Music Theory
Musical notation, pitch, rhythm, harmony, composition, forms, and performance directions.
65 words
Download MarkdownSome words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProA1 (3)
A2 (10) Pro
major
A2
/ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒə(ɹ)/
Very large, important, or serious.
M
S
tone
A2
/ˈtoʊ̯n/
The quality of a person's voice that shows how they feel.
M
S
string
A2
/ˈstrɪŋ/
Thin cord or rope used for tying things.
M
S
musical
A2
/ˈmju.zɪ.kəl/
Connected with music or its performance.
M
S
rhythm
A2
/ˈɹɪð.m̩/
A regular pattern of strong and weak sounds or beats in music or speech.
M
S
musician
A2
/mjuˈzɪʃən/
A person who plays a musical instrument or composes music, especially as a job.
M
S
harmony
A2
/ˈhɑ̟ɹ.mə.ni/
A state in which people get along well and agree with one another.
M
S
meter
A2
/ˈmitəɹ/
A unit of length equal to 100 centimetres (US spelling of 'metre').
M
S
symphony
A2
/ˈsɪm.fə.ni/
A long piece of music in several parts, usually written for a full orchestra.
M
S
composer
A2
/kəmˈpoʊzəɹ/
a person who writes music
M
S
B1 (9) Pro
beat
B1
/biːt/
To defeat someone in a game, contest, or fight.
M
S
theme
B1
/θiːm/
The main subject or idea of a book, film, talk, or piece of art.
M
S
accent
B1
/ˈæk.sɛnt/
the way someone pronounces words, showing where they come from
M
S
minor
B1
/ˈmaɪ.nəɹ/
Small or not very important.
M
S
brass
B1
/bɹas/
A group of musical instruments made of metal that are played by blowing, such as trumpets and trombones.
M
S
orchestra
B1
/ˈoɹ.kɪs.tɹə/
A large group of musicians who play instruments together, often including strings, woodwind, brass and percussion.
M
S
pause
B1
/pɔz/
A short stop in activity or speech before continuing.
M
S
composition
B1
/ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the different parts or people that something is made up of
M
S
interval
B1
/ˈɪntɚvəl/
a period of time between two events.
M
S
B2 (9) Pro
timing
B2
/ˈtaɪmɪŋ/
The choice of the right moment for something to happen.
M
S
pitch
B2
/pɪt͡ʃ/
To throw a ball, especially to a batter in baseball.
M
S
melody
B2
/ˈmɛl.ə.di/
A sequence of musical notes that forms a tune.
M
S
verse
B2
/ˈvɝs/
A group of lines that form one unit of a song or poem.
M
S
rhythmic
B2
/ˈɹɪð.mɪk/
Having a regular, repeated pattern of sounds or movements.
M
S
refrain
B2
/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/
To stop yourself from doing something.
M
S
variation
B2
/ˌvɛəɹiˈeɪʃn̩/
A change or difference in amount, level, or form.
M
S
notation
B2
/noʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
a system of written symbols and rules used to represent quantities, sounds, moves, or other specialized information
M
S
semitone
B2
/ˈsɛmɪtoʊn/
music: the smallest interval in the standard chromatic scale of Western music, equal to half a whole tone
M
S
C1 (8) Pro
bass
C1
/bæs/
The low range of sound or musical tones.
M
S
acoustic
C1
/əˈkuː.stɪk/
(of a musical instrument) producing sound naturally, without electrical amplification.
M
S
concerto
C1
/kənˈt͡ʃɛɹtoʊ/
A piece of music written for one or more solo instruments and an orchestra.
M
S
presto
C1
/ˈprɛs.toʊ/
used to announce a sudden or seemingly magical result
M
S
cadence
C1
/ˈkeɪdəns/
the rhythmic flow or pattern of sounds in speech, writing, or movement
M
S
timbre
C1
/ˈtæm.bɚ/
The quality of a sound independent of its pitch and volume.
M
S
staccato
C1
/stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
Made up of short, sharp, separated sounds or parts.
M
S
clef
C1
/klɛf/
a symbol on a musical staff that identifies which pitches its lines and spaces represent
M
S
C2 (14) Pro
improvise
C2
/ˈɪmpɹəvaɪz/
To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed guided only by imagination, intuition, and guesswork rather than by a careful plan.
M
S
chord
C2
/kɔɹd/
A harmonic set of three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously.
M
S
tempo
C2
/ˈtɛm.poʊ/
in music, the speed at which a composition is to be played
M
S
octave
C2
/ˈɑktɪv/
An interval of twelve semitones spanning eight degrees of the diatonic scale, representing a doubling or halving in pitch frequency.
M
S
sonata
C2
/səˈnɑːtə/
a substantial musical composition for one instrument or a small group, usually arranged in several contrasting movements
M
S
crescendo
C2
/kɹɪˈʃɛn.doʊ/
a gradual increase in loudness, in music
M
S
stave
C2
/steɪv/
one of the narrow strips of wood or metal fitted edge to edge to form a barrel or similar structure
M
S
trill
C2
/trɪl/
a rapid alternation between two adjacent musical notes
M
S
chromatic
C2
/kɹəˈmætɪk/
relating to color or to differences in color
M
S
arpeggio
C2
/ɑːrˈpedʒ.i.oʊ/
the notes of a chord played one after another rather than simultaneously
M
S
tremolo
C2
/ˈtrɛm.ə.loʊ/
a musical effect made by rapidly repeating one note or alternating between two notes
M
S
consonance
C2
/ˈkɑnsənəns/
agreement or compatibility between opinions, principles, qualities, or actions
M
S
homophony
C2
/həˈmɑfəni/
the relation or quality of words having the same pronunciation but different meanings or origins
M
S
syncopation
C2
/ˌsɪŋ.kəˈpeɪ.ʃən/
a rhythmic effect created by placing emphasis where a listener expects a weak beat or an offbeat
M
S
C2+ (12) Pro
prelude
C2+
/ˈpɹeɪl(j)uːd/
An introductory or preliminary performance or event.
M
S
treble
C2+
/ˈtɹɛbəl/
three times as great or many
M
S
accompaniment
C2+
/əˈkʌmpənimənt/
something that accompanies, especially music supporting a soloist
M
S
harmonic
C2+
/hɑrˈmɑnɪk/
relating to harmony or to frequencies that are multiples of a fundamental tone
M
S
overture
C2+
/ˈoʊvɚtʃɚ/
an orchestral introduction to a larger work, or an opening approach or proposal
M
S
transpose
C2+
/trænsˈpoʊz/
to cause two or more things to change places; to put in a different key
M
S
chorus
C2+
/ˈkɔrəs/
a group of singers, or a refrain repeated in a song
M
S
counterpoint
C2+
/ˈkaʊntɚˌpɔɪnt/
a contrasting element set against another; combined melodic lines
M
S
dissonance
C2+
/ˈdɪsənəns/
a harsh or inharmonious combination of sounds or ideas
M
S
legato
C2+
/lɪˈɡɑtoʊ/
in a smooth, connected manner, with notes flowing into one another
M
S
percussion
C2+
/pərˈkʌʃən/
the striking of one body against another; instruments played by striking
M
S
vibrato
C2+
/vɪˈbrɑtoʊ/
a slight, rapid wavering of pitch in singing or instrumental playing
M
S
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