Adagio
Slow (slower than andante, but not as slow as largo).
Lento
slow
Largo
Very slow and broad.
Larghetto
not as slow as largo.
Andante
Moderately slow; at walking pace
Andantino
A little faster than andante.
Allegretto
Fairly fast (a little slower than allegro).
Moderato
At a moderate tempo.
Allegro
Fast
Presto
very fast
Prestissimo
as fast as possible.
Cantabile
In a singing style.
Con pedale, con ped.
with pedal
D.C. al fine
repeat from the beginning and end at fine.
Dolce
sweet
Fine
the end
Grazioso
graceful
Legato
Smooth
Maestoso
majestic pace
Mano destra, M.D.
right hand
Mano sinistra, M.S.
left hand
Marcato
marked or stressed.
Tenuto
held, sustained
Accent
A stressed note/chord
Crescendo, cresc.
Becoming louder
Decrescendo, decresc.
becoming softer
Dal segno, D.S.
from the sign.
Fermata
a pause, hold the note/rest longer than its written value.
Ottava, 8va
play one octave above/below the written pitch.
G major/ e minor
1 sharp
D major / b minor
2 sharps
A major / f# minor
3 sharps
E major / c# minor
4 sharps
B major / g# minor
5 sharps
F# major / d# minor
6 sharps
C# major / a# minor
7 sharps
F major / d minor
1 flat
B flat major / g minor
2 flats
E flat major/ c minor
3 flats
A flat major / f minor
4 flats
D flat major / b flat minor
5 flats
G flat major / e flat minor
6 flats
C flat major / a flat minor
7 flats
Tempo
speed at which the music is performed.
A tempo
return to previous tempo.
Tempo primo, tempo I
return to original tempo.
Rallentando, rall.
slowing down.
Ritardando, RIT.
slowing down gradually.
Forte
loud
fortissimo, ff
very loud
mezzo forte
moderately loud
mezzo piano
moderately soft
piano
soft
pianissimo
very soft
Relative minor
major and minor keys that are related use the same key signature.