Music Symbols
Notes
Double Whole Note
Also called a "Breve"
Duration: 8 beats
Also called a "Breve"
Duration: 8 beats
Whole Note
Also called a "Semibreve"
Duration: 4 beats
Also called a "Semibreve"
Duration: 4 beats
Half Note
Also called a "Minim"
Duration: 2 beats
Also called a "Minim"
Duration: 2 beats
Quarter Note
Also called a "Crotchet"
Duration: 1 beat
Also called a "Crotchet"
Duration: 1 beat
Eighth Note
Also called a "Quaver"
Duration: 1/2 beat
Also called a "Quaver"
Duration: 1/2 beat
Sixteenth Note
Also called a "Semiquaver"
Duration: 1/4 beat
Also called a "Semiquaver"
Duration: 1/4 beat
Dotted Half Note
Duration: 3 beats
Placing dots to the right of the notehead lengthens that note's value. One dot lengthens the note by one-half its value, two dots by three-quarters, three dots by seven-eighths, and so on. Rests can be dotted in the same way as notes.
Duration: 3 beats
Placing dots to the right of the notehead lengthens that note's value. One dot lengthens the note by one-half its value, two dots by three-quarters, three dots by seven-eighths, and so on. Rests can be dotted in the same way as notes.
Beamed Notes
Beams connect quarter notes and shorter note values.
Beams connect quarter notes and shorter note values.
Rests
Whole Rest
Also called a "Semibreve"
Duration: 4 beats
Also called a "Semibreve"
Duration: 4 beats
Half Rest
Also called a "Minim"
Duration: 2 beats
Also called a "Minim"
Duration: 2 beats
Quarter Rest
Also called a "Crotchet"
Duration: 1 beat
Also called a "Crotchet"
Duration: 1 beat
Eighth Rest
Also called a "Quaver"
Duration: 1/2 beat
Also called a "Quaver"
Duration: 1/2 beat
Sixteenth Rest
Also called a "Semiquaver"
Duration: 1/4 beat
Also called a "Semiquaver"
Duration: 1/4 beat
Clefs
Treble Clef
The G clef falling on the second line of the staff.
The G clef falling on the second line of the staff.
Bass Clef
The line or space between the dots in this clef denotes F below middle C.
The line or space between the dots in this clef denotes F below middle C.
Octave Clef
Treble and bass clefs can also be modified by octave numbers. An eight or fifteen above a clef raises the intended pitch range by one or two octaves respectively. Similarly, an eight or fifteen below a clef lowers the pitch range by one or two octaves respectively. A treble clef with an eight below is the most commonly used, often used for tenor lines in choral music.
Treble and bass clefs can also be modified by octave numbers. An eight or fifteen above a clef raises the intended pitch range by one or two octaves respectively. Similarly, an eight or fifteen below a clef lowers the pitch range by one or two octaves respectively. A treble clef with an eight below is the most commonly used, often used for tenor lines in choral music.
Alto Clef
The C clef falling on the third line of the staff.
The C clef falling on the third line of the staff.
Lines
Staff
The most frequently used staff has five horizontal lines, with four spaces, in which the notes and other musical symbols are placed.
The most frequently used staff has five horizontal lines, with four spaces, in which the notes and other musical symbols are placed.
Ledger
Short lines placed above and below the staff for pitches outside the range of the staff.
Short lines placed above and below the staff for pitches outside the range of the staff.
Measure
The space between two bar lines.
The space between two bar lines.
Bar Line
The vertical line placed on the staff to divide the music into measures.
The vertical line placed on the staff to divide the music into measures.
Double Bar Line
Two vertical lines placed on the staff to show the end of a section or a composition.
Two vertical lines placed on the staff to show the end of a section or a composition.
Pauses
Breath Mark
This symbol tells the performer to take a short breath (or make a slight pause for non-wind instruments). This pause usually does not affect the overall tempo. For stringed instruments it indicates to lift the bow and play the next note with a downward bow.
This symbol tells the performer to take a short breath (or make a slight pause for non-wind instruments). This pause usually does not affect the overall tempo. For stringed instruments it indicates to lift the bow and play the next note with a downward bow.
Caesura
Indicates a brief, silent pause, during which time is not counted. In ensemble playing, time resumes when so indicated by the conductor or leader. More commonly called "railroad tracks" or "tram lines".
Indicates a brief, silent pause, during which time is not counted. In ensemble playing, time resumes when so indicated by the conductor or leader. More commonly called "railroad tracks" or "tram lines".
Key Signatures
Flat
Lowers the pitch of a note one half step.
Lowers the pitch of a note one half step.
Double Flat
Lowers the pitch one step.
Lowers the pitch one step.
Sharp
Raises the pitch of a note one-half step.
Raises the pitch of a note one-half step.
Double Sharp
Raises the pitch one step.
Raises the pitch one step.
Natural
Cancels a previous sharp or flat.
Cancels a previous sharp or flat.
Enharmonic
A term used to describe notes of the same pitch which have different names.
A term used to describe notes of the same pitch which have different names.
Time Signatures
Common Time
4/4 meter.
4/4 meter.
Cut Time
A meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat.
A meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat.
Time Signatures
The numbers placed at the beginning of a composition to indicate the meter of the music, e.g. The upper number indicates the beats in a measure; the lower number tells what kind of a note will receive one beat.
The numbers placed at the beginning of a composition to indicate the meter of the music, e.g. The upper number indicates the beats in a measure; the lower number tells what kind of a note will receive one beat.
Dynamics
Crescendo
Gradually growing louder.
Gradually growing louder.
Diminuendo
Also called Decrescendo.
Gradually growing softer.
Also called Decrescendo.
Gradually growing softer.
Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a piece of music.
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a piece of music.
Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication.
Soft. Usually the most often used indication.
Mezzo-Piano
Half as soft as piano.
Half as soft as piano.
Mezzo-Forte
Moderately loud. Similarly, half as loud as forte.
Moderately loud. Similarly, half as loud as forte.
Forte
Loud, strong.
Loud, strong.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a piece.
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a piece.
Sforzando
Literally "forced." An abrupt, fierce accent on a single sound or chord.
Literally "forced." An abrupt, fierce accent on a single sound or chord.
Articulation Marks
Staccato
The note is to be played shorter than notated, usually half the value, the rest of the metric value is then silent.
The note is to be played shorter than notated, usually half the value, the rest of the metric value is then silent.
Accent
The note is played louder or with a harder attack than any surrounding unaccented notes.
The note is played louder or with a harder attack than any surrounding unaccented notes.
Marcato
The note is played much louder or with a much harder attack than any surrounding unaccented notes.
The note is played much louder or with a much harder attack than any surrounding unaccented notes.
Tenuto
Hold or sustain a note longer than the indicated value, usually not as long a duration as the fermata.
Hold or sustain a note longer than the indicated value, usually not as long a duration as the fermata.
Fermata
An indefinitely-sustained note or chord. A halt in tempo. It can be placed above or below the note.
An indefinitely-sustained note or chord. A halt in tempo. It can be placed above or below the note.
Ornaments
Trill
Performed by the rapid alternation of a given note with a major or minor second above.
Performed by the rapid alternation of a given note with a major or minor second above.
Turn
Combines an upper mordent and a lower mordent, in that order, into the specified note's value. If the symbol is reversed, the lower mordent is played first.
Combines an upper mordent and a lower mordent, in that order, into the specified note's value. If the symbol is reversed, the lower mordent is played first.
Mordent
An insertion of the semitone below the specified note within its value (this particular case can be called a "lower mordent"). Without the vertical line, the inserted semitone is above the specified note, and the ornament is known as an upper mordent.
An insertion of the semitone below the specified note within its value (this particular case can be called a "lower mordent"). Without the vertical line, the inserted semitone is above the specified note, and the ornament is known as an upper mordent.
Grace Note
The first half of the principal note's duration has the pitch of the grace note (the first two-thirds if the principal note is a dotted note).
The first half of the principal note's duration has the pitch of the grace note (the first two-thirds if the principal note is a dotted note).
Repetition and Codas
Repeat Sign
Enclose a passage that is to be played more than once.
Enclose a passage that is to be played more than once.
Segno
Mark used with dal segno to. A navagation marker that instructs a musician to repeat a passage starting from the sign.
Mark used with dal segno to. A navagation marker that instructs a musician to repeat a passage starting from the sign.
Da Capo
Tells the performer to repeat playing of the song from its beginning. This is followed by al fine, which means to repeat to the word fine and stop, or al coda, which means repeat to the coda sign and then jump forward.
Tells the performer to repeat playing of the song from its beginning. This is followed by al fine, which means to repeat to the word fine and stop, or al coda, which means repeat to the coda sign and then jump forward.
Da Segno
Tells the performer to repeat playing of the song starting at the nearest segno. This is followed by al fine or al coda just as with da capo.
Tells the performer to repeat playing of the song starting at the nearest segno. This is followed by al fine or al coda just as with da capo.
Tremolo
A rapidly-repeated note. If the tremolo is between two notes, then they are played in rapid alternation. The number of slashes through the stem (or number of diagonal bars between two notes) indicates the frequency at which the note is to be repeated (or alternated). As shown here, the note is to be repeated at a demisemiquaver (thirty-second note) rate.
A rapidly-repeated note. If the tremolo is between two notes, then they are played in rapid alternation. The number of slashes through the stem (or number of diagonal bars between two notes) indicates the frequency at which the note is to be repeated (or alternated). As shown here, the note is to be repeated at a demisemiquaver (thirty-second note) rate.
Simile Marks
Denote that preceding groups of beats or measures are to be repeated.
Denote that preceding groups of beats or measures are to be repeated.
Coda
Indicates a forward jump in the song to its ending passage, marked with the same sign. Only used after playing through a D.S. al coda or D.C. al coda.
Indicates a forward jump in the song to its ending passage, marked with the same sign. Only used after playing through a D.S. al coda or D.C. al coda.
Volta Brackets
Denote that a repeated passage is to be played in different ways on different playings.
Denote that a repeated passage is to be played in different ways on different playings.
Note Relationships
Triplet
Condenses three notes into the normal duration of two notes.
Condenses three notes into the normal duration of two notes.
Tie
Two notes joined together are to be played as one note. This can also indicate a note sustained over two or more measures.
Two notes joined together are to be played as one note. This can also indicate a note sustained over two or more measures.
Slur
Indicates that the two notes are to be played in one physical stroke, one uninterrupted breath, or (on instruments with neither breath nor bow) connected into a phrase as if played in a single breath. Also known as playing Lagato.
Indicates that the two notes are to be played in one physical stroke, one uninterrupted breath, or (on instruments with neither breath nor bow) connected into a phrase as if played in a single breath. Also known as playing Lagato.
Interval
The difference in pitch between two tones.
The difference in pitch between two tones.
Octave
The eighth tone above a given pitch.
The eighth tone above a given pitch.
Tempo Markings
- Presto - very fast (168–200 bpm)
- Allegro - fast and bright or "march tempo" (120–168 bpm)
- Allegretto - moderately fast (but less so than allegro)
- Moderato - moderately (108–120 bpm)
- Andante - at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)
- Adagietto - rather slow (70–80 bpm)
- Adagio - slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66–76 bpm)
- Grave - slow and solemn
- Largo - Very slow (40–60 bpm)
- Largamente/Largo - "broadly", very slow (40 bpm and below)
- Larghissimo - very very slow (20 bpm and below)
Change it Tempo Markings
- Accelerando - speeding up (abbreviation: accel.)
- Meno mosso - less movement or slower
- Mosso - movement, more lively, or quicker, much like più mosso, but not as extreme
- Rallentando - slowing down, especially near the end of a section (abbreviation: rall.)
- Ritardando - slowing down (abbreviation: rit. or more specifically, ritard.) Specific abbreviation is riten. Also sometimes ritenuto does not reflect a tempo change but a character change instead.)
- Rubato - free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes
- Stretto - rushing ahead; temporarily speeding up
- Stringendo - pressing on faster
