Clef
A symbol placed at the beginning of a line of music that establishes the names of the lines and spaces of the staff. For example, the bass clef establishes F as being on the second line down, so all notes are spaced relative to the F.
Treble clef
A clef read by many of the higher sounding instruments and voices. The clef swirls around the second line from the bottom, marking this line as the G above middle C.
Bass clef
A clef read by many of the lower sounding instruments and voices. The two dots are placed above and below the second line from the top, marking that line as the F below middle C.
Grand staff
Together, the treble staff and the bass staff make up an all-encompassing staff known as the grand staff.
Middle C
The point at which the treble staff and the bass staff meet. It is found one ledger line below the treble staff and one ledger line above the bass staff.
Ledger lines
Extra lines that are added to a staff to include notes that are too high or too low to be on the staff.
C clef
A movable clef that is centered on whichever line or space is intended to represent middle C. There are two common positions for the C clef: Alto clef, which is centered on the center line, and tenor clef, which is centered on the second line from the top
Alto clef
A C clef is also known as "alto clef" when it is centered on the center line of the staff, marking that line as middle C. Commonly used by the viola.
Tenor clef.
A C clef is also known as "tenor clef" when it is centered on the second line from the top, marking that line as middle C.
Accidentals
Symbols that are placed to the left of noteheads to indicate the raising or lowering of a pitch.
Sharp (#)
A sharp symbol (#) raises the pitch half a step.
Flat (?)
A flat symbol (?) lowers the pitch half a step.
Double sharp (x)
A double sharp symbol (x) raises the pitch two half steps.
Double flat (??)
A double flat symbol (??) lowers the pitch two half steps.
Interval
The relationship between two tones. In Western music, the half step is the smallest interval used.
Enharmonic equivalents
Two notes that have the same pitch but different letter names (i.e. G# and A?, or B# and C).
Tie
A curved line that connects two adjacent notes of the same pitch into a single sound.
Dot
Placed to the right of a notehead (or rest), the dot lengthens the value of the note by half its value.
Rhythm
The motion of music in time.
Meter
A regular, recurring pattern of strong and weak beats.
Meter signature (time signature).
Two numbers that indicate the meter of the music following it. The top number represents the number of beats in a measure, and the bottom number represents what value note constitutes a beat. For example, in 3/4 time, there are three beats in each measure
Syncopation
A rhythm that accents a part of the measure that is usually unstressed. For example, a rhythm that accents the "and" of the third beat of a 4/4 measure would be considered syncopation, because the "and" of the third beat is not naturally accented in 4/4.
Dynamic markings
Markings that indicate the volume of sound.
Scale
A collection of pitches in ascending in descending order.
Major scale
The major scale is a scale consisting of a whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, and half step.
Tonic
Tonal center; the final resolution point. The tonic in the key of C is C.
Supertonic (2nd scale degree)
One step above the tonic. The supertonic in the key of C is D.
Mediant (3rd scale degree)
Midway between the tonic and the dominant. The mediant in the key of C is E (or E?).
Subdominant (4th scale degree)
One fifth down from the tonic. The subdominant in the key of C is F.
Dominant (5th scale degree)
One fifth up from the tonic. The dominant in the key of C is G.
Submediant (6th scale degree)
Halfway between the tonic and the subdominant. The submediant in the key of C is A (or A?).
Leading tone (7th scale degree)
Leads melodically to the tonic. The leading tone in the key of C is B (or B?).
Tetrachord
A group of four notes comprised of two whole steps followed by a half step (i.e. C, D, E, F). A major scale is made up of two tetrachords.
Transposition
The rewriting of a scale or piece so that it has a different tonic while retaining the same intervals.
Natural Minor Scale
A minor scale with the scale pattern of whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step. It can be created by lowering the third, sixth, and seventh degrees of a major scale by one half step.
Harmonic Minor Scale
A minor scale with the scale pattern of whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, step and a half, half step. It can be created by lowering the third and sixth degrees of a major scale by one half step, but keeping the seventh the same.
Circle of Fifths
Another way to visualize the relationship between the major scales and their relative minors. All of the key signatures are given within the circle.
Pentatonic Scale
A five tone scale, or "incomplete major scale." It consists of the tonic, second, third, fifth, and sixth of a major scale. It is used worldwide and is emphasized in East Asian music.
Interval
The relationship in pitch between two tones.
Harmony
The musical result of tones sounding together.
Chord
A chord is a harmonic unit with at least three different tones sounding together.
Triad
A three-note chord built in superposed thirds (example: C, E, and G)