Multilingual Music Glossary

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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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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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

  • bas [French] Low in pitch.
  • pitch Highness or lowness of a tone, depending on the frequency (rate of vibration).
  • downbeat The first beat of a measure, the strongest in any meter.
  • quasi [Italian] “Almost”.
  • belebend [German] Lively.
  • natural A symbol placed by a note signifying that the note should be played unaltered, as opposed to the sharp or flat of the note.
  • virtuoso [Italian] Performer of extraordinary technical ability.
  • restez [French] A directive to remain on a note.
  • orchestra An instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large, with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well.
  • acciaccatura [Italian] A short grace note, typically notated with a slash through the stem or flag, that quickly resolves to the main note.
  • appoggiatura [Italian] Ornamental note, usually taking half of the duration of the main note it precedes.
  • offset G On a flute, a G key which is extended to the side of the other two left-hand finger keys (along with the G♯ key), thus requiring less bending of the wrist, rendering it easier to reach and cover effectively, and less uncomfortable and fatiguing to play.
  • intermedio [Italian] In the Renaissance, a musical entertainment between the acts of a play.
  • dispersed harmony Harmony in which the notes which form the various chords are widely dispersed.
  • Ryom Verzeichnis [German] A numbering system identifying compositions by Antonio Vivaldi.