Musical Terms and Symbols

Staff

Treble Clef

Bass Clef

Quarter Note – usually 1 count

Eighth note – usually half a count

Half Note – usually 2 counts

Whole note – usually gets 4 counts

Quarter Rest – usually one count of silence

Half Rest

Whole Rest – usually means 4 counts of silence

Means “gradually get louder” Crescendo Means “gradually get louder”

Decrescendo Means “gradually get softer”

Pianissimo Means “very soft”

Fortissimo Means “Very Loud”

Forte Means “loud”

Piano Means “soft”

Sharp – means higher

Flat – means lower

The space between 2 bar lines Measure The space between 2 bar lines

Time signature

Repeat

Fermata A pause or hold of unspecified length – watch the director!

Ritardando means gradually slow down