Figured bass Amethod of labeling chords and their inversions by counting the interval number (figure) up
from the lowest note (bass note).
Final bar line Two vertical lines (a thin line followed by a thicker line) used at the end of a piece.
First and second endings The first time, play the ending indicated by the first bracket ( ). On the
repeat, play the ending indicated by the second bracket ( ). (Other endings may also be used).
First inversion Achord position where the third of the chord is the lowest pitch; for example, BDG, where B
is the third in the triad GBD.
Flag The part of a note attached to the stem that changes the note’s value by half. For example, adding a flag
to a quarter note ( ) turns it an eighth note ( ).
Flat Anaccidental (b)used to lower a note a half step.
Form The organizing structure of a piece, which is determined by musical elements such as melody, harmony,
rhythm (meter), and character (mood). Examples of form are binary (AB), ternary (ABA), and sonata
form.
Forte ( )It. A dynamic marking meaning loud.
Fortissimo ( )It. A dynamic marking meaning very loud.
Grand staff The treble staff above and bass staff below joined together by a bar line and with a brace; used in
notating keyboard music.
Half cadence Amomentary ending of a section of music that ends with a dominant chord; for example, tonic-
dominant (I–V) or subdominant–dominant (IV–V).
Half step On the keyboard, two adjacent keys. In Western tonal music, the half step is the smallest interval;
also called the semitone.
Harmonic interval The interval created by the simultaneous sounding of two pitches. (See Melodic
interval.)
Harmonic minor scale The form of the minor scale with the seventh note raised a half step from the natural
minor, creating the leading tone and 1^1 ⁄ 2 steps (A2) between the sixth and seventh notes. Half steps are
between 2 and 3, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8.
Harmonization Chords or triads accompanying a melody.
Harmony The vertical arrangement of notes forming chords; the succession of chords.
Improvisation The art of spontaneously creating a melody, harmony, and/or rhythm; found in many styles of
music including jazz, Baroque music with figured bass symbols and South Asian music.
Interval The numeric distance between two notes. Intervals may be further defined by quality (perfect, major,
minor, augmented, diminished) and whether they sound simultaneously (harmonic) or consecutively
(melodic).
Inversion The turning of an interval or chord upside down.
Irregular meter Ameter other than duple, triple, or quadruple; for example, 5/4 or 8/8.
Key signature The sharps or flats placed in a specific order after the clef at the beginning of a line of music
indicating the key of a piece.
Leading tone The seventh note or chord in a major scale, harmonic minor, or ascending melodic minor scale;
ahalf step below the tonic, the leading tone “leads” to the tonic.
Ledger line Short lines above or below a staff that extend the pitch range of the staff.
Legato It. “Binding”; to play notes smoothly and connected.
Lento It. Aslow tempo.
Major scale Apattern of seven notes made of whole steps and half steps with the half steps occuring between
3 and 4 and between 7 and 8.
Measure The grouping of metered beats (strong and weak beats) separated by lines called bar lines.
Mediant The third note (or chord) in a major or minor scale.
Melodic interval The interval created when two pitches are written or sounded consecutively. (See Harmonic
interval.)
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