Basic Music Theory Terms for Students

Adagio

• Fast tempo

• Moderate tempo

• Slow tempo

• Very fast tempo

Crescendo

• Gradually getting louder

• Suddenly getting softer

• Maintaining a constant volume

• A musical pause

Bass Clef

• Symbol for higher pitch notes

• Symbol for lower pitch notes

• Symbol for treble notes

• Symbol for rhythm notes

Presto

• Very fast tempo

• Slow tempo

• Moderate tempo

• Lively tempo

Moderato

• A fast tempo

• A slow tempo

• Moderate or medium tempo

• An extremely fast tempo

Natural

• Cancels sharp or flat

• Increases pitch

• Decreases volume

• Adds a sharp note

Sharp (♯)

• Lowers pitch by half step

• Raises pitch by half step

• Keeps pitch the same

• Lowers pitch by whole step

Mezzo-forte

• Play or sing notes at a medium loud volume

• Play or sing notes softly

• Play or sing notes very loudly

• Play or sing notes at a slow tempo

Key Signature

• Indicates the tempo of a piece of music

• Tells you what notes are to be played or sung either a half-step higher or lower than written

• Specifies the dynamics of a musical passage

• Defines the time signature of a musical composition

Order of Sharps

• F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#

• C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#

• F#, G#, A#, B#, C#, D#, E#

• D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#