DECRESCENDO

(or decresc.)
Gradually get softer
DIMINUENDO

dim.
Gradually get softer
CRESCENDO

(or cresc.)
Gradually get louder
PIANO

p
Soft
PIANISSIMO

pp
Very soft
MEZZO PIANO

mp
Medium soft
MEZZO FORTE

mf
Medium loud
FORTE

f
Loud
FORTISSIMO

ff
Very loud
 SLUR

A curved line connecting two or more

different notes that tell you play them smooth
and connected (no tonguing between notes).
 ACCENT

An emphasis, stress or stronger

attack placed on a particular note.
 STACCATO

Play the note half its length

(play light & separated).
 TENUTO

Play the note full length (play

with more weight).
 LEGATO

Play the note smooth and

connected (no separation
between notes - lightly tongue).
 MARCATO

Play the note short with emphasis,

"hammered."
 TREBLE CLEF

Indicates the second line

of the staff is the note G.
 BASS CLEF

Indicates the fourth line of

the staff is the note F.
 STAFF

The five lines & four spaces

upon which music is written
 LEDGER LINES

Short lines added for notes above

or below the range of a staff.
 MEASURE

The space between

two barlines.
 BARLINE

A vertical line that divides

the staff into measures.
BREATH MARK

Indicates a needed
breath.
 FINAL BARLINE

Signifies the end of

section or piece of music.
 REPEAT SIGN

Indicates a section should

be repeated.
DOUBLE BARLINE

Separates two sections, or

phrases of music.
 SHARP

Raises a note by a half

step.
 FLAT

Lowers a note by a half

step.
 NATURAL

Cancels a sharp or flat.

 FERMATA

Hold a note or rest beyond

the normal duration.
MEASURE REPEAT

Repeat the previous

measure.
COMMON TIME

4/4 meter
 CUT TIME

2/2 meter; also known as

alla breve
PARTS OF A NOTE

FLAG

STEM

NOTE
HEAD

Tell us how long to hold a

note.
 BEAM

Connects multiple
consecutive notes to indicate
rhythmic grouping.
 TIE

A curved line connecting the heads of two notes of

the same pitch, indicating that they are to be played
as a single note with a duration equal to the sum of
the individual notes' values.
TIME SIGNATURE

Top number tells

us how many
beats in each
measure

Bottom number
tells us what kind
of note gets one
beat

A fraction that tells how many beats are

in a measure & what kind of note gets
one beat.