Music Theory — Fundamentals

Major Scale

A diatonic scale with the sequence of whole and half steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

What are dynamics in music?

The variations in loudness or intensity of a musical passage, indicated by terms such as piano (soft) and forte (loud).

Time Signature

A notational convention used to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat.

What is an interval?

The distance between two pitches, measured in terms of steps on a scale.

Sharp

A symbol (♯) indicating that the note is to be raised by one half step.

Bass Clef

A symbol indicating that the fourth line of the stave represents the note F below middle C.

Chord

A group of notes played together, typically consisting of a root, third, and fifth.

What is a melody?

A series of musical notes that are perceived as a single entity, often forming the main theme of a piece.

Flat

A symbol (♭) indicating that the note is to be lowered by one half step.

Octave

An interval spanning eight notes of the diatonic scale, where the first and eighth notes have the same name.

What is harmony in music?

The combination of different musical notes played or sung simultaneously to produce a pleasing sound.

Ledger Line

A short line used to extend the range of the staff for notes higher or lower than the available lines and spaces.

Rest

A symbol indicating a period of silence in a piece of music.

What is a key signature?

A set of sharp or flat symbols placed at the beginning of a staff, indicating the key of the piece by specifying which notes are consistently sharp or flat.

Natural

A symbol (♮) indicating that a note is neither sharp nor flat, reverting to its original pitch.

Tempo

The speed at which a piece of music is played, usually indicated in beats per minute (BPM).

What is a cadence?

A sequence of chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music, creating a sense of resolution.

Dotted Note

A note with a small dot after it, increasing its duration by half of its original value.

Arpeggio

A type of broken chord where the notes are played in succession rather than simultaneously.

What is a key in music?

A group of pitches or scale upon which a piece of music is based, including a central note called the tonic.

Polyphony

A texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to monophony.

What is a motif in music?

A short musical idea or pattern that is characteristic of a composition and acts as a unifying element.

Syncopation

A disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm, often by emphasizing off-beats.