The following is a list of standard musical terms used by musicians and guitarists. Italian musical terms are often used in music reference material, and are their meanings are transcribed in this list. However, Italian words may have a different meaning when used in a musical context.
In addition, The list can never be complete. Some musicians coin their own words for some musical terms. For example, Gibson has its glossary of Les Paul guitar terms related to the Les Paul guitar.
Musical terms
A
Accent
An accent is an emphasis on one note. Accents come in three types: dynamic, agogic, and tonic. Furthermore, this is the accent symbol <.
Accelerando
Italian. (accel). In effect directs the musicians to play with a gradually increasing tempo.
Accidental
Symbols are used to raise or lower the pitch of a note by one-half step. Ex: sharps, flats, and naturals.
Adagio
Italian. In effect, a slow tempo.
Affrettando
Italian. (affret.) In effect, quickening or hurrying.
Allargando
Italian. In effect, gradually slower, louder, and broader.
Allegretto
Italian. (alltto.) In effect, light and cheerful. Faster than moderato, also, slower than allegro.
Allegro
Italian. In effect, a fast tempo. Also, in Italian, the word means lively or merry.
Andante
Italian. In effect, a moderately slow tempo. Also, in Italian, the word means walking.
Arpeggiation
Playing the notes of a chord one after the other.
Assai
Italian. In effect, very.
B
Bar Line
The vertical lines are drawn across the staff to indicate the measures in a musical composition.
Beam
A broad, straight line connecting two or more eighth notes.
Beat
The steady pulse of the music. In effect, beats form the basis of a sense of musical time.
Blue tone
Blue tones (‘worried’ tones) are tones that are between the diatonic and flatted thirds and sevenths. Also, they characterize the blues scales.
Blues scale
A major scale with a flat third and seventh. Furthermore, it must be remembered that the flat third and seventh were sometimes ‘worried’ notes. Thus their pitches did not always correspond to equal-tempered tuning.
Boogie-woogie
A modern blues style was created for the instrumental application. Furthermore, boogie-woogie is characterized by the adaptation of the ground bass principle. Also, a repetitious bass figure suggests the blues chord progression.
Brio
Italian In effect, with vigor and spirit.
C
Canon
A melody that can be sung against itself in imitation. Also called around.
Chord
A combination of three or more pitches sounding at the same time.
Chordal Texture
A texture in which the musical material is concentrated into chords with relatively little melodic activity.
Circle of Fifths
A clockface arrangement of the twelve pitches in the number of accidentals in the key signature.
Common Time – C
Another name for a 4/4 meter signature. They are sometimes written as a large capital C in place of a meter signature.
Compound Division
The division of the beat into three equal parts.
Compound Meter
A meter in which the beats have a compound division.
Consonance
A combination of sounds produces a feeling of stability. Or of little desire for resolution.
Crescendo
Italian. (cresc.) In effect, a gradual increase in loudness.
Cut Time
Another name for the 2/2 meter signature. It is written as a large capital C with a line drawn vertically through it.
D
Da capo
Italian. (D.C.) In effect, repeat from the beginning.
Dal segno
Italian. (D.S.) In effect, repeat from the sign.
Degree
One of the notes in a scale. In effect, degrees are usually numbered, starting with the tonic.
Decrescendo
Italian. (decresc.) In effect, a gradual decrease in loudness.
Diatonic
Any standard scale consists of whole and half steps in a pattern—the white keys on a piano instrument from a diatonic scale.
Diminuendo
Italian. (dim.) In effect, gradually softer.
Dissonance
A combination of sounds that produce harsh. Discordant results. Furthermore, they increase the desire for resolution.
Do
The solfeggio syllable corresponds to the tonic.
Dolce
Italian. (dol.) In effect, softly, sweetly, delicately.
Dominant
The fifth scale degree of a diatonic scale. Also, the solfeggio syllable Sol corresponds to the Dominant.
Double Flat
A symbol is written to the left of the note head. Also, It lowers the pitch by a whole step. It is double the effect of a single flat. In effect, the symbol looks like two flats connected.
Double Sharp
They are written to the left of a note. In effect, the double sharp raises the pitch of a note by a whole step. It is double the effect of a single sharp. The symbol looks like an X.
Duple Meter
A meter that consists of two beats.
Dynamic Accent
It is often indicated with an accent sign. In effect, this is an accent created when one note is louder than the surrounding notes.
E
Enharmonic
Two tones have the same pitch but different spelling.
Espressivo
Italian. (express.) In effect, with expression.
F
Fa
The solfeggio syllable corresponds to the subdominant.
Fine
Italian. In effect, the end.
Flag
The curved shaded line extending from the head of a stem is used to indicate an eighth or shorter note.
Forte
Italian. (f.) Loud.
Fortissimo
Italian. (ff.) Very loud.
G
Grand Staff
Keyboard music is frequently rotated using this combination of the treble and bass clefs. In effect, the two staves are arranged treble over the bass. Also, a long, curved, thick bar connects the two staves.
Grave
Slow, solemn, deep.
Grazioso
Italian. In effect, gracefully.
H
Half Step
The smallest interval on the standard keyboard. The interval between two adjacent keys (incl. both black and white keys) is a half step.
Harmonic Progression
Movement from one chord to the next. A succession of chords or a chord progression.
Harmony
The study of simultaneously sounding tones.
I
Imitation
A melody or melodic group is repeated at different pitch levels.
Improvise
To play on the spur of the moment. Furthermore, to perform without a prepared text or composed material.
Interval
The relationship between two tones.
Interval, Compound
Any interval is greater than one octave. Furthermore, compound intervals are usually expressed as simple equivalents. (the “extra” octave is subtracted). Ex: A major tenth interval is a simple major third.
Inversion (of a melody)
An ascending interval in a melody becomes a Descending interval (and vice versa) of the same size in the inversion of the piece.
Inversion (of intervals)
The lower tone forming the interval becomes the upper tone (or vice versa).
J
Jazz
The blues, popular songs, and other musical genres influence a popular music style. Highly sophisticated improvised melodic lines characterize jazz over chord progressions (changes) with a steady beat and considerable syncopation.
K
Key
Music based on a major or minor scale is said to be in a key. Keys are identified by their tonic.
Key Signature
In effect, the arrangement of accidentals at the beginning of a staff. Also, the key signature indicates the pitches that will be most common in a piece of music. Furthermore, key signatures are associated with particular major and minor scales.
L
La
The solfeggio symbol corresponds to the submediant.
Larghetto
Italian. In effect, a tempo is slightly faster than largo.
Largo
Italian. In effect, a very slow tempo. In Italian, the word means broad.
Ledger Line
A small line is written above or below the staff to extend its range.
Leggiero
Italian. (leggo.) In effect, light, delicate.
M
Major Scale
A diatonic scale with half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth scale degrees.
Marcato
Italian. (marc.) In effect, maked, accented.
Measure
In effect, the one-meter unit consists of some accented and unaccented beats. Also, a measure is indicated in music notation by bar lines.
Melody
In effect, an organized succession of pitches.
Meno mosso
Italian. In effect, less quickly.
Meter
The system of regularly recurring pulses. Periodic accents most often group them.
Meter Signature
A symbol is placed at the beginning of a composition to indicate the meter of the piece. Furthermore, meter signatures usually consist of two numbers. Also, the lower means the note of the value. And the upper the number of these notes per measure.
Meter, Asymmetrical
Meters in which the pulse cannot be divided into equal groupings of two, three, or four in the measure. Furthermore, the groups, instead, are uneven. Examples include 7/4, 5/4, 11/8.
Meter, Compound
In effect, a meter in which the basic pulse may be subdivided into groups of three. Furthermore, examples include 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8.
Meter, Simple
In effect, meter signatures whose upper numbers are 1,2,3, or 4. Simple meters can be divided into multiples of two(duples).
Mezzoforte
Italian. (m.f.) In effect, moderately loud.
Mezzo-piano
Italian. (m.p.) In effect, moderately soft.
Mi
Mi is the solfeggio syllable that corresponds to the mediant.
Middle C
The C is nearest to the middle of the piano keyboard. In effect, this note is an essential point of reference because it is on the ledger line between the treble and bass on the ground staff.
Moderato
Italian. In effect, moderate speed.
Modes, Authentic
In effect, associated with Gregorian chants. Furthermore, the Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes are considered authentic. Each has the final as the first note.
Modes, Plagal
They are also associated with the Gregorian chants. In effect, the Hypodorian, Hypophrygian, Hypolydian, and Hypomixolydian modes extend above and below the final.
Morendo
Italian. (mor.) In effect, fading away.
N
Natural
A symbol is written to the left of a note head. In effect, the natural cancels a previous sharp or flat.
Natural Minor Scale
The basic form of a minor scale. The natural minor contains half steps between scale Degrees 2-3 and 5-6.
Nonharmonic Tone
In effect, a tone that does not fit into the surrounding harmony.
Notation, Tablature
Notation using letters, numbers, or a diagram. In the case of guitars, lutes, and vihuela, the diagrams frequently represent the instrument’s strings.
O
Ostinato
Italian. In effect, a short musical pattern repeats throughout a given passage. Furthermore, ostinatos are generally a part of the supporting or accompanying material in a piece of music.
P
Piano
Italian. (p.) In effect, soft.
Pianissimo
Italian. (p.p.) In effect, extremely soft.
Pitch class
All notes of the same name are on the keyboard.
Poco a poco
Italian. In effect, little by little.
Prestissimo
Italian. In effect, as fast as possible. Also, faster than presto.
Presto
Italian. In effect, a very fast tempo. Also faster than allegro.
Primary Melody
In effect, the most significant melodic idea in a given musical texture.
Q
Quadruple Meter
In effect, a meter consists of four beats.
R
Rallentando
Italian. (rall.) In effect, gradually slower.
Re
Re is the solfeggio syllable that corresponds to the supertonic.
Rhythm
In effect, the movement of the music in time—furthermore a pattern of different duration over the steady background of the beat.
Ritardando
Italian. (rit.) In effect, gradual lessening of tempo.
Ritenuto
Italian. In effect, immediate reduction in tempo.
Round
In effect, a cannon in unison. One singer begins the round. Furthermore, as the first singer reaches a specific point, a second singer starts at the beginning. Also, rounds are usually in three or four parts.
S
Scale
In effect, a summary of the pitches in a piece of music is arranged in order from the lowest to the highest.
Sequence, Modulating
In effect, a sequence that leads from one tonal center to the next.
Sforzando
Italian. (sfz.) In effect, with sudden emphasis.
Simple Division
In effect, the division of the beat into two equal parts.
Simple Meter
In effect, a meter has a simple division of the beat.
Sol
In effect, the solfeggio syllable corresponds to the dominant.
Solfeggio
Italian. In effect, a system is used to help singers to remember the pitches of a piece or section of music.
Spacing
In effect, the interval distance between voices or pitches of a chord.
Staff
In effect, a group of five horizontal lines on which music is written.
Subdivision
In effect, the division of the beat in simple meter (div. by two) into four equal parts or in compound meter (div. by three) into six equal parts.
Swing
In effect, the rhythmic style of most jazz. In swing music. Furthermore, the division of the beats is uneven, and there is considerable stress on the notes between beats. The feeling of swing music is compound. Also, it is usually written simply.
Syncopation
In effect, a rhythm usually unaccented beats are stressed either through agogic or dynamic rhythm.
T
Tempo
In effect, The speed of the beat in music. In summary, the tempo may be expressed in general terms (slow, fast, warp-speed) or beats per minute.
Tessitura
Italian. The average range of a particular voice or instrument in a composition is in effect. Furthermore, If a tessitura is “high,” the notes tend to be in the higher extreme of the entire range of that voice or instrument.
Texture
In effect, a term refers to how the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are woven together in a piece of music.
Theme
In effect, a melodic figure or phrase is the basis for a composition or a section of a composition. Furthermore, themes can and are repeated in many different formats and other voices or instruments. Also, some excellent examples of thematic presentation are the closing credits for any Star Wars movie. The ending music presents all the themes presented in the film.*
Ti
Italian. In effect, the solfeggio syllable corresponds to the leading tone.
Tie
In effect, a curved line connecting two notes. Furthermore, the tie indicates that the notes are played as a single note.
Tonality
In effect, a system of tones (ex: tones of the major scale). Generally, its use is so that one tone becomes central, and the remaining tones assume a hierarchy based on this interval relationship to the main tone or tonal center.
Tone
In effect, a musical sound of definite pitch.
Tonic
In effect, the keynote of a piece of music. The tone is felt to be a point of rest. Music often concludes on this note for a feeling of completeness.
Transposition
In summary, it is a process of rewriting a piece of music or a scale to sound higher or lower in pitch. This involves raising or lowering each pitch by the same interval.
Triad
In effect, a triad is a three-tone chord. Also, the four types of triads are major, minor, diminished, and augmented.
Triple Meter
In effect, a meter consists of three beats.
U
Unison
In effect, the two pitches are the same. Also, several singers sing a melody together.
V
Vivace
Italian. In effect, lively, quick.
W
Whole Step
In effect, an interval consisting of two half steps.
Resources
1. Music Theory Dictionary. Method-behind-the-music.com. https://method-behind-the-music.com/theory/dictionary/. Published 2017. Accessed June 2, 2020.
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