The Complete Idiot’s Music Glossary 267
compound chord Two chords sounded together. Typically notated with a
vertical slash between the two chords.
concert pitch The actual (non-transposed) pitch of a piece of music;
some instruments (such as the trumpet) read their music transposed from
concert pitch.
consonance Harmonious combination of tones. The opposite of dissonance.
contralto A lower subset of the alto voice, even lower than the traditional
alto range; not used in all choral music.
contrapuntal See counterpoint.
contrary motion Where one voice moves in the opposite direction to
another.
counterpoint Two or more simultaneous, independent lines or voices.
Some music theorists apply strict rules to the creation of contrapuntal lines.
crescendo Gradually louder.
cut time The 2/2 time signature.
D.C. al Coda Navigation marking meaning to go back to the beginning
and play to the Coda sign; then skip to the Coda section.
D.C. al Fine Navigation marking meaning to go back to the beginning
and play through to the end.
D.S. al Coda Navigation marking meaning to go back to the Segno sign
and play to the Coda sign; then skip to the Coda section.
D.S. al Fine Navigation marking meaning to go back to the Segno sign
and play through to the end.
decrescendo Gradually softer.
diatonic Notes or chords that are in the underlying key or scale. For
example, in the key of C Major, the diatonic notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, and
B; all other notes are chromatic.
diminished chord A chord with a minor third and a diminished fifth
(1-3-5).
dissonance A combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable,
in need of resolution to a more pleasing and stable harmony. The opposite
of consonance.
division Fractional parts of a beat.
dominant The fifth degree of a scale, a perfect fifth above the tonic; also
refers to the chord built on this fifth scale degree.
dominant seventh chord A major chord with a minor seventh added
(1-3-5-7); typically found on the fifth degree of the scale, and noted as V7.
doppio movimento Play twice as fast.
Dorian mode A mode starting on the second degree of the correspond-
ing major scale. See mode.
double bar Two vertical lines placed on the staff to indicate the end of a
section or a composition.