Music signs and symbols

Cut Time

2/2 time signature, all note values are cut in half

Dotted 8th-16th Note

3/4 beat + 1/4 beat = 1 full beat

Whole Rest

4 beats of silence.

Whole Note

4 beats of sound.

Staff

5 lines and 4 spaces used for writing music

D.C. al Fine

Play until D.C. al Fine, go back to beginning and play until you see Fine.

Treble Clef

Used for the higher pitch voices/instruments, also known as the G clef.

D.S. al Coda

go back to "the sign", play to the "To Coda" and then skip to the coda

D.C. al Coda

go back to the beginning, and play to the "to coda", then skip to the coda

D.S. al Fine

go back to the sign and play to the fine

Segno (the sign)

go back to the sign at a D.S.

accelerando (accel.)

gradually increase tempo

Legato

hold note its full value, play or sing smooth and connected

Fermata

hold the note or rest until conductor indicates

mezzo forte

moderately loud.

mezzo piano

moderately soft.

Natural Sign

Cancels a sharp or flat, remains in effect for the full measure.

Slur

curved line that indicates to sing or play in a legato manner; without separation

Phrase mark

curved or dotted line that indicates the beginning and end of a phrase (no breath during phrase)

Grand Pause (railroad tracks)

stop entirely (until conductor indicates continue)

Fine

the end

Coda

the final added measures of a song

Measure (bar)

unit for dividing and organizing music

Bass Clef

used for lower voices and instruments, (also called "F" clef)

Ledger Lines

used to notate pitches above or below the staff

Fortissimo (ff)

very loud

Pianissimo (pp)

very soft

4 Sixteenth Notes

¼ a beat each = 1 full beat

pair of 8th notes

1/2 + 1/2 beat = 1 full beat

Eighth Note

1/2 beat of sound

Sixteenth Rest

1/4 beat of silence

sixteenth note

1/4 beat of sound

Tie

A curved line that connects/combines the value of 2 notes of the same pitch

Common Time

Another way to write 4/4.

measure lines (bar lines)

Divides the music staff into measures

Accent

Emphasize the note.

Decrescendo

Gradually decrease volume.

Crescendo

Gradually increase volume.

Ritardando

Gradually slow the tempo.

Multi-Measure Rest

Indicates the number of measures to rest

Double Barline

Indicates the end of a piece of music.

Flat sign

Lowers a note a half step.

Accidental

Natural, sharp, or flat not in key signature. Remains in effect for the full measure.

Dotted Quarter Note

One and one-half beats of sound.

Quarter Rest

One beat of silence.

Quarter Note

One beat of sound.

Eighth Rest

One-half beat of silence.

Breath mark (symbol)

Phrase mark indicating to take a breath

Forte

Play loudly.

1st and 2nd Ending

Play the first ending the first time, skip to 2nd ending on repeat.

Sharp sign

Raises a note a half step.

Repeat Sign

Return to the beginning or previous repeat sign

Piano

Soft

Sforzando

Sudden strong accent

Time Signature

Tells us how many beats per measure, and what kind of note keeps the beat.

Key Signature

Tells which notes to play with sharps or flats for the entire piece.

Dotted Half Note

Three beats of sound.

Half Rest

Two beats of silence.

Half Note

Two beats of sound.

Fortepiano (fp)

loud, then immediately soft

Staccato

short and detached

Tempo Marking

tells how fast or slow to sing or play