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Music Theory Key Terms
Notation, scales, intervals, chords, rhythm, harmony and form.
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105 cards
- StaffTermFive lines and four spaces where notes are written
- Treble clefTermClef for higher notes; circles the G line
- Bass clefTermClef for lower notes; marks the F line
- Alto clefTermC clef used for viola; middle C on the center line
- Ledger lineTermA short line extending the staff
- Grand staffTermTreble and bass staves joined together
- Middle CTermThe C near the center of the piano keyboard
- OctaveTermInterval of eight scale steps with the same note name
- Half stepTermSmallest interval on a piano, adjacent keys
- Whole stepTermTwo half steps
- SharpTermRaises a note by a half step
- FlatTermLowers a note by a half step
- NaturalTermCancels a sharp or flat
- EnharmonicTermSame pitch, different name, like C sharp and D flat
- AccidentalTermA sharp, flat or natural not in the key signature
- Key signatureTermSharps or flats at the start showing the key
- Circle of fifthsTermDiagram of keys arranged by fifths
- Order of sharpsTermF C G D A E B
- Order of flatsTermB E A D G C F
- Major scale patternTermWhole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half
- Natural minor scale patternTermWhole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole
- Relative minorTermA minor key sharing a key signature with a major key; starts a minor third below
- Parallel keyTermMajor and minor keys sharing the same tonic
- Harmonic minorTermMinor scale with a raised seventh
- Melodic minorTermMinor scale with raised sixth and seventh going up
- Pentatonic scaleTermFive-note scale
- Chromatic scaleTermAll twelve pitches in half steps
- Whole-tone scaleTermSix-note scale of all whole steps
- TonicTermFirst scale degree; the home note
- SupertonicTermSecond scale degree
- MediantTermThird scale degree
- SubdominantTermFourth scale degree
- DominantTermFifth scale degree
- SubmediantTermSixth scale degree
- Leading toneTermSeventh scale degree, a half step below the tonic
- IntervalTermDistance between two pitches
- Perfect intervalsTermUnison, fourth, fifth and octave
- Major thirdTermInterval of four half steps
- Minor thirdTermInterval of three half steps
- Perfect fifthTermInterval of seven half steps
- TritoneTermInterval of six half steps, an augmented fourth or diminished fifth
- ConsonanceTermA stable, pleasing combination of notes
- DissonanceTermA tense combination that seeks resolution
- TriadTermA three-note chord built in thirds
- Major triadTermRoot, major third and perfect fifth
- Minor triadTermRoot, minor third and perfect fifth
- Diminished triadTermTwo stacked minor thirds
- Augmented triadTermTwo stacked major thirds
- Seventh chordTermA triad plus a seventh above the root
- Dominant seventhTermMajor triad with a minor seventh
- Root positionTermChord with its root in the bass
- First inversionTermChord with the third in the bass
- Second inversionTermChord with the fifth in the bass
- Roman numeral analysisTermLabeling chords by scale degree, upper case for major
- Primary chordsTermI, IV and V
- CadenceTermChord pair that ends a phrase
- Authentic cadenceTermV to I
- Plagal cadenceTermIV to I, the 'Amen' cadence
- Half cadenceTermPhrase ends on V
- Deceptive cadenceTermV to vi, avoiding the expected ending
- Harmonic progressionTermA sequence of chords
- ModulationTermChanging from one key to another
- TempoTermSpeed of the music
- AllegroTermFast and lively
- AndanteTermWalking pace
- AdagioTermSlow
- PrestoTermVery fast
- RitardandoTermGradually slowing
- AccelerandoTermGradually speeding up
- FermataTermA hold on a note or rest
- Time signatureTermNumbers showing beats per measure and the note that gets a beat
- Simple meterTermEach beat divides into two
- Compound meterTermEach beat divides into three
- SyncopationTermEmphasis on weak beats
- AnacrusisTermPickup notes before the first full measure
- Whole noteTermFour beats in 4/4
- Dotted noteTermA dot adds half the note's length
- TieTermA curve joining two notes of the same pitch
- SlurTermA curve connecting different notes to be played smoothly
- TripletTermThree notes in the time of two
- ForteTermLoud
- PianoTermSoft
- CrescendoTermGradually getting louder
- DiminuendoTermGradually getting softer
- StaccatoTermShort and detached
- LegatoTermSmooth and connected
- DynamicsTermLoudness levels in music
- TimbreTermThe tone color of a sound
- TextureTermHow layers of sound combine
- MonophonicTermA single melodic line
- HomophonicTermMelody with chordal accompaniment
- PolyphonicTermMultiple independent melodic lines
- CounterpointTermCombining independent melodies
- FugueTermPolyphonic piece built on an imitated subject
- CanonTermA melody imitated exactly by another voice later
- MotiveTermA short, recurring musical idea
- PhraseTermA musical sentence
- Binary formTermTwo sections, AB
- Ternary formTermThree sections, ABA
- RondoTermA form where the main theme returns, ABACA
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