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
