Multilingual Music Glossary

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Found a word you don't know? No problem. Look it up in the Music Glossary!

We are currently providing explanations for 2484 terms from 12 languages, including English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Latin…

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If you are looking for a symbol, check out our Guide to Musical Symbols.

Please note: a music glossary is just like a dictionary. It contains explanations to musical terms. If you are looking for a piece, please go here instead: search tunes.

Some random terms

  • marziale [Italian] Martial, with a military feeling.
  • dolente [Italian] Sorrowful.
  • obbligato [Italian] Literally, “obligatory”. Important part of a music that that should not be omitted.
  • tremolo [Italian] A rapid alternation between two notes.
  • vocal range The range of notes that a singing voice can encompass.
  • quartal harmony Harmony based on the interval of the fourth as opposed to a third; used in twentieth century music.
  • ritmico [Italian] Literally, “rhythmic”. A directive to strictly conform to the written rhythm, emphasizing it.
  • incipit [Latin] The beginning of a musical composition.
  • upbeat The last beat of any measure, usually a weak beat.
  • eight note A note having the time duration of one eighth of a whole note.
  • double flat An accidental sign consisting of two flat symbols, that lowers a note by two semitones.
  • plus [French] “More”.
  • ballet [French] A representation of a story by means of dances or pantomimic action accompanied by music.
  • nach [German] “After”.
  • duple meter A rhythmic pattern with the the number of beats per measure being divisible by two.