ARTFORM
Artform / Symbols

The music symbols dictionary

627 symbols and terms a real score will throw at you, each explained in a sentence or two. Tap-to-ask inside the free score reader, or browse the whole language here.

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The stave · 25 terms

Ledger lineStaveBar lineDouble bar lineStemBeamBraceBracketSystemScore

Note values · 18 terms

SemibreveMinimCrotchetQuaverSemiquaverDotted noteTieTripletBreveDemisemiquaver

Rests · 10 terms

Semibreve restMinim restCrotchet restQuaver restBreve restSemiquaver restDemisemiquaver restDotted restMulti-bar restWhole bar rest

Time signatures · 17 terms

Four-fourThree-fourSix-eightCut commonPickup barTwo-fourTwo-twoThree-eightNine-eightTwelve-eight

Clefs · 9 terms

Treble clefBass clefGrand staffMiddle CAlto clefTenor clefOctave clefPercussion clefTransposing instrument

Accidentals · 10 terms

SharpFlatNaturalDouble sharpKey signatureDouble flatCourtesy accidentalOrder of sharpsOrder of flatsAccidental duration

Dynamics · 18 terms

pianississimopianissimopianomezzo pianomezzo fortefortefortissimofortississimosforzandoforte piano

Articulation · 23 terms

SlurlegatostaccatotenutomarcatoLeggieroPesanteLegatissimoStaccatissimoPortato

Ornaments · 9 terms

TrillMordentTurnGrace noteUpper mordentAcciaccaturaAppoggiaturaArpeggiateTremolo

Tempo · 69 terms

GraveLargoLarghettoAdagioAndanteAndantinoModeratoAllegroAllegrettoVivace

Rhythm · 23 terms

BeatPulseMetreSimple timeCompound timeSyncopationSwingHemiolaDupletTuplet

Expression · 113 terms

dolceespressivocantabilesostenutotranquillograziosomaestosocon motoDouxLéger

Qualifiers · 45 terms

semprepoco a pocopocosubitomoltoma non tropposimileEn dehorsPeu à peuSans

Repeats · 17 terms

Repeat barlineFirst and second time barsDa capoDal segnoCodaFineSegnoD.C. al FineD.S.Attacca

Pedal and range · 7 terms

8vaSustain pedalOttavaLocoPedal markDamperHand crossing

Technique · 40 terms

Con pedaleSenza pedaleTre cordeUna cordaMano destraMano sinistraArpeggiandoTremolandoGlissandoPizzicato

Intervals · 26 terms

IntervalSemitoneToneUnisonMajor thirdMinor thirdPerfect fourthTritonePerfect fifthMajor sixth

Scales and keys · 38 terms

Major scaleNatural minorHarmonic minorMelodic minorChromatic scalePentatonicWhole tone scaleBlues scaleTonicDominant

Harmony · 58 terms

ChordTriadRootThirdFifthMajor triadMinor triadDiminished triadAugmented triadInversion

Form · 34 terms

PhraseMotifThemeSequenceVariationBinary formTernary formRondoSonata formExposition

Texture · 18 terms

MonophonyHomophonyPolyphonyCounterpointImitationCanonFugueObbligatoHeterophonyAntiphony