Music Dictionary

Welcome to the Music Dictionary. To browse for definitions of musical terms, use the links below.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• accent
• accessory (see ornament)
• accidental
• accelerando
• adagio
• allegro
• alteration
• alto
• alto clef
• ambit
• ancient minor scale
• andante
• appoggiatura
• arpeggio
• ascending interval
• augmented interval (see interval)
• autograph

B

• backfall (see appoggiatura)
• bar (see measure)
• baritone
• baritone clef
• bass clef
• bass
• beam
• beat
• bind (see tie)
• brace
• brass
• breath mark
• breve

 

C

• C clef
• cadence (harmonic cadence and functional harmony)
• cadenza
• canon (see counterpoint)
• cent
• central C (see middle C)
• chord
• chromatic scale
• chromaticism
• church mode (see diatonic scale)
• clef (see C clef, F clef, G clef)
• cluster
• comma
• common meter (see meter)
• compound interval
• complement (see inverted interval)
• conjunct movement
• consonance (see harmony)
• contralto (see alto)
• counterpoint
• counter tenor (see alto)
• copying music
• crescendo
• cue-notes
• custos

D

• da capo
• dal segno
• decrescendo
• descending interval
• diatonic scale
• diminished interval (see interval)
• diminuendo (see decrescendo)
• disjunct movement
• dissonance (see harmony)
• dominant ninth chord (see chord and functional harmony)
• dominant seventh chord (see chord and functional harmony)
• dominant
• dorian mode (see diatonic scale)
• dot (augmentation dot) (see dotted note)
• dotted note (see note value)
• double appoggiatura (see appoggiatura)
• double bar line
• double dotted note (see note value)
• double flat (see note value)
• double sharp (see note value)
• double trill
• duple meter (see meter)
• duplet (see note value)
• duration (see note value)
• dydimic comma (see syntonic comma)

 

 

E

• ecclesiastical mode (see diatonic scale)
• eighth note (see note values)
• eighth rest (see note values)
• embellishment (see ornament)
• engraving
• enharmonic
• equal temperament
• expression mark

 

F

• F clef
• fermata
• fifth (see interval)
• figured bass
• fingering
• flag
• flat (see accidental)
• forefall (see appoggiatura)
• forte
• fourth (see interval)
• fugue (see counterpoint)
• functional harmony

G

• G clef
• glissando
• grace notes
• grand staff (see brace)
• grave
• gruppetto (see turn)

 

H

• half note (see note values)
• half rest (see note values)
• harmonic cadence
• harmony
• homophony

I

• interval
• inverted interval

 

J

• just intonation

 

K

• key
• key signature

 

L

• largo
• leading note
• ledger line
• legato
• legato curve (see slur, legato)
• ligature
• line (see staff)
• longa

 

M

• major interval (see intervals)
• major (see diatonic scale)
• meantone temperament
• measure
• mediant
• melisma
• melodic cadence (see cadenza)
• meter
• metronomic indication
• middle C
• minor (see diatonic scale)
• minor interval (see intervals)
• mode (see diatonic scale)
• modulation
• mordent (see ornament)
• motif (see motive)
• motive
• movement
• multibar rest
• mixolydian mode (see diatonic scale)

 

N

• natural sign
• neighbour tones
• ninth
• non-legato
• note
• note head
• note value

 

O

• octave sign
• octave
• ornament
• ossia

 

P

• part
• pennant
• percussion
• perfect interval
• phrase
• phrasing
• piano
• pitch
• pizzicato
• polyphony
• portato (see legato)
• presto
• Pythagorean comma

 

 

R

• relative key
• repeat
• rhythm

 

S

• scale (see Diatonic Scale)
• scale degree
• score
• second
• semitone
• sharp (see Accidental)
• slur
• solmization
• sonata
• sonata form
• staccato
• staff
• stem
• strings
• syncopation
• syntonic comma
• system

 

T

• temperament
• tempo indication
• tenth (see interval)
• tenuto
• third (see interval)
• thirty-second note (see note value)
• thirty-second rest (see note value)
• thorough bass (see figured bass)
• tie
• time signature (see meter)
• tone
• tonic
• transposition
• treble clef (see G clef)
• tremolo
• triad (see chord)
• trill (see ornament)
• triple meter (see meter)
• triplet (see note value)
• tritone (see interval)
• tuning fork
• turn (see ornament)

 

U

• unison
• upbeat

 

V

• voice

 

W

• weak beat (see beat, measure, rhythm)
• whole note (see note values)
• whole rest (see note values)
• whole tone
• woodwind

 

Languages in this order.

• ES - Spanish
• I - Italian
• F - French
• D - German
• NL - Dutch
• UK - British English
• DK - Danish
• S - Swedish
• FI - Finnish

Other languages: English.
Using automatic language selection.

 

ES - Spanish
I - Italian
F - French
D - German
NL - Dutch
UK - British English
DK - Danish
S - Swedish
FI - Finnish

Reference Material Used:

• The Harvard Dictionary of Music, London 1944. Many more or less literal quotes from its articles have been included into the item explanation texts.
• Hugo Riemanns Musiklexicon, Berlin 1929.
• Polyglottes Wörterbuch der musikalischen Terminologie, Kassel 1980.
• Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English, Third Edition 1974.
• Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield 1913.