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Music glossary

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This glossary was brought you by:

Christian Mondrup: Original author of LilyPond glossary, Danish,
François Pinard: Original glossary of GNU music project, French,
Han-Wen Nienhuys: Dutch,
Jan Nieuwenhuizen: Dutch,
Neil Jerram: English,
Kurtis Kroon: English,
Heikki Junes: Finnish,
Bjoern Jacke: German,
Adrian Mariano: Italian,
David González: Spanish,
Mats Bengtsson: Swedish,

with additional contributions: thanks to all who have contributed.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation, without Invariant Sections.

This is the Music Glossary (MG) for GNU LilyPond version 2.12.1. For more information about how this fits with the other documentation, see About the documentation.

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1. Musical terms A-Z

Languages in this order.

UK - British English (where it differs from American English)
ES - Spanish
I - Italian
F - French
D - German
NL - Dutch
DK - Danish
S - Swedish
FI - Finnish

[ << Musical terms A-Z ]	[Top][Contents][Index][ ? ]			[ Duration names notes and rests >> ]
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1.1 A

ES: la
I: la
F: la
D: A, a
NL: a
DK: a
S: a
FI: A, a

1.2 a due

ES: a dos, I: a due, F: à deux, D: ?, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: kahdelle.

Abbreviated a2 or a 2.

An indication in orchestral scores that a single part notated on a single staff that normally carries parts for two players (e.g. first and second oboes) is to be played by both players.
Or conversely, that two pitches or parts notated on a staff that normally carries a single part (e.g. first violin) are to be played by different players, or groups of players (‘desks’).

1.3 accelerando

ES: accelerando, I: accelerando, F: accelerando, en accélérant, D: accelerando, schneller werden, NL: accelerando, DK: accelerando, S: accelerando, FI: accelerando, kiihdyttäen.

[Italian: ‘speed up, accelerate’.]

Increase tempo

1.4 accent

ES: acento, I: accento, F: accent, D: Akzent, NL: accent, DK: accent, S: accent, FI: aksentti, korostus.

The stress of one tone over others.

1.5 accessory

1.6 acciaccatura

A grace note which takes its time from the rest or note preceding the principal note to which it is attached. The acciaccatura is drawn as a small eighth note (quaver) with a line drawn through the flag and stem.

1.7 accidental

ES: alteración accidental, I: accidento, F: altération accidentelle, D: Versetzungszeichen, Akzidenz, NL: toevallig (verplaatsings)teken, DK: løst fortegn, S: tillfälligt förtecken, FI: tilapäinen etumerkki.

An accidental alters a note by:

Raising its pitch:
- A double sharp, by two semitones (a whole tone)
- A sharp, by one semitone
Lowering its pitch:
- A flat, by one semitone
- A double flat, by two semitones (a whole tone)
Canceling the effects of the key signature or previous accidentals.

1.8 adagio

ES: adagio, I: adagio, F: adagio, lent, D: Adagio, Langsam, NL: adagio, DK: adagio, S: adagio, FI: adagio, hitaasti.

[Italian: ‘comfortable, easy’.]

Slow tempo, slower – especially in even meter – than andante and faster than largo.
A movement in slow tempo, especially the second (slow) movement of sonatas, symphonies, etc.

1.9 al niente

ES: ?, I: al niente, F: ?, D: ?, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: häviten olemattomiin.

[Italian: ‘to nothing’.] Used with decrescendo to indicate that the sound should fade away to nothing.

Al niente is indicated by circling the tip of the hairpin:

or with the actual phrase al niente:

Since one does not crescendo to nothing, it is not correct to use al niente with crescendo. Instead, one should use dal niente (from nothing).

1.10 allegro

ES: allegro, I: allegro, F: allegro, D: Allegro, Schnell, Fröhlich, Lustig, NL: allegro, DK: allegro, S: allegro, FI: allegro, nopeasti.

[Italian: ‘cheerful’.] Quick tempo. Also used as a title for pieces in a quick tempo, especially the first and last movements of a sonata.

1.11 alteration

ES: alteración, I: alterazione, F: altération, D: Alteration, NL: verhoging of verlaging, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: muunnettu.

An alteration is the modification, raising or lowering, of a note’s pitch. It is established by an accidental.

1.12 alto

ES: alto, I: contralto, F: alto, D: Alt, NL: alt, DK: alt, S: alt, FI: altto, matala naisääni.

A female voice of low range (contralto). Originally the alto was a high male voice (hence the name), which by the use of falsetto reached the height of the female voice. This type of voice is also known as countertenor.

1.13 alto clef

ES: clave de do en tercera, I: chiave di contralto, F: clef d’ut troisième ligne, D: Altschlüssel, Bratschenschlüssel, NL: alt sleutel, DK: altnøgle, S: altklav, FI: alttoavain.

C clef setting middle C on the middle line of the staff.

1.14 ambitus

ES: ámbito, I: ambitus, F: ambitus, D: Ambitus, NL: ambitus, DK: ambitus, S: ambitus, FI: ambitus, ääniala, soitinala.

[Latin: past participle of ambire, ‘to go around’; plural: ambitus] Denotes a range of pitches for a given voice in a part of music. It may also denote the pitch range that a musical instrument is capable of playing. Sometimes anglicized to ambit (pl. ambits).

1.15 anacrusis

ES: anacrusa, I: anacrusi, F: anacrouse, levée, D: Auftakt, NL: opmaat, DK: optakt, S: upptakt, FI: kohotahti.

An anacrusis (also known as pickup or upbeat) is an incomplete measure of music before a section of music. It also refers to the initial note(s) of a melody occurring in that incomplete measure.

1.16 ancient minor scale

ES: escala menor natural, I: scala minore naturale, F: forme du mode mineur ancien, troisème mode, mode hellénique, D: reines Moll, natürliches Moll, NL: authentieke mineurtoonladder, DK: ren mol, S: ren mollskala, FI: luonnollinen molliasteikko.

Also called ‘natural minor scale’.

1.17 andante

ES: andante, I: andante, F: andante, D: Andante, Gehend, NL: andante, DK: andante, S: andante, FI: andante, käyden.

[Italian: present participle of andare, ‘to walk’.]

Walking tempo/character.

1.18 appoggiatura

ES: apoyatura, I: appoggiatura, F: appoggiature, (port de voix), D: Vorschlag, Vorhalt NL: voorslag, DK: forslag, S: förslag, FI: appoggiatura, etuhele.

Ornamental note, usually a second, that is melodically connected with the main note following it. In music before the 19th century appoggiature were usually performed on the beat, after that mostly before the beat. While the short appoggiatura is performed as a short note regardless of the duration of the main note the duration of the long appoggiatura is proportional to that of the main note.

An appoggiatura may have more notes preceding the main note.

1.19 arpeggio

ES: arpegio, I: arpeggio, F: arpège, D: Arpeggio, Akkordbrechungen, gebrochener Akkord, NL: gebroken akoord, DK: arpeggio, akkordbrydning, S: arpeggio, FI: arpeggio, murtosointu.

[Italian: ‘harp-like, played like a harp’.]

1.20 articulation

ES: articulación, I: articulazione, F: articulation, D: Artikulation, NL: articulatie, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: artikulaatio, ilmaisu.

Articulation refers to notation which indicates how a note or notes should be played. Slurs, accents, staccato, and legato are all examples of articulation.

1.21 ascending interval

ES: intervalo ascendente, I: intervallo ascendente, F: intervalle ascendant, D: steigendes Intervall, NL: stijgend interval, DK: stigende interval, S: stigande intervall, FI: nouseva intervalli.

A distance between a starting lower note and a higher ending note.

1.22 augmented interval

ES: intervalo aumentado, I: intervallo aumentato, F: intervalle augmenté, D: übermäßiges Intervall, NL: overmatig interval, DK: forstørret interval, S: överstigande intervall, FI: ylinouseva intervalli.

1.23 augmentation

ES: ?, I: ?, F: ?, D: ?, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: aika-arvojen pidentäminen.

This is a placeholder for augmentation (wrt mensural notation).

1.24 autograph

ES: manuscrito, I: autografo, F: manuscrit, autographe D: Autograph, Handschrift, NL: manuscript, DK: håndskrift, autograf, S: handskrift, FI: käsinkirjoitettu nuotti.

A manuscript written in the composer’s own hand.
Music prepared for photoreproduction by freehand drawing, with the aid of a straightedge ruler and T-square only, which attempts to emulate engraving. This required more skill than did engraving.

1.25 B

ES: si
I: si
F: si
D: H, h
NL: b
DK: h
S: h
FI: H, h

1.26 backfall

1.27 bar

1.28 bar line

ES: barra, línea divisoria, I: stanghetta, barra (di divisione), F: barre (de mesure), D: Taktstrich, NL: maatstreep, DK: taktstreg, S: taktstreck, FI: tahtiviiva.

A vertical line through the staff (or through multiple staves) that separates measures. Used very infrequently during the Renaissance (mostly in secular music, or in sacred music to indicate congruences between parts in otherwise-unmetered music).

1.29 baritone

ES: barítono, I: baritono, F: bariton, D: Bariton, NL: bariton, DK: baryton, S: baryton, FI: baritoni, keskikorkuinen miesääni.

The male voice intermediate in pitch between the bass and the tenor.

1.30 baritone clef

ES: clave de fa en tercera, I: chiave di baritono, F: clef d’ Ut cinquième ligne, clef de Fa troisième, D: Baritonschlüssel, NL: baritonsleutel, DK: barytonnøgle, S: barytonklav, FI: baritoniavain.

C or F clef setting middle C on the upper staff line.

1.31 bass

ES: bajo, I: basso, F: basse, D: Bass, NL: bas, DK: bas, S: bas, FI: basso, matala miesääni.

The lowest male voice.
Sometimes, especially in jazz music, used as an abbreviation for double bass.

1.32 bass clef

ES: clave de fa en cuarta, I: chiave di basso, F: clef de fa quatrième ligne, D: Bassschlüssel, NL: bassleutel, DK: basnøgle, S: basklav, FI: bassoavain.

A clef setting with middle C on the first top ledger line.

1.33 beam

ES: barra I: coda, F: barre, D: Balken, NL: waardestreep, DK: bjælke, S: balk, FI: palkki.

Line connecting a series of notes (shorter than a quarter note). The number of beams determines the note value of the connected notes.

1.34 beat

ES: tiempo, parte (de compás) I: tempi, F: temps, D: Takt, Taktschlag, Zeit (im Takt), NL: tel, DK: (takt)slag, S: taktslag, FI: aika-arvo.

Note value used for counting, most often half-, fourth-, and eighth notes. The base counting value and the number of them in each measure is indicated at the start of the music by the time signature.

1.35 beat repeat

1.36 bind

1.37 brace

ES: llave, corchete, I: graffa, F: accolade, D: Klammer, Akkolade, NL: accolade, teksthaak, DK: klamme, S: klammer, FI: yhdistävä sulkumerkki.

Symbol at the start of a system connecting staves.

Curly braces are used for connecting piano staves, and sometimes for connecting the staves of like instruments in an orchestral score when written on different staves (e.g. first and second flutes):

Angular brackets for connecting parts in an orchestral or choral score:

1.38 bracket

ES: corchete, I: ?, F: ?, D: ?, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: sulkumerkki.

1.39 brass

ES: metales, I: ottoni, D: Blechbläser, NL: koper (blazers), F: cuivres, DK: messingblæsere, S: brassinstrument, mässingsinstrument, FI: vaskisoitin.

A family of blown musical instruments made of brass, all using a cup formed mouth piece. The brass instruments commonly used in a symphony orchestra are trumpet, trombone, french horn, and tuba.

1.40 breath mark

ES: respiración, I: respiro, F: respiration, D: Atemzeichen, Trennungszeichen, NL: repercussieteken, DK: vejrtrækningstegn, S: andningstecken, FI: hengitysmerkki.

Indication of where to breathe in vocal and wind instrument parts.

1.41 breve

US: breve, double-whole note,
ES: cuadrada, breve,
I: breve,
F: brève,
D: Brevis,
NL: brevis,
DK: brevis,
S: brevis,
FI: brevis, kaksoiskokonuotti.

Note value twice as long as a whole note. Mainly used in pre-1650 music. The shortest note value generally used in white mensural notation, hence the name, which originally meant ‘of short duration’.

1.42 C

ES: do
I: do
F: ut
D: C, c
NL: c
DK: c
S: c
FI: C, c

1.43 C clef

ES: clave de do, I: chiave di do, F: clef d’ut, D: C-Schlüssel, NL: C-sleutel, DK: c-nøgle, S: c-klav, FI: C-avain.

Clef symbol indicating the position of the middle C. Used on all note lines.

1.44 cadence

ES: cadencia, I: cadenza, F: cadence, D: Kadenz, NL: cadens, DK: kadence, S: kadens, FI: kadenssi, lopuke.

1.45 cadenza

ES: cadenza, I: cadenza, F: cadence, D: Kadenz, NL: cadens, DK: kadence, S: kadens, FI: kadenssi, lopuke.

An extended, improvisatory style section inserted near the end of movement. The purpose of a cadenza is to give singers or players a chance to exhibit their technical skill and – not last – their ability to improvise. Since the middle of the 19th century, however, most cadenzas have been written down by the composer.

1.46 caesura

ES: cesura, I: cesura, F: césura, D: Zäsur, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: välimerkki.

[Latin: from the supine of caedere ‘to cut down’.]

The break between two musical phrases, sometimes (but not always) marked by a rest or a breath mark.

1.47 canon

ES: canon, I: canone, F: canon, D: Kanon, NL: canon, DK: kanon, S: kanon, FI: kaanon, tarkka jäljittely.

1.48 cent

ES: cent, I: cent, F: cent, D: Cent, NL: cent, DK: cent, S: cent, FI: sentti, puolisävelaskeleen sadasosa tasavireisessä viritysjärjestelmässä.

Logarithmic unit of measurement. 1 cent is 1/1200 of an octave (1/100 of an equally tempered semitone).

1. Musical terms A-Z
2. Duration names notes and rests
3. Pitch names

Music glossary

1. Musical terms A-Z

1.1 A

See also

1.2 a due

See also

1.3 accelerando

See also

1.4 accent

See also

1.5 accessory

See also

1.6 acciaccatura

See also

1.7 accidental

See also

1.8 adagio

See also

1.9 al niente

See also

1.10 allegro

See also

1.11 alteration

See also

1.12 alto

See also

1.13 alto clef

See also

1.14 ambitus

See also

1.15 anacrusis

See also

1.16 ancient minor scale

See also

1.17 andante

See also

1.18 appoggiatura

See also

1.19 arpeggio

See also

1.20 articulation

See also

1.21 ascending interval

See also

1.22 augmented interval

See also

1.23 augmentation

See also

1.24 autograph

See also

1.25 B

See also

1.26 backfall

See also

1.27 bar

See also

1.28 bar line

See also

1.29 baritone

See also

1.30 baritone clef

See also

1.31 bass

See also

1.32 bass clef

See also

1.33 beam

See also

1.34 beat

See also

1.35 beat repeat

See also

1.36 bind

See also

1.37 brace

See also

1.38 bracket

See also

1.39 brass

See also