General Music Terms
A system of writing down music so that specific pitches and rhythms can be communicated.
Notation
A black or white oval to which a stem and flags can be added.
Note
This indicates that a pitch is raised a half step.
Sharp
In 4/4 time, how many beats is a quarter note worth?
One
What is the first line of the treble staff?
E
A set of five horizontal lines.
Staff
The vertical line added to a note head.
Stem
This indicates that a pitch is lowered a half step.
Flat
In 4/4 time, how many beats is a half note worth?
Two
What is the first space of the treble staff?
F
A sign at the beginning of the staff that shows the exact pitch of each line and space.
Clef
The little marks "flying" from the stem.
Flag
This cancels out any previous sharp or flat sign on that pitch.
Natural
In 4/4 time, how many beats is a dotted half note worth?
What is the first line of a bass staff?
G
A combination of the treble and bass staves.
Grand Staff
The thick, horizontal line that links several notes together.
Beam
This raises a pitch a whole step.
Double Sharp
In 4/4 time, how many beats is a whole note worth?
Four
What is the first space of a bass staff?
The short horizontal lines used when a pitch falls above or below the staff.
Ledger Lines
Three notes of equal duration.
Triplet
This lowers a pitch a whole step.
Double Flat
In 4/4 time, how many beats is an eighth note worth?
One half
What is the name of the pitch that is one ledger line down in the treble staff and one ledger line up in the bass staff?
Middle C