Piano Terms & Symbols Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a quarter note?

2 beats

1 beat (correct)

4 beats

1/2 beat

What is the duration of a half note?

2 beats (correct)

1 beat

4 beats

1/2 beat

How long does an eighth note last?

1 beat

1/2 beat (correct)

1/4 beat

2 beats

What is the value of a sixteenth note?

1/4 beat Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of a whole note?

4 beats Signup and view all the answers

How many beats of silence does a half rest represent?

2 beats Signup and view all the answers

What is a whole rest?

4 beats of silence Signup and view all the answers

What is the value of an eighth rest?

1/2 beat of silence Signup and view all the answers

What does a dotted note do?

Adds 50% to note value Signup and view all the answers

What does 'repeat' mean in musical terms?

Define a passage that is to be played more than once. Signup and view all the answers

What does a fermata indicate?

Hold Signup and view all the answers

What does a sharp do to a note?

Raises a note by a half step Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of a flat on a note?

Lowers a note by a half step Signup and view all the answers

What does a natural symbol do?

Cancels a sharp or flat Signup and view all the answers

What is the treble clef also known as?

G clef Signup and view all the answers

What does the base clef signify?

F clef Signup and view all the answers

What does the top number of a time signature indicate?

The number of beats per measure Signup and view all the answers

What does the bottom number of a time signature specify?

What note gets one beat Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fortissimo' refer to in dynamics?

Very loud Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mezzoforte' mean?

Moderately loud Signup and view all the answers

What does 'piano' indicate in music?

Soft Signup and view all the answers

What does 'forte' signify?

Loud Signup and view all the answers

What does 'crescendo' mean in music?

Gradually increasing the strength Signup and view all the answers

What does 'decrescendo' mean?

Gradually decreasing the strength Signup and view all the answers

What does 'allegro' mean in musical terms?

Fast and lively Signup and view all the answers

What does 'andante' refer to?

Walking speed Signup and view all the answers

What does 'adagio' signify?

Slow and solemn Signup and view all the answers

What does 'rit.' indicate?

Indicates gradual decrease in tempo. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'accel.' mean?

Indicates gradual increase in tempo. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'a tempo' mean?

Go back to original speed. Signup and view all the answers

How do you find the name of a key signature for sharps?

The note above the last sharp. Signup and view all the answers

How do you find the name of a key signature for flats?

The second to last flat. Signup and view all the answers

What is a multi-measure rest?

Indicates the number of measures to rest. Signup and view all the answers

What are beamed notes?

Connected notes to show rhythmic grouping. Signup and view all the answers

What does the time signature top number represent?

Number of beats per measure. Signup and view all the answers

What does the time signature bottom number indicate?

What note gets one beat. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'D.C.' stand for?

(da capo) repeat from the beginning. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'D.S.' mean?

(dal segno) repeat from the sign. Signup and view all the answers

What is a segno?

The symbol that marks the beginning or end of a musical repeat. Signup and view all the answers

What does coda mean?

Indicates a forward jump in the music to its ending passage. Signup and view all the answers

What do simile marks indicate?

Denote that preceding groups of beats or measures are to be repeated. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ottava alta (8va)' mean?

One octave higher. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'quindicesima alta (15ma)' signify?

Two octaves higher. Signup and view all the answers

What is an appoggiatura?

The first half of the principal note's duration has the pitch of the grace note. Signup and view all the answers

What is an acciaccatura?

Very short note played before a longer one. Signup and view all the answers

What does staccato mean?

Short and detached. Signup and view all the answers

What is a slur?

Play the notes smoothly/unbroken (usually legato). Signup and view all the answers

What is a chord?

Several notes sounded together. Signup and view all the answers

What is an arpeggiated chord?

(Broken chord) notes played in rapid succession. Signup and view all the answers

What is Glissando/Portamento?

Continuous slide between 2 notes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a tie in music?

Two or more notes that are played as one note. Signup and view all the answers

What is a metronome mark?

Number of beats per minute of the corresponding note. Signup and view all the answers

What does common time mean?

Study Notes

Note Values

Quarter Note: Represents 1 beat.
Half Note: Represents 2 beats.
Eighth Note: Represents 1/2 beat.
Sixteenth Note: Represents 1/4 beat.
Whole Note: Represents 4 beats.

Rests

Half Rest: Indicates 2 beats of silence.
Whole Rest: Indicates 4 beats of silence.
Eighth Rest: Indicates 1/2 beat of silence.
Quarter Rest: Indicates 1 beat of silence.

Notation Modifiers

Dotted Note: Increases note value by 50%.
Sharp: Raises a note by a half step.
Flat: Lowers a note by a half step.
Natural: Cancels previous sharps or flats.

Clefs

Treble Clef: Indicates G note, used for higher pitches.
Bass Clef: Indicates F note, used for lower pitches.

Time Signature

Top Number: Specifies beats per measure.
Bottom Number: Indicates which note receives one beat.

Dynamics

ff: Fortissimo, very loud.
mf: Mezzoforte, moderately loud.
p: Piano, soft.
f: Forte, loud.
mp: Mezzopiano, moderately soft.
pp: Pianissimo, very soft.
Crescendo: Gradually increasing volume.
Decrescendo: Gradually decreasing volume.

Tempo Markings

Allegro: Lively pace.
Andante: Walking speed.
Adagio: Slow and solemn.
Ritardando (rit.): Gradual decrease in tempo.
Accelerando (accel.): Gradual increase in tempo.
A Tempo: Return to original speed.

Key Signatures

For Sharps: Name is the note above the last sharp.
For Flats: Name is the second to last flat.

Rests and Repeats

Multi-measure Rest: Indicates number of measures to rest.
Beamed Notes: Indicates rhythmic grouping, often 8th or 16th notes.
D.C. (Da Capo): Repeat from the beginning.
D.S. (Dal Segno): Repeat from the sign.
Segno: Symbol marking the start or end of a repeat.
Coda: Forward jump to the ending passage after a repeat.

Articulation

Appoggiatura: First half of the note's duration matches the pitch of a grace note.
Acciaccatura: Very short note that precedes a longer note.
Staccato: Notes played short and detached.
Slur: Smoothly connect the notes without breaks.
Tie: Combine two or more notes into one with total time value.

Chords

Chord: Combination of several notes played together.
Arpeggiated Chord: Notes played in rapid succession, usually ascending.

Special Techniques

Glissando/Portamento: Smooth continuous slide between two notes.

Metronome

Metronome Mark: Specifies beats per minute for a corresponding note.

Common Time

Common Time: Identified as 4/4 time signature.

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Description

Test your knowledge of essential piano terminology with these flashcards. Each card features a musical term along with its definition, helping you understand the basics of note durations and rests in music. Perfect for beginners and piano enthusiasts alike!