12-bar blues
A twelve-measure blues framework, commonly using tonic, subdominant and dominant harmony with many variants.
AcademyTHE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC
Terminology
An A–Z dictionary of music theory, notation, performance, instruments, styles, production and musical traditions.
902 terms with English and Arabic definitions
Musical vocabulary spans many traditions and keeps evolving. This broad catalogue explains each included term in context; language labels identify the term shown, including shared loanwords.
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Every term is categorized. Terms with overlapping meanings appear in more than one category.
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128th note
Other names & abbreviationssemihemidemisemiquaver
A note lasting 1/128 of a whole note, called a semihemidemisemiquaver in British English.
256th note
A note lasting 1/256 of a whole note; extremely short values remain proportional and do not prescribe seconds.
A cappella
Singing without instrumental accompaniment.
À l'aise
At ease; with relaxed freedom.
A piacere
At the performer's discretion, especially in timing and expression.
A tempo
Return to the tempo in effect before a temporary change.
AABA form
A song form with two related A sections, a contrasting B bridge, and a return to A.
Absolute pitch
Other names & abbreviationsperfect pitch
Ability to identify or produce a pitch without a reference tone.
Accelerando
Other names & abbreviationsaccel.
Gradually increase the tempo.
Accent
Extra emphasis on a note through loudness, duration, articulation or placement.
Acciaccatura
A short grace-note ornament, usually notated with a slash, played very close to its principal note; timing varies by style.
Accidental
A sharp, flat, natural or related sign that modifies a note's pitch.
Accompaniment
Music supporting a principal melody, voice or solo part.
Accordion
A free-reed instrument whose bellows drive air through reeds selected by keys or buttons.
Acoustics
The study of sound, its production, propagation and perception.
Ad lib.
Other names & abbreviationsad libitum
Abbreviation of ad libitum: at the performer's discretion.
Ad libitum
Other names & abbreviationsad lib.
At the performer's discretion; may permit flexible timing or omission of a part, depending on context.
Adagietto
Usually a little faster than adagio, or a short adagio movement.
Adagio
A slow tempo; also a movement at that tempo.
Added-note chord
A chord with an added scale tone without necessarily including intervening thirds, such as Cadd9.
Additive synthesis
Building a sound by combining multiple sinusoidal components.
ADSR
An envelope with attack, decay, sustain and release stages; sustain is normally a level, not a duration.
Aeolian mode
The diatonic mode with degrees 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7; equivalent to natural minor.
Aerophone
An instrument whose primary sound source is vibrating air.
Affettuoso
With tenderness and affection.
Affrettando
Press forward or hurry the tempo.
Agitato
With agitation and restless energy.
Air
A song-like tune or instrumental piece; historically also a song or aria.
Alap
Other names & abbreviationsālāp
An opening, typically unmetered exploration of a raga in Hindustani performance.
Alberti bass
An accompaniment pattern that repeats a broken chord, often low–high–middle–high.
Aliasing
Frequency artifacts caused when a signal is sampled or processed without adequate bandwidth control.
Alla breve
Other names & abbreviationscut time
Cut time: normally 2/2, with two half-note beats per bar.
Alla marcia
In the style of a march.
Allargando
Gradually broaden the tempo, usually with an expansive expression.
Allegretto
Moderately fast, generally less brisk than allegro.
Allegrissimo
Very fast and lively.
Allegro
A fast, lively tempo; exact speed depends on the piece.
Altered chord
A chord containing one or more chromatically changed tones relative to its basic form.
Altered scale
Other names & abbreviationssuper-Locrian
The seventh mode of melodic minor, often used over an altered dominant seventh chord.
Alto
A low female or high choral voice part; also a register label for instruments.
Alto clef
A C clef placing middle C on the third staff line.
Amabile
In a gentle, pleasing manner.
Amoroso
With a loving, tender expression.
Amplitude
The magnitude of a signal's variation, related to but not identical with perceived loudness.
Anacrusis
Other names & abbreviationspickup · upbeat
One or more notes before the first complete measure, leading into its downbeat.
Andante
At a walking pace, moderately slow.
Andantino
A tempo close to andante; historically used for both slightly faster and slightly slower speeds.