Repeat sign ( )Two vertical lines with two dots placed in front or after the lines, instructing the musician
to repeat a section.
Rest Asymbol to represent a specific duration of silence.
Rhythm The movement of music in time; the relative duration of sounds or silence.
Roman numerals Roman numerals are drawn below the staff to represent the number note in the scale (scale
degree) on which a chord is based. For example, the roman numeral IV or iv represents the subdominant
triad in a major and minor key, respectively.
Root The note on which a chord is built; the root gives the chord its letter name.
Root position Achord position with the root of the chord in the lowest note; for example, GBD, with G as the
lowest note of the G triad.
Scale Apattern of notes consisting of a variety of intervals, usually whole steps and half steps. Some examples
include the major, three forms of minor, whole tone, pentatonic, and chromatic scales.
Scale degree Names given to specific notes of major and minor scales; for example, in G major the first note
of the scale (G) is the tonic.
Second inversion Achord position with the fifth of the chord as the lowest note; for example, DGB, with D
being the fifth of the triad GBD.
Secondary triads Triads of the scale that are less frequently occurring and less closely related to the tonic;
these are the supertonic, mediant, submediant, and leading tone.
Seventh chord In its simplest form, four notes, consecutive thirds apart. There are five qualities of seventh
chords: major, dominant seventh, minor, half diminished, and diminished.
Sharp An accidental (#)used to raise a note a half step.
Simple interval An interval of an octave or less.
Slur Acurved line above or below two or more different pitches indicating to play those notes smoothly or
connected.
Solfège Singing with syllables as described by the eleventh-century monk Guido d’Arezzo. Today, there are
seven syllables: Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti.
Staccato An articulation ( ) above or below a note head indicating to play that note detached or unconnected.
Staff (pl. staves) A system of five parallel lines and four spaces on which notes are written to represent pitches;
the higher the pitch, the higher it will be placed on the staff.
Stem Avertical line attached on the right above a note head, or on the left below a note head. All rhythmic
values shorter than the whole note use stems.
Subdominant The fourth note (or chord) in a scale.
Submediant The sixth note (or chord) in a scale.
Subtonic The seventh note (or chord) in a natural minor scale and the descending form of the melodic
minor.
Supertonic The second note (or chord) in a scale.
Syncopation The shift in accent from what is normally a strong beat in a measure, to a weak beat; the rhythmic
emphasis on a weak beat.
Tablature Atype of notation that uses symbols, letters, or figures to describe how fingers are to be placed to
produce a pitch, rather than the pitch as shown on a staff.
Tempo The rate of speed of the pulse. Frequently, Italian words are used; for example, Allegrofor fast, and
Lentofor slow.
Tenor clef (see C clef) The sign ( ) indicating that the fourth line from the bottom of the staff is middle C.
Ternary form Athree-part form (ABA) with the B section in a contrasting but related key.
Tetrachord Apattern of four adjacent notes spanning a perfect fourth; from the Greek words tetra(“four”) and
chorde ̄(“string”).
Third inversion Achord position with the seventh of the chord as the lowest note; for example, FGBD, with
the F as the seventh note in the seventh chord GBDF.
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