Notation
How written music encodes pitch, duration, and expression.
Accidental (music)
In musical notation, an accidental is a symbol that indicates an alteration of a given pitch. The most common accidentals are the flat () and the sharp (), which represent alterations of a semitone,
Read → EntryArticulation (music)
Articulation is a musical parameter that determines how a single note or other discrete event is sounded. Articulations primarily structure an event's start and end, determining the length of its
Read → EntryClef
A clef (from French: 'key') is a musical symbol used to indicate which notes are represented by the lines and spaces on a musical staff. Placing a clef on a staff assigns a particular pitch to one of
Read → EntryDotted note
In Western musical notation, a dotted note is a note with a small dot written after it. In modern practice, the dot increases the duration of the original note by half of its value. This makes a
Read → EntryDynamics (music)
The dynamics of a piece of music is the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings require
Read → EntryFlat (music)
In music, flat means lower in pitch. The flat symbol, , indicates that the note to which it is applied is played one chromatic semitone lower. The opposite of flat is sharp, indicating a raising of
Read → EntryKey signature
In Western musical notation, a key signature is a set of sharp (), flat (), or rarely, natural () symbols placed on the staff at the beginning of a section of music. The initial key signature in a
Read → EntryLedger line
A ledger line or leger line is used in Western musical notation to notate pitches above or below the lines and spaces of the regular musical staff. A line slightly longer than the note head is drawn
Read → EntryMusical notation
Musical notation is any system used to visually represent music. Systems of notation generally represent the elements of a piece of music that are considered important for its performance in the
Read → EntryNatural (music)
In modern Western music notation, a natural (♮) is a symbol that cancels a previous sharp or flat in the written music. It indicates that the note is at its unaltered pitch. The natural symbol can be
Read → EntryRest (music)
A rest is the absence of a sound for a defined period of time in music, or one of the musical notation signs used to indicate that. The length of a rest corresponds with that of a particular note
Read → EntrySharp (music)
In music, sharp – eqv. (from French) or (from Greek ) – means higher in pitch. The sharp symbol, ♯, indicates that the note to which the symbol is applied is played one chromatic semitone higher. The
Read → EntrySlur (music)
A slur is a symbol in Western musical notation indicating that the notes it embraces are to be played without separation (that is, with legato articulation). A slur is denoted with a curved line
Read → EntryStaff (music)
In Western musical notation, the staff (UK usually stave); (plural: staves), is a set of horizontal lines (usually five) with spaces between them, that each represent a different musical pitch.
Read → EntryTie (music)
In music notation, a tie is a curved line connecting the heads of two or more notes of the same pitch, indicating that they are to be played as a single note with a duration equal to the sum of the
Read → EntryTime signature
A time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, and measure signature) is an indication in music notation that specifies how many note values of a particular type fit into each
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