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Instant search across 280+ musical terms, official exam board rules, 2-step shortcut lessons, and formula cheat sheets.

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Musical Terms Dictionary

236 Terms

Curriculum-verified definitions with phonetic pronunciations and student memory tricks.

a tempo

[ah TEM-poh]
Italian

“in time”

Memory trick: Think 'back to original tempo'.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

accelerando

[ak-chel-er-AHN-doh]
Italian

“gradually getting quicker”

Memory trick: Like pressing an accelerator in a car.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

adagio

[ah-DAH-joh]
Italian

“slow”

Memory trick: Remember 'At a slow pace'.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

allegretto

[al-luh-GRET-toh]
Italian

“fairly quick”

Memory trick: A little slower than allegro, but still cheerful.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

allegro

[al-LEH-gro]
Italian

“quick”

Memory trick: Legs go fast!
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

andante

[ahn-DAHN-tay]
Italian

“at a medium walking speed”

Memory trick: Walking pace, like a relaxed stroll.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

cantabile

[kahn-TAH-bee-lay]
Italian

“in a singing style”

Memory trick: Cantare means to sing (like cantor).
MoodGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

crescendo

[kreh-SHEN-doh]
Italian

“gradually getting louder”

Memory trick: Crescent moon growing bigger into full moon.
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

da capo

[dah KAH-poh]
Italian

“repeat from the beginning”

Memory trick: Capo means head (head back to the top).
DirectionGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

dal segno

[dahl SEHN-yoh]
Italian

“repeat from the sign”

Memory trick: Segno means sign (jump to the fancy S sign).
DirectionGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

decrescendo

[deh-kreh-SHEN-doh]
Italian

“gradually getting quieter”

Memory trick: Decreasing volume.
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

diminuendo

[dee-meen-yoo-EN-doh]
Italian

“gradually getting quieter”

Memory trick: Diminishing sound.
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

fine

[FEE-nay]
Italian

“the end”

Memory trick: The finish line!
DirectionGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

forte

[FOR-tay]
Italian

“loud”

Memory trick: Strong like a military fort.
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

fortissimo

[for-TEES-see-moh]
Italian

“very loud”

Memory trick: -issimo means maximum!
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

legato

[leh-GAH-toh]
Italian

“smoothly”

Memory trick: Tied together smoothly.
ArticulationGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

lento

[LEN-toh]
Italian

“slow”

Memory trick: Move slowly like a slow lentil.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

mezzo

[MED-zoh]
Italian

“half”

Memory trick: Medium / halfway.
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

mezzo forte

[MED-zoh FOR-tay]
Italian

“moderately loud”

Memory trick: Halfway loud (mf).
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

mezzo piano

[MED-zoh pee-AH-noh]
Italian

“moderately quiet”

Memory trick: Halfway soft (mp).
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

moderato

[mod-er-AH-toh]
Italian

“at a moderate speed”

Memory trick: Moderate tempo.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

pianissimo

[pee-ah-NEES-see-moh]
Italian

“very quiet”

Memory trick: Whisper soft (pp).
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

piano

[pee-AH-noh]
Italian

“quiet”

Memory trick: Gentle and quiet (p).
DynamicsGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

poco

[POH-koh]
Italian

“a little”

Memory trick: Poco a poco = little by little.
DirectionGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

rallentando

[rahl-len-TAHN-doh]
Italian

“gradually getting slower”

Memory trick: Relax and slow down.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

ritardando

[ree-tar-DAHN-doh]
Italian

“gradually getting slower”

Memory trick: Tardy means late/slowing down.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

ritenuto

[ree-teh-NOO-toh]
Italian

“held back”

Memory trick: Instantly held back in speed.
TempoGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

staccato

[stah-KAH-toh]
Italian

“detached”

Memory trick: Dot over note, short and bouncy.
ArticulationGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

tie

[TYE]
General

“hold the note for the combined value”

Memory trick: Curved line joining same pitch notes.
ArticulationGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

slur

[SLUR]
General

“play the notes smoothly”

Memory trick: Curved line joining different pitch notes.
ArticulationGrade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

Showing first 30 of 236 matching terms. Use the Omnibar above to search any term instantly.

Visual Formula & Shortcut Sheets

One-page revision blueprints designed for quick visual recall before exams.

4 Core Sheets
Keys & ScalesGrades 1–5

Circle of Fifths & Key Signatures

Instant clockwise (add 1 sharp) and counterclockwise (add 1 flat) visual cheat sheet for all 12 keys.

Core Shortcut: FCGDAEB for sharps; BEADGCF for flats.
Practice in LessonsStudent Dashboard
Clefs & PitchGrades 1–5

Clef Landmark Navigation Matrix

Middle C, Treble G, Bass F, Alto Line 3, and Tenor Line 4 landmark positions without slow counting.

Core Shortcut: Tenor C-clef locks Line 4; Alto C-clef locks Line 3.
Practice in LessonsStudent Dashboard
Chords & HarmonyGrades 4–5

Cadence Identification 2-Step Tree

Identify Perfect (V–I), Plagal (IV–I), Imperfect (?–V), and Interrupted (V–vi) cadences in 2 easy checks.

Core Shortcut: Check final chord: ends on V = Imperfect; ends on I = Perfect or Plagal.
Practice in LessonsStudent Dashboard
Rhythm & TimeGrades 3–5

Simple vs Compound Beaming Matrix

The invisible beat fence rule for 4/4 and dotted beat quaver groupings in 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8.

Core Shortcut: Top 2, 3, 4 = simple duple/triple/quadruple; 6, 9, 12 = compound.
Practice in LessonsStudent Dashboard

Official Exam Board Overviews

Accurate duration, marking criteria, and proctoring environments for all four supported boards.

4 Exam Boards
ABRSM90 minutes

ABRSM Online Music Theory Syllabus

Pass: 50 | Merit: 60 | Distinction: 65

Proctoring: PSI Secure Browser (RPNow)

Mandatory Grade 5 for Practical G6–8

Read Full GuideTake Practice Mock
Trinity College London120m (G1–4) / 180m (G5–8)

Trinity Digital Theory Syllabus

Pass: 60 | Merit: 75 | Distinction: 87

Proctoring: ProctorExam & Flat.io Interactive Notation

Accredited UK Level 2 Qualification

Read Full GuideTake Practice Mock
AMEB60m (G1) to 180m (G5)

AMEB SCORE Online Theory Syllabus

Pass: 65 | Honours: 85 | High Distinction: 95

Proctoring: AMEB SCORE Portal (Supervisor 18+ PIN)

Australian National Examination Standard

Read Full GuideTake Practice Mock
RCM60m (L5) / 120m (L6–8)

RCM Theory Syllabus (Levels 5–8)

Pass: 60 | First Class: 80 | Distinction: 90

Proctoring: D2L Brightspace & Guardian Browser

Royal Conservatory Certificate Program

Read Full GuideTake Practice Mock

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