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The Complete Idiot’s

Music Glossary

a cappella Vocal music, without instrumental accompaniment.

a tempo Return to the previous tempo.

accelerando Gradually speed up. (Abbreviated as accel.)

accent A note played louder or with more emphasis than regular notes.

accidental A marking used to raise and lower the indicated pitch. Sharps raise
the note a half step, flats lower the note a half step, and naturals return the note
to the original pitch.

adagietto Tempo marking for a moderately slow tempo, slightly faster than
adagio.

adagio Tempo marking for a moderately slow tempo.

adante Tempo marking for a moderate, walking tempo.

adantino Tempo marking for a moderate tempo, slightly faster than adante.

Aeolian mode A mode starting on the sixth degree of the corresponding major
scale, equivalent to the natural minor scale. See minor and mode.

allegretto Tempo marking for a moderately fast tempo, not quite as fast as
allegro.

allegro Tempo marking for a fast, cheerful tempo.

altered bass chord A chord with some note other than the root in the bass.
The altered bass note is typically notated after a slash, like this: Am7/D.

alto clef A clef, used primarily by the viola, that places middle C on the mid-
dle line of the staff.

alto voice The lowest female voice.

arpeggio A chord that is broken up and played one note at a time.

articulation The manner in which notes are struck, sustained, and released.
One indicates articulation by the use of markings such as legato, staccato,
tenuto, and so on.

Appendix