Site MapHelpFeedbackKey Terms
Key Terms
(See related pages)


Bar Line  A notation indicating the end of a measure, depicted by a vertical line through the staff.
Beams  Used to connect durations shorter than a quarter note when the durations occur within the same beat.
Beat  The basic pulse of a musical passage.
Compound Beat  Beats divided into three equal parts.
Divisions of the Beat  Durations in a musical passage that are shorter than the beat.
Dot  Always adds to the duration one-half the value of the note, rest, or dot that precedes it.
Duple Meter  Two-beat measure: Strong-weak.
Duple, Triple and Quadruple  Refers to the number of beats in each measure.
Grouplet (or tuplet)  Refers to the division of an undotted value into some number of equal parts other than two, four, eight, and so on or the division of a dotted value into some number of equal parts other than three, six, twelve, and so on.
Measures  The groups of beats.
Meter  The pattern of beats.
Metric accent  The pattern of stresses.
Quadruple Meter  Four-beat measure: Strong-weak-less strong - weak.
Rhythm  A general term used to refer to the time aspect of music, as contrasted with the pitch aspect.
Simple Beat  Beats divided into two equal parts.
Tempo  The rate at which the beat occurs.
Time Signature  A symbol that tells the performer how many beats will occur in each measure, what note value will represent the beat, and whether the beat is simple or compound.
Triple Meter  Three-beat measure: Strong-weak-weak.







Tonal HarmonyOnline Learning Center

Home > Part 1 > Chapter 2 > Key Terms