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Visual Music Dictionary
Position the mouse on a sign to learn what it means.

Ending - this is the first ending of a repeated part

Ending - this is the second ending of a repeated part

Bracket - is used to connect two or more staves to form a system or to group some seperate instruments within a system

Clefs - the Treble (upper) used for higher parts and Bass clef (below) for lower instruments or vocals

Key signatures - appear after the clef and determine the key of the music. The key signature may also appear through the score while the key changes to another

Meter / Time signature - shows the number of beats in a measure and the beat unit (quarter, etc.)

Repeat sign (right facing) - shows from where to repeat

Segno - Sign to indicate the beginning or ending of a section that is to be repeated

Staff and barlines

Repeat sign (left facing) - signs to repeat to the right facing one, or to the beginning of the piece, if there isn't any right facing

Sign indicates not to play for few measures (the number tells how many)

Coda - this sign indicates the beginning of the final part (the CODA) of the composition

Coda - this sign indicates the beginning of the final part (the CODA) of the composition

Fine - indicates the end of the composition

Final double barline - indicates the end of the piece

To Coda - jump to the coda sign to play the final part

da capo - play from the beginning

da capo al Coda - play again from the beginning until the coda sign and jump to the Coda part to finish the piece

da capo al fine - play again from the beginning until the Fine sign

D.S. (dal segno) - go to the sign and play from there

D.S. al Coda (dal segno al coda) - go to the sign and play to the to coda sign

Tempo metronome mark - shows the number of beats per minute

all'ottava - at the octave - play 1 octave higher than the notes written

Poco a poco - little by little

Perdendosi - dying away (becomes slower and more quiet)

take a breath or a little rest in singing

Brace - used to connect the two staves of instruments such as Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Harp and Marimba

Pedal down - indicates to use the damper pedal (for sustain)

ottava bassa - at the octave below - play 1 octave lower than the notes written

simile - continue to perform in the same style

Fermata - hold - indicates the note should be held longer than it's normal duration

Arpeggio - Play the chord with its notes sounded out in succession (one after another)

Piano-Pianissimo - play as soft as possible

attaca subito - continue immediately to the next section without any break

espressivo - expressive

tranquillo - calm, quiet

Fermata - hold - indicates the note should be held longer than it's normal duration

dolce - sweet

Legato - play or sing a group of notes without seperate attacks, very smoothly

a tempo - tempo reinstated - back to the original tempo (after fermata etc.)

Pedal up - indicates to stop using the damper pedal

sotto voce - very quiet, under the voice, very softly

Legato - play or sing a group of notes without seperate attacks, very smoothly

Staccato - play short, detached notes

crescendo - play gradually louder

decrescendo, diminuendo - play gradually softer

ritardando - play gradually slower

ritardando - play gradually slower

accelerando - play gradually faster

leggieramente - play light, delicate

crescendo - play gradually louder

decrescendo, diminuendo - play gradually softer

gruppetto - group of grace notes

gruppetto - group of grace notes

trill - an ornament - rapid alternation of the note and the diatonic second above it

Mordent - an ornament - alternation of the written note with the one immediately below it

trill - an ornament - rapid alternation of the note and the diatonic second above it

Mordent - an ornament - alternation of the written note with the one immediately below it

trill - an ornament - rapid alternation of the note and the diatonic second above it

Play harmonics (overtones) - produced in a string instrument by weak pressing

Staccato - Play short, measured notes, unattached to each other

play the bow up (string techniques)

play the bow down (string techniques)

Sforzando - play accented

Forzando - play with a sudden accent

Forte Piano - play loud and then soft

Sforzato - Forcing, accented

Piano-Pianissimo - play as soft as possible

Pianissimo - play very softly

Piano - play softly (quiet)

Mezzo Piano - play moderately softly

Mezzo Forte - play moderately loudly

Forte - play loudly

Fortissimo - play very loudly

Forte-Fortissimo - play as loud as possible





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MusixCool© By Nadav Dafni