The_Complete_Idiot%27s_Guide_To_Music_Theory

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Appendix A
moderato Tempo marking for a moderate pace.
modulation A change of key.
molto Modifier for tempo markings; means “very.”
motif (or motive) A brief melodic or rhythmic idea.
neighboring tone A tone one diatonic step away from (either above or below)
the main tone.
ninth chord A basic triad with two notes added, a seventh and a ninth above
the root of the chord.
notation The art of writing musical notes on paper.
note A symbol used to indicate the duration and pitch of a sound, as in whole
notes, half notes, and quarter notes.
octave Two pitches, with the same name, located 12 half steps apart.
odd time Any non-4/4 time signature, such as 3/4, 5/4, or 9/8.
orchestra A group of instruments organized for the performance of symphonies
and other instrumental works, or to accompany an opera or other
staged presentation.
orchestration The art of scoring music for an orchestra or band. Also called
arranging.
parallel motion Two or more voices that move in identical steps, simultaneously.
passing tone A pitch located (scale-wise) directly between two main pitches;
passing tones are typically used to connect notes in a melody.
pedal point A note sustained below changing harmonies.
pentatonic scale A five-note scale with the intervals of whole, whole, whole
and a half, whole, whole and a half; in relationship to a major scale, the scale
degrees (not counting the octave) are 1-2-3-5-6.
percussion The family of instruments that produce sound when you hit, beat,
crash, shake, roll, scratch, rub, twist, or rattle them. Included in this family are
various types of drums and cymbals, as well as mallet instruments (marimba,
xylophone, and so forth) and timpani.
perfect pitch The ability to hear absolute pitches in your head, without any
outside assistance.
phrase Within a piece of music, a segment that is unified by rhythms,
melodies, or harmonies and that comes to some sort of closure; typically composed
in groups of 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 measures.
Phrygian mode A mode starting on the third degree of the corresponding
major scale. See mode.
pianissimo Very soft. (Abbreviated as pp.)
pianississimo Very, very soft. (Abbreviated as ppp.)
piano (1) Soft. (Abbreviated as p.) (2) An 88-key keyboard instrument, also
known as the pianoforte.