over a note or a rest indicating it should be held longer than its notated duration.
Accent
A symbol indicating the note should be played with more emphasis or attack.
Segno
A special sign used to mark a place in the music from which a D.S. (Dal Segno) indication would commence.
Tempo
The speed or pace of a given piece of music.
Dynamics
Symbols or words that indicate the loudness or softness of the music, as well as the way in which loud and soft passages are to be played.
Piano (p)
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played softly.
Treble Clef
A symbol indicating that the second line from the bottom of the staff represents the pitch G above middle C.
Key Signature
A set of sharp or flat symbols placed at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key of the piece of music.
Eighth Note
A musical note with the time value of half a beat in common time.
Sixteenth Note
A musical note with the time value of a quarter of a beat in common time.
Crescendo
A symbol indicating that the volume should gradually increase.
Dal Segno (D.S.)
A directive to repeat a section of music starting from the sign (segno).
Forte (f)
A dynamic marking that indicates the music should be played loudly.
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