The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory

key A combination of a tonic and a mode. For example, the key of F Major
has F as the tonic and major as the mode.
key signature The sharps or flats that are placed at the beginning of a staff to
indicate the key of the music.
larghetto Tempo marking for a slow tempo, slightly faster than largo.
largo Tempo marking for a slow and dignified tempo.
lead sheet A piece of sheet music that contains a single staff for the melody,
with the accompanying chords written above the staff.
leading tone The note that is a half step below the tonic; thus leads up to the
tonic.
lento Tempo marking for a slow tempo.
Locrian mode A (theoretical) mode starting on the seventh degree of the
corresponding major scale. See mode.
Lydian mode A mode starting on the fourth degree of the corresponding
major scale. See mode.
major The most common mode, consisting of the following intervals: wholewhole-half-whole-whole-whole-half.
major chord A chord with a major third (1-3-5).
major seventh chord A major triad with a major seventh added (1-3-5-7).
measure A group of beats, indicated by the placement of bar lines on the
staff.
mediant The third degree of a scale, or a chord built on that degree (III).
melody The combination of tone and rhythm in a logical sequence.
meter The organization of beats and their divisions.
mezzo forte Medium loud. (Abbreviated as mf.)
mezzo piano Medium soft. (Abbreviated as mp.)
microtone An interval smaller than a semitone, prevalent in some non-
Western music and twentieth-century art music.
minor One of three modes, each with a flatted third of the scale. Natural minor
is identical to Aeolian mode, with the following intervals: whole-half-whole-wholehalf-whole-whole.
Harmonic minor contains the following intervals: wholehalf-whole-whole-half-whole-half-half.
Melodic minor is different ascending
and descending; ascending, the intervals are whole-half-whole-whole-wholewhole-half,
whereas descending it uses the same intervals as natural minor.
minor chord A chord with a minor third (1-♭3-5).
minor seventh chord A minor chord with a minor seventh added (1-♭3-5-♭7).
Mixolydian mode A mode starting on the fifth degree of the corresponding
major scale. See mode.
mode (1) A series of notes that indicate the structure of a major or minor
scale key or piece. (2) A set of scales, based on centuries-old music that preceded
today’s major and minor scales; these include the Dorian, Phrygian,
Lydian, Mixolydian, Ionian, Locrian, and Aeolian modes.
The Complete Idiot’s Music Glossary 269