Notation
Notation
Symbols
- Key signatures: notation of all the sharps and flats that belong in the key of a section of music which is written at the beginning of every staff of music and are applied to the entire staff unless otherwise notated
- Time signatures: notation used to specify the number of counts in each measure and which note value constitutes one count
- Clefs: symbols used to determine the notes on a staff; different clefs are used to allow most of the notes to fall within or close to the five lines of a staff thus making it easier for the musician to quickly identify the note
- Ornaments or graces: decorative notes added to a melody
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- Acciaccatura: (crushed): notes squeezed in before a melody note (also called "grace notes")
- Appoggiatura: (leaning): notes that pushed a melody note a small bit late
- Mordent: (biting): a neighboring note played fleetingly just after the start of the melody note
- Trill or Shake: multiple upper neighbor mordants (sometime sends with a turn)
- Turn: a double mordant using one upper-neighbor note and lower-neighbor note
- Acciaccatura: (crushed): notes squeezed in before a melody note (also called "grace notes")
- Dynamic Marks:
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- Pianissimmissmo (ppp): very, very quiet
- Pianissimo (pp): very quiet
- Piano (p): quiet
- Mezzo piano (mp): moderately quiet
- Mezza forte (mf): moderately loud
- Forte (f): loud
- Fortissimo (ff): very loud
- Fortimmissimo (fff): very, very loud
- Crescendo: growing; getting louder
- Diminuendo: diminishing; getting quieter
- Pitch Alterations:
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- Flat: lowers the pitch one semitone
- Sharp: raises the pitch one semitone
- Natural: unaltered pitch
- Double flat: lowers the pitch one whole tone or two semitones
- Double sharp: raises the pitch two semitones
- Flat: lowers the pitch one semitone
- Articulation:
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- Accents: emphasis placed on a beginning of a particular note
- Agogic Accent/Tenuto: A slight lingering on a note
- Forzato(fz): Forceful beginning to a note
- Sforzato (sfz): A sudden strong accent
- Marcato: stressed or marked
- Accents: emphasis placed on a beginning of a particular note
- Détaché: (detached): notes played using alternating bow strokes
- Legato: (linked): notes played smoothly and connectedly without silence in between
- Slurred: notes linked in one phrase or bow stroke
- Staccato: (separated): notes seperated by silence
- Staccatissimo/martelé (hammered): notes played as short as possible
- Pauses:
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- Fermata: hold the note longer than its normal value
- Breath mark:
- Caesura: ceasing
- Fermata: hold the note longer than its normal value