Know Your Notes & Clefs
This clef, also called the G-clef, is used by flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and trumpets.
What is the Treble Clef?
This single note receives 4 full beats of sound in standard 4/4 time.
What is a whole note?
This Italian term and symbol (p) tells you to play softly.
What is Piano?
Although made of brass, the saxophone belongs to this instrument family because it uses a reed.
What is the Woodwind family?
These vertical lines divide the musical staff into measures.
What are bar lines?
This line note sits on the bottom line of the treble clef staff.
What is E?
In 4/4 time, this symbol indicates 1 beat of complete silence.
What is a quarter rest?
This symbol (f) indicates that you should play loudly.
What is Forte?
Instead of valves or keys, the trombone uses this mechanism to change pitch.
What is a slide?
A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch to combine their duration is called this.
What is a tie?
Trombones, tubas, and euphoniums read this clef, which centers around the note F.
What is the Bass Clef?
A dot placed right after a note increases its rhythmic value by this percentage.
What is 50\% (or half its original value)?
This dynamic marking (mf) translates to "medium loud."
What is Mezzo Forte?
Clarinets and saxophones use a single reed, but this woodwind instrument uses a double reed.
What is the Oboe or Bassoon?
This curved line connects two or more notes of different pitches, meaning they should be played smoothly without re-tonguing.
What is a slur?
The acronym "Every Good Boy Does Fine" helps you remember these notes on the treble clef staff.
What are the line notes?
This fraction-like symbol at the beginning of a piece tells you how many beats are in each measure.
What is a time signature?
This symbol looks like a hair clip widening to the right and means to gradually get louder.
What is a Crescendo?
This large brass instrument is the lowest-pitched member of the band.
What is the Tuba?
This symbol (b) lowers a note by one half-step.
What is a flat?
These small lines added above or below the staff extend its range for higher or lower notes.
What are ledger lines?
In 3/4 time, a dotted half note receives this total number of beats.
What is 3 beats?
This term describes a sudden, strongly accented note played very loudly.
What is Sforzando (sfz)?
Snare drums, bass drums, and cymbals belong to this unpitched subcategory of percussion.
What is Non-pitched (or Battery) Percussion?
Placed above a note, this symbol tells the performer to hold the note longer than its normal value until the director cuts them off.
What is a Fermata (or bird's eye)?