๐„ž Clefwork

Symbol glossary

Every symbol you'll meet in piano music, in plain language.

Clefs

  • ๐„žTreble clef (G clef)
    Line 2 is G above middle C. Higher notes, usually right hand.
  • ๐„ขBass clef (F clef)
    Line 4 is F below middle C. Lower notes, usually left hand.
  • ๐„กC clef (alto/tenor)
    Its centre marks middle C. Used by viola, cello, trombone โ€” not piano.

Notes

  • ๐…Whole note
    4 beats in 4/4.
  • ๐…—๐…ฅHalf note
    2 beats.
  • ๐…˜๐…ฅQuarter note
    1 beat.
  • ๐…˜๐…ฅ๐…ฎEighth note
    ยฝ beat. Groups are joined with beams instead of flags.
  • ๐…˜๐…ฅ๐…ฏSixteenth note
    ยผ beat.

Rests

  • ๐„ปWhole rest
    Hangs below line 4. Also means a whole bar of silence in any meter.
  • ๐„ผHalf rest
    Sits on line 3. 2 beats of silence.
  • ๐„ฝQuarter rest
    1 beat of silence.
  • ๐„พEighth rest
    ยฝ beat of silence.

Accidentals

  • โ™ฏSharp
    Raise by a half step.
  • โ™ญFlat
    Lower by a half step.
  • โ™ฎNatural
    Cancel a sharp or flat.
  • ๐„ชDouble sharp
    Raise by a whole step.
  • ๐„ซDouble flat
    Lower by a whole step.

Time

  • ๐„ดCommon time
    Same as 4/4.
  • ๐„ตCut time (alla breve)
    Same as 2/2: two half-note beats per bar.

Dynamics

  • ๐†piano (p)
    Soft.
  • ๐†‘forte (f)
    Loud.
  • ๐†’Crescendo
    Gradually louder.
  • ๐†“Decrescendo / diminuendo
    Gradually softer.

Articulation

  • ๐„Fermata
    Hold longer than written.
  • ยทStaccato
    Short and detached. Dot at the notehead.
  • >Accent
    Emphasise this note.
  • โ€ฟSlur / tie
    Different pitches: play legato. Same pitch: hold as one note.

Form

  • ๐„† ๐„‡Repeat signs
    Play the section between them again.
  • ๐„‹Segno
    'D.S.' sends you back to this sign.
  • ๐„ŒCoda
    Jump to the coda section when instructed ('To Coda').
  • D.C.Da capo
    Go back to the beginning.
  • FineFine
    The end (after a D.C. or D.S.).

Piano

  • ๐†ฎPedal down
    Press the sustain (right) pedal.
  • ๐†ฏPedal up
    Release the sustain pedal.
  • 8vaOttava
    Play an octave higher than written (8vb: lower).

Ornaments

  • ๐†–Trill
    Rapidly alternate with the note above.
  • ๐†—Turn
    Note above, the note, note below, the note.
  • ๐†Mordent
    Quick alternation with the note above (or below if crossed).