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

  • al segno [Italian] A directive to return to the sign.
  • groove Groove is the sense of propulsive rhythmic “feel” or sense of “swing” created by the interaction of the music played by a band's rhythm section (usually drums, electric bass or double bass, guitar, and keyboards).
  • gravità [Italian] Gravity, utmost seriousness or solemnity.
  • cadence A sequence of chords that terminates a musical phrase or section.
  • 15ma [Italian] A directive to perform two octaves higher than written.
  • octave Interval between two tones seven diatonic pitches apart; the upper tone vibrates twice as fast as the lower one.
  • chorale Baroque congregational hymn of the German Lutheran church, usually written for four voice harmony.
  • treble The highest part of a polyphonic composition.
  • forefall An ascending appoggiatura.
  • deux [French] “Two”.
  • Ryom Verzeichnis [German] A numbering system identifying compositions by Antonio Vivaldi.
  • ragtime Late nineteenth century piano style created by African-Americans, characterized by highly syncopated melodies.
  • wind instrument Any instrument that produces sound by means of a column of air.
  • ruggiero [Italian] A musical scheme which is at times harmonic and at times melodic. It is seen in 16th and 17th century music, for both vocal and instrumental pieces and improvisations.
  • duplet A group of two notes played in the time usually taken to play three.