A List of Musical Terms
Reviewing a list of musical terms will not teach you how to play the flute or the drums, but it will help you to get acquainted with some phrases and words that you will hear in the music field.
List of Musical Terms
The following list of musical terms, provides definitions to accompany these terms to help you determine the meaning behind the words. Now, go on and read about the different musical terms so that you can sharpen your knowledge!
- Acapella: Vocalist(s) performing without accompaniment from instruments
- Allegro: An instruction to play quickly
- Cadence: A sequence of chords that signify the ending of a phrase
- Cantabile: A style of singing that is both light and flowy
- Cantata: Music that is often religious and is written for a chorus or orchestra
- Carol: Hymn or song for Christmas
- Chorale: A hymn that is most frequently sung by both the choir and the congregation together
- Clavier: The keyboard on a string instrument
- Consonance: A group of tones that are in harmony when played together
- Contralto: Name for the lowest singing voice for females
- Dynamics: Refers to how loud or softly a piece of music is to be played
- Energico: A symbol that appears in sheet music which instructs the person to play energetically
- Fifth: Interval between two notes
- Form: The structure of a musical piece
- Fugue: A composition which is written for three to six voices
- Grazioso: Word that indicates that a piece of music should be played gracefully
- Instrumentation: Refers to the way that instruments are arranged for music when multiple instruments are being used
- Interval: Distance in pitch between two notes
- Key signature: Flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line which indicate the key that should be played
- Libretto: The book of text for an opera
- Maestro: Name for a great composer, music teacher, or conductor
- Mezzo: Voice between soprano and alto
- Modulation: Shifting to another key
- Monotone: The repeating of a single tone
- Nonet: A musical composition that is written for nine instruments
- Operetta: A short and light musical performance
- Oratorio: A long cantata regarding a sacred subject
- Ornaments: Tones that are used to dress up the main tone of a work
- Parody: A composition that is based off of another composition
- Piano: Yes, of course, a piano is an instrument, but did you know that it is also an instruction in sheet music to play softly?
- Pizzicato: A string instruments that is played with a pick as opposed to a bow
- Presto: A direction in sheet music which states that the music must be played very quickly
- Reed: Refers to the piece of cane in wind instruments
- Rigaudon: A 20th century dance which is written in double time
- Septet: Seven musicians who compose a piece for seven parts
- Soprano: The highest female voice
- Suite: Collection of instrumental pieces
- Timbre: The quality of sound which distinguishes one tone from another tone
- Tonic (Also known as keynote): First tone of a scale
- Waltz: A dance that is written in triple time
Depending upon what time of music you are planning to get into, you might find a whole slew of other definitions that you will have to learn to become a master of your field. However, this list of musical terms will give you a substantial knowledge base for whichever musical direction you decide to pursue.