Basic Music Vocabulary Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a staff?

The five lines and four spaces that music is written on.

What is the purpose of a clef in music?

The symbol placed at the beginning of the staff that indicates the note names of each line and space.

What does a time signature indicate?

It indicates how many beats are in a measure and what kind of note receives one beat.

What is rhythm in music?

A well-defined pattern of tones usually organized around a pulse or beat. Signup and view all the answers

What does pitch refer to?

How high or low a tone sounds. Signup and view all the answers

Define melody.

A succession of tones or the dominant tune. Signup and view all the answers

What is harmony?

A combination of tones sounded simultaneously to produce a chord. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a chord?

The sounding of two or more notes (usually at least three) simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

What is a triad?

A chord made up of three notes based on the interval of a third. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the root of a chord?

The fundamental note of a chord that gives the chord its letter name. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term interval refer to?

The distance between two pitches. Signup and view all the answers

Define half step.

A minor second, this is the smallest interval in Western music. Signup and view all the answers

What is a whole step in music?

A major second, it's made up of two half steps. Signup and view all the answers

What is a skip in musical terms?

Any interval bigger than a whole step. Signup and view all the answers

What is a third in music intervals?

An interval that spans two steps, it can be major or minor. Signup and view all the answers

Define fifth in musical terms.

An interval that spans four steps, it's one of two perfect intervals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a scale?

A series of tones in ascending or descending order that present the pitches of a key, beginning and ending on the tonic. Signup and view all the answers

What does tonic mean in music?

The note upon which a scale or key is based, it is always the first note in a scale and gives the scale its letter name. Signup and view all the answers

What is a repeat sign?

The symbol with two bar lines and two dots that tells you to repeat a section of music. Signup and view all the answers

Define multi-measure rest.

The particular symbol and number placed within one measure that indicates multiple measures of rest. Signup and view all the answers

What are dynamic markings?

The symbols below the staff that tell you at what volume you should be playing. Signup and view all the answers

What are multiple endings in music?

When present, most commonly a first then second ending of a song. Signup and view all the answers

What does key signature mean?

The sharps or flats placed at the beginning of the staff between the clef and time signature. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by a key in music?

The specific scale that defines a particular tonality (or sound). Signup and view all the answers

What is an accidental in music?

A sharp, flat, or natural that is placed before a note within a measure. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Music Vocabulary

Staff: Composed of five lines and four spaces where music notation is created.
Clef: A symbol at the staff's beginning that assigns note names to lines and spaces.
Time Signature: Indicates the number of beats in a measure and the type of note that gets one beat, placed at the start of the staff.
Rhythm: A structured pattern of tones organized around a consistent pulse or beat.
Pitch: Refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a sound.
Melody: A sequence of notes perceived as a single musical entity, typically the main tune.
Harmony: The simultaneous combination of different musical notes to create chords.
Chord: Involves playing two or more notes at the same time, typically at least three.
Triad: A specific chord consisting of three notes based on the interval of a third.
Root: The base note of a chord, determining its name and structure.
Interval: The distance in pitch between two notes, crucial for understanding music theory.
Half Step: The smallest interval in Western music, equivalent to a minor second.
Whole Step: Composed of two half steps, representing a major second interval.
Skip: Any interval larger than a whole step, useful in various scales and melodies.
Third: An interval covering two steps, categorized as either major or minor.
Fifth: An interval that spans four steps, recognized as one of the two perfect intervals in music.
Scale: A sequence of notes arranged in ascending or descending order, outlining the pitches of a key and starting and ending on the tonic.
Tonic: The foundational note of a scale, serving as the first note and determining the scale's letter name.
Repeat Sign: A musical notation indicating that a section should be played again, represented by two bar lines and two dots.
Multi-measure Rest: A symbol indicating that the musician should remain silent for multiple measures.
Dynamic Markings: Symbols indicating the volume at which music should be performed, typically found below the staff.
Multiple Endings: Commonly found in music, this concept includes first and second endings for sections of a piece.
Key Signature: A set of sharps or flats positioned at the beginning of the staff, providing information about the key of the piece.
Key: Defines the tonality or sound of a piece, specifying the particular scale used.
Accidental: Symbols like sharps, flats, or naturals that alter the pitch of a note within a measure.

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Description

This quiz introduces the fundamental vocabulary of music theory through flashcards. Each card features a term such as 'Staff' or 'Clef', along with its definition, providing a foundational understanding for music learners.