Theory Dictionary

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Accidentals - Temporary symbols that tell to alter the
pitch of a note. They appear in the middle of a measure, and it alters the pitch of other notes in the same position until either the measure ends or until another accidental shows up in the same position.
- A sharp raises the pitch of a note by one half-step.
- A double sharp raises the pitch of a note by one whole-step.
- A flat lowers the pitch of a note by one half-step.
- A double flat lowers the pitch of a note by one whole-step.
- A natural cancels any of these other accidentals.
A half step would be the interval between consecutive tones. For example, a half step would be considered from C to C-sharp, from D to D-flat, from E to F, or from C to B.
A whole step would be the interval between a note and the note two tones above or below it. For example, a whole step would be considered from C to D, A to G, B to C-sharp, or F-sharp to E.

Bar - A vertical line that goes through the Grand Staff that divides the measures. At the end of a section, a thin double bar indicates it. At the end of a piece, a thick double bar indicates it.
Beam - The replacement of the flags that attaches to the tops of the stems of the notes with the same number of flags. The number of flags that were on the notes are the same number of beams that will appear on the stems. For instance, two or more sixteenth notes can be joined together by two beams, but a sixteenth note and a thirty-second note cannot be joined together by beams.
Brace - A wave-like symbol that holds together the treble and bass staffs to form the Grand Staff.
Clef - A sign on the
Grand Staff that state where a certain note is positioned. For instance:

The Treble Clef , also known as the G Clef because it resembles a G, is the clef that states that the G note is positioned on the second-to-last line. This can be told because the thin end of this clef ends (or should end) more or less on the second-to-last line.
The Bass Clef, which is also known as the F Clef because it resembles an F, states that the F note is positioned on the second line. This can be told because the two dots on this clef have the second line in their middle.

Dynamics - Symbols consisting of letters that indicate how loud or how soft a section should be played.
Flag - A curved line that attaches to the top of a stem of a note to indicate that it is less than one beat. If a group of notes have the same number of flags, then they are joined together by beams.
Grand Staff - Two staffs most often consisting of a treble staff and a bass staff, both five lines each, in which the position of the notes on it determines their pitches. If a note needs to go past the staff lines, a leger line is placed every two positions so as to lessen any confusion of the true whereabouts of the note. The staffs are held together by a brace, and, instead of invidual bars for each of the staffs, there is only one bar that goes through both staffs. The staffs must both have the same time signature and the same number and types of accidentals.
The two staffs can have any purpose. For a piano, for instance, the top staff (most often the treble staff and most often played by the right hand) can be to show the main melody, while the bottom staff (most often the bass staff and most often played by the left hand) can be to show the less important melody.

Instrument - In musical terms, a device that makes a sound pleasing to the ears, in which the sound often can change its pitch.
Leger line - A line that is placed every two positions above or below a staff to lessen confusion while reading notes.
Measure - A small section of a piece divided by bars. In these sections, the number of beats in a measure is determined by the time signature.
Meter - The way that beats are organized into the measures. This is indicated by the time signature. There are special types of meters, though. There are the "simple meters, compound meters, and irregular meters.

Simple meter indicates that one count stands for one beat. In this meter, quarter notes stand for the normal count in a measure.

Simple duple indicates that the time signature is marked 2/4.
Simple triple indicates that the time signature is marked 3/4.
Simple quadruple indicates that the time signature is marked 4/4 or C (which also stands for 4/4).

Compound meter indicates that three counts stands for one beat. In this type of meter, eighth notes stand for the normal counts in the measures.

Compound duple indicates that the time signature is marked 6/8.
Compound triple indicates that the time signature is marked 9/8.
Compound quadruple indicates that the time signature is marked 12/8.

Irregular meter is basically anything else that the time signature displays that is not defined here.
Monophonic - Only capable of playing one melody.
Notes - Symbols that appear on the Grand Staff. Its position determines the pitch of the sound for which the music is intended, and its appearance determines how many beats the note gets. For instance:

A whole note (the note that has an oval shape with no stem) gets four beats.
A half note (a whole note with a stem)gets two beats.
A quarter note (a filled-in half note) gets one beat.
An eighth note (a quarter note with a flag) gets one half of a beat. If there is more than one eighth note, they are joined by one beam and will appear without the flags.
A sixteenth note (a quarter note with two flags) gets one quarter of a beat. If there is more than one sixteenth note, they are joined by two beams and will appear without the flags.
A thirty-second note (a quarter note with three flags) gets one eighth of a beat. If there is more than one thirty-second note, they are joined by three beams and will appear without the flags.
A sixty-fourth note (a quarter note with four flags) gets one sixteenth of a beat. If there is more than one sixty-fourth note, they are joined by four beams and will appear without the flags.
Also, if there is a dot to the right of a note, then the number of beats to the note are increased by half its beat value. For instance, if there is a dotted whole note, its beat value increases from four to six beats. If there is a dotted half note, its beat value increases from two to three beats. If there is a dotted quarter note, the beat values goes from one beat to one-and-a-half beats, also known as three tied eighth notes.
Pitch - In simple musical terms, either how high or how low a particular sound is.
Polyphonic - Being capable of playing two or more melodies at the same time.
Rests - A symbol that tells the player to not play for a certain amount of time.

A whole rest (a small, thick line that resides at the top half of the second space from the top in a staff) gets four beats.
A half rest (looks like a whole rest, but it resides at the bottom of the space) gets two beats.
A quarter rest (a symbol that has two curves and an edge between those two curves) gets one beat.
An eighth-rest (a slightly diagonal line with a curve and end at the top of the line) gets one half of a beat.
As with the eighth notes and the flags, if there is an eighth rest with two curves and ends, it is a sixteenth rest. If three, it is a thirty-second rest, and so on. For every curve and end it has, the value of the beat becomes half of what it was before.
Scale - A series of half steps and/or whole steps that are arranged together in a pattern of rising or falling pitches.

A chromatic scale is a scale that consists of only half steps.
A major scale is a scale that consists of the following pattern of half steps and whole steps: Whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.
A minor scale is a scale that consists of the following pattern of half steps and whole steps: Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.
A diatonic scale is a scale that consists of 8 notes of either the major scale or the minor scale.
Slur - A curved line that ties together a series of different notes together, whether within a measure or a group of measures. The result is a smooth continuation of the notes. See also TIE.
Staff - One of the most important parts of music-reading, this is where everything is positioned. At the beginning of each staff, there is a clef. After that, the main accidentals are listed on the lines where accidentals are needed. Next, the time signature is placed. Finally, the main music is recorded. If the music was created for players of monophonic instruments, then only one staff is needed. If the music was intended for players of polyphonic instruments, then two staffs are needed. These two staffs together are called the Grand Staff.
Stem - A vertical line that appears on the side of all notes except the whole note. If the note is positioned below the middle line on any staff, the stem is located on the right side of the note and sticks above the note. If the note is positioned on or above the middle line on the staff, the stem is located on the left side of the note and sticks below the note.
Style - In music, it is the way that the music is played. It can either be indicated by words or by symbols. Tempo styles are below.

Dolce means that the section should be played sweetly.
Molto means that the section should be played fully.
An accent over a note means that the note should be played one dynamic degree louder than the rest of the passage. For instance, if there was an accent in a passage that was marked mezzo forte, the note would be played in forte.
A crescendo in a passage would mean that the dynamics in the passage would go from whatever was the original dynamic degree to a louder degree.
A decrescendo in a passage would mean the dynamics in a passage would go from the original dynamic degree to a softer one.
A staccato mark under a note would mean that the note would be played very quickly while still retaining its full beat value.
Syncopation - An arrangement of notes played on offbeats.
Tempo - Describes how fast or how slow a piece goes. It is usually described in beats per minute. The tempo is usually described at the beginning of the piece, and, if the piece calls for it, there can be changes in the tempo in the middle of the piece. Also, there are some Italian terms that describe changes in the tempo. Because these terms do not directly tell what beats per minute the piece should go, it is decided by the conductor (the person who directs the piece) or the player (if only one person was playing it.

Adagio means that the section should go slow.
A tempo means that the section should return to the original tempo.
Fermata means that the section should go slow.
Fine means that the piece has ended.
Lento means that the time should just stop for a small while.
Moderato means that the section should go at a medium tempo.
Presto means that the section should go very fast.
Ritardando or rit. means that the tempo should progressively become slower.
Vivace means that the section should be played lively.
Tie - A curved line that holds one note out throughout a measure or series of measures. It will appear as if there are a series of notes touched by the ends of the ties. See also SLUR.
Time Signature - The numbers (appearing in a somewhat fraction form) that indicate the meter of the piece. The number on bottom indicates the kind of beat that represents the normal count, and the number on the top indicates how many of those normal counts there are in a measure.