musical notation
Written music language
Musical notation is a system of written symbols representing pitch, rhythm, and other elements of music.
Standard Western notation uses a five-line staff with notes indicating duration and position, plus marks for dynamics, tempo, and expression.
Other systems exist, from guitar tablature to ancient neumes.
She learned to read musical notation in elementary school.
Staff pitch indicator
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- noteheadOval denoting pitch position
- restCessation of activity
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
flat · natural · accidental · ledger line · beam · flag · tie · slur
Notation showing tonal center
tonic · dominant · accidental · modulation · transposition · enharmonic · pitch · octave
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- meterDevice that measures usage
- time signatureRhythmic fraction notation
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
pulse · subdivision · downbeat · upbeat · accent · measure · triplet · polyrhythm
Numerical standing in competition
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
- orchestrationScoring for instrumental ensemble
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
- partPiece of whole
voice · movement · opus · manuscript · lead sheet · tablature · engraving · Sibelius
Notes sounded simultaneously
- triadGroup of three
- intervalDuration between two points
- consonanceHarmonious sound combination
- dissonanceLack of harmony
voicing · inversion · arpeggio · progression · cadence · root · third · fifth
Central recurring concept
- motifRecurring thematic element
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- lineContinuous mark or queue
- contourBounding line of shape
interval · stepwise · leap · sequence · ornament · trill · mordent · turn
Area of expertise
- pianoKeyed percussion instrument
- mezzoMid-range female singer
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
- decrescendoGradual decrease in loudness
diminuendo · fortissimo · pianissimo · accent · hairpin · tenuto · marcato · subito
clef
Staff pitch indicator
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- noteheadOval denoting pitch position
- restCessation of activity
sharp · flat · natural · accidental · ledger line · beam · flag · tie · slur · fermata
key signature
Notation showing tonal center
minor · tonic · dominant · accidental · modulation · transposition · enharmonic · pitch · octave · chromatic
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- meterDevice that measures usage
- time signatureRhythmic fraction notation
syncopation · pulse · subdivision · downbeat · upbeat · accent · measure · triplet · polyrhythm · swing
score
Numerical standing in competition
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
- orchestrationScoring for instrumental ensemble
- transcriptionWritten version of speech
part · voice · movement · opus · manuscript · lead sheet · tablature · engraving · Sibelius · copyist
chord
Notes sounded simultaneously
- triadGroup of three
- intervalDuration between two points
- consonanceHarmonious sound combination
dissonance · voicing · inversion · arpeggio · progression · cadence · root · third · fifth · seventh
theme
Central recurring concept
contour · interval · stepwise · leap · sequence · ornament · trill · mordent · turn · grace note
forte
Area of expertise
decrescendo · diminuendo · fortissimo · pianissimo · accent · hairpin · tenuto · marcato · subito
- visual symbolspictograms, pictographs, symbols, glyphs, ideograms
- notationscore, tablature, tab, note, clef
- notationsRoman numerals, Arabic numerals, Braille, Morse code, shorthand
- Piano Learningsight-reading, scales, piano technique, method books, finger exercises
- folk musicfolk, folk songs, folk ballads, folk ballad, folk singers
- performance trainingacting class, ballet class, dance class, drama class, drama school
musical notationoral tradition
Culture passed by speech
playing by ear · rote learning · improvisation · ear training · sound recording
musical notationimprovisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
jamming · ad-lib · extemporization · free jazz · jam session
music, musical, notation, musically, musicology, notate, musicologist, notational, notates