Glossary
15 terms from "Music theory basics: from note names to triads." Look them up when you get stuck; the first mention in the text carries a hover definition.
| Term | Definition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| musical alphabet | The seven letter names A, B, C, D, E, F, G that name all notes; after G the names wrap back to A. | Wikipedia: Musical note |
| octave | The distance between a note and the next note of the same name; notes an octave apart share a letter name. | Wikipedia: Musical note |
| sharp | A symbol (♯) that raises a note by one half step, to the next key on the right. | musictheory.net: Lessons |
| flat | A symbol (♭) that lowers a note by one half step, to the next key on the left. | musictheory.net: Lessons |
| enharmonic | Two notes written differently but sounding the same pitch on a piano, such as C-sharp and D-flat. | Wikipedia: Enharmonic |
| half step (semitone) | The smallest distance in Western music, from one key to the very next key, black or white. | Wikipedia: Semitone |
| whole step (whole tone) | A distance equal to two half steps. | Wikipedia: Semitone |
| interval | The distance in pitch between two notes; its number counts the letter names spanned, including both notes. | Wikipedia: Interval (music) |
| major scale | A seven-note scale built from the step pattern whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half. | Wikipedia: Major scale |
| key signature | The sharps or flats placed at the start of the music that apply to the whole piece and label its key. | Wikipedia: Key signature |
| order of sharps | The fixed sequence in which sharps are added to a key signature: F, C, G, D, A, E, B. | Wikipedia: Key signature |
| circle of fifths | The organization of keys where each step up a fifth adds one sharp (C has none, G one, D two). | Wikipedia: Circle of fifths |
| triad | A three-note chord built by stacking thirds: a root, a third, and a fifth. | Wikipedia: Triad (music) |
| major third | An interval of four half steps; a major third above the root makes a triad major. | Wikipedia: Triad (music) |
| minor third | An interval of three half steps; a minor third above the root makes a triad minor. | Wikipedia: Triad (music) |