Vocabulary
Music theory glossary for beginners
A few words unlock a lot of music. This glossary explains the useful concepts before playing with Notey, Cascade, rhythm exercises or ear training.
Note reading
- Staff: the five lines where notes are written.
- Line: a note can sit on a staff line.
- Space: a note can be centered between two staff lines.
- Clef: the sign that gives staff notes their names.
- Octave: the distance between two notes with the same name, such as low C and high C.
Rhythm and ear
- Pulse: the regular beat you can tap with your foot.
- Measure: a small group of beats organized in the score.
- Rhythm: the organization of long and short durations.
- Ear training: recognizing notes, intervals or melodies by sound.
Melody and harmony
- Interval: the distance between two notes, seen or heard.
- Chord: several notes played at the same time.
- Major chord: a chord often heard as bright or stable.
- Minor chord: a chord often heard as softer or darker.
Continue with a lesson
Each definition leads to concrete practice.