The Elements of Music
Click a word to find out its meaning.
Click a word to find out its meaning.
How high or low sounds are. For example, you can have high-pitched or low-pitched sounds.
How long sounds are held on for. Sounds held on for different lengths create rhythms.
How FAST or SLOW sounds are played or whether they get faster or slower.
This means the "tone quality" of a sound. Every musical instrument has its own particular sound or "timbre".
How many instruments or sounds are being playing together.
How LOUDLY or QUIETLY the sounds are played.
How sounds are organised into a whole piece of music by playing sections over and over in a certain order.
Whenever there are no sounds heard.
Tempo
Largo: Slow, dignified
Adagio: Slow, leisurely
Lento: Slow
Moderato: Moderate
Andante: Walking pace
Allegro: Fast, lively
Vivace: Lively, animated
Presto: Fast, rapid
Largo: Slow, dignified
Adagio: Slow, leisurely
Lento: Slow
Moderato: Moderate
Andante: Walking pace
Allegro: Fast, lively
Vivace: Lively, animated
Presto: Fast, rapid
Dynamics
Pianissimo pp: Very softly
Piano p: Softly
Mezzo Piano mp: Quite softly
Mezzo Forte mf: Quite loudly
Forte f: Loudly
Fortissimo ff: Very loudly
Crescendo: Getting louder
Decrescendo: Getting quieter
Diminuendo: Gradually becoming quieter
Pianissimo pp: Very softly
Piano p: Softly
Mezzo Piano mp: Quite softly
Mezzo Forte mf: Quite loudly
Forte f: Loudly
Fortissimo ff: Very loudly
Crescendo: Getting louder
Decrescendo: Getting quieter
Diminuendo: Gradually becoming quieter
