#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 Staff Five lines and four spaces where notes are written tp-ap-music-theory Treble clef Clef for higher notes; circles the G line tp-ap-music-theory Bass clef Clef for lower notes; marks the F line tp-ap-music-theory Alto clef C clef used for viola; middle C on the center line tp-ap-music-theory Ledger line A short line extending the staff tp-ap-music-theory Grand staff Treble and bass staves joined together tp-ap-music-theory Middle C The C near the center of the piano keyboard tp-ap-music-theory Octave Interval of eight scale steps with the same note name tp-ap-music-theory Half step Smallest interval on a piano, adjacent keys tp-ap-music-theory Whole step Two half steps tp-ap-music-theory Sharp Raises a note by a half step tp-ap-music-theory Flat Lowers a note by a half step tp-ap-music-theory Natural Cancels a sharp or flat tp-ap-music-theory Enharmonic Same pitch, different name, like C sharp and D flat tp-ap-music-theory Accidental A sharp, flat or natural not in the key signature tp-ap-music-theory Key signature Sharps or flats at the start showing the key tp-ap-music-theory Circle of fifths Diagram of keys arranged by fifths tp-ap-music-theory Order of sharps F C G D A E B tp-ap-music-theory Order of flats B E A D G C F tp-ap-music-theory Major scale pattern Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half tp-ap-music-theory Natural minor scale pattern Whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole tp-ap-music-theory Relative minor A minor key sharing a key signature with a major key; starts a minor third below tp-ap-music-theory Parallel key Major and minor keys sharing the same tonic tp-ap-music-theory Harmonic minor Minor scale with a raised seventh tp-ap-music-theory Melodic minor Minor scale with raised sixth and seventh going up tp-ap-music-theory Pentatonic scale Five-note scale tp-ap-music-theory Chromatic scale All twelve pitches in half steps tp-ap-music-theory Whole-tone scale Six-note scale of all whole steps tp-ap-music-theory Tonic First scale degree; the home note tp-ap-music-theory Supertonic Second scale degree tp-ap-music-theory Mediant Third scale degree tp-ap-music-theory Subdominant Fourth scale degree tp-ap-music-theory Dominant Fifth scale degree tp-ap-music-theory Submediant Sixth scale degree tp-ap-music-theory Leading tone Seventh scale degree, a half step below the tonic tp-ap-music-theory Interval Distance between two pitches tp-ap-music-theory Perfect intervals Unison, fourth, fifth and octave tp-ap-music-theory Major third Interval of four half steps tp-ap-music-theory Minor third Interval of three half steps tp-ap-music-theory Perfect fifth Interval of seven half steps tp-ap-music-theory Tritone Interval of six half steps, an augmented fourth or diminished fifth tp-ap-music-theory Consonance A stable, pleasing combination of notes tp-ap-music-theory Dissonance A tense combination that seeks resolution tp-ap-music-theory Triad A three-note chord built in thirds tp-ap-music-theory Major triad Root, major third and perfect fifth tp-ap-music-theory Minor triad Root, minor third and perfect fifth tp-ap-music-theory Diminished triad Two stacked minor thirds tp-ap-music-theory Augmented triad Two stacked major thirds tp-ap-music-theory Seventh chord A triad plus a seventh above the root tp-ap-music-theory Dominant seventh Major triad with a minor seventh tp-ap-music-theory Root position Chord with its root in the bass tp-ap-music-theory First inversion Chord with the third in the bass tp-ap-music-theory Second inversion Chord with the fifth in the bass tp-ap-music-theory Roman numeral analysis Labeling chords by scale degree, upper case for major tp-ap-music-theory Primary chords I, IV and V tp-ap-music-theory Cadence Chord pair that ends a phrase tp-ap-music-theory Authentic cadence V to I tp-ap-music-theory Plagal cadence IV to I, the 'Amen' cadence tp-ap-music-theory Half cadence Phrase ends on V tp-ap-music-theory Deceptive cadence V to vi, avoiding the expected ending tp-ap-music-theory Harmonic progression A sequence of chords tp-ap-music-theory Modulation Changing from one key to another tp-ap-music-theory Tempo Speed of the music tp-ap-music-theory Allegro Fast and lively tp-ap-music-theory Andante Walking pace tp-ap-music-theory Adagio Slow tp-ap-music-theory Presto Very fast tp-ap-music-theory Ritardando Gradually slowing tp-ap-music-theory Accelerando Gradually speeding up tp-ap-music-theory Fermata A hold on a note or rest tp-ap-music-theory Time signature Numbers showing beats per measure and the note that gets a beat tp-ap-music-theory Simple meter Each beat divides into two tp-ap-music-theory Compound meter Each beat divides into three tp-ap-music-theory Syncopation Emphasis on weak beats tp-ap-music-theory Anacrusis Pickup notes before the first full measure tp-ap-music-theory Whole note Four beats in 4/4 tp-ap-music-theory Dotted note A dot adds half the note's length tp-ap-music-theory Tie A curve joining two notes of the same pitch tp-ap-music-theory Slur A curve connecting different notes to be played smoothly tp-ap-music-theory Triplet Three notes in the time of two tp-ap-music-theory Forte Loud tp-ap-music-theory Piano Soft tp-ap-music-theory Crescendo Gradually getting louder tp-ap-music-theory Diminuendo Gradually getting softer tp-ap-music-theory Staccato Short and detached tp-ap-music-theory Legato Smooth and connected tp-ap-music-theory Dynamics Loudness levels in music tp-ap-music-theory Timbre The tone color of a sound tp-ap-music-theory Texture How layers of sound combine tp-ap-music-theory Monophonic A single melodic line tp-ap-music-theory Homophonic Melody with chordal accompaniment tp-ap-music-theory Polyphonic Multiple independent melodic lines tp-ap-music-theory Counterpoint Combining independent melodies tp-ap-music-theory Fugue Polyphonic piece built on an imitated subject tp-ap-music-theory Canon A melody imitated exactly by another voice later tp-ap-music-theory Motive A short, recurring musical idea tp-ap-music-theory Phrase A musical sentence tp-ap-music-theory Binary form Two sections, AB tp-ap-music-theory Ternary form Three sections, ABA tp-ap-music-theory Rondo A form where the main theme returns, ABACA tp-ap-music-theory Sonata form Exposition, development, recapitulation tp-ap-music-theory Theme and variations A tune repeated with changes tp-ap-music-theory Figured bass Baroque shorthand using numbers to show chords tp-ap-music-theory Transposition Moving music to a different key tp-ap-music-theory Ostinato A repeated musical pattern tp-ap-music-theory