Vocabulary 1

Staff

The five lines that we put music on.

Bar lines

The lines that separate measures.

Double Bar

The two bars that tell you it is the end of the piece.

Quarter Note

The type of note that receives one beat.

Quarter Rest

The type of rest that receives one beat.

Pizzicato

To pluck the string.

Time Signature

The numbers that the beginning of the piece that tells you how many beats in each measure.

Repeat Sign

The two lines with two dots that tells you to play something again.

Arco

To play with the bow.

Down Bow

To start with the bow at the frog and move it toward the tip.

Up Bow

To start the bow close to the tip and move it toward the frog.

Eighth Notes

The type of note that receives half of a beat.

Half Note

The type of note that receives two beats.

Half Rest

The type of rest that receives two beats.

Natural Sign

This takes away a sharp or flat.

Sharp

Raises a note’s pitch.

Slur

To play two or more different notes in the same bow.

Staccato

To play the notes short and separated. This is indicated by a dot above or below the note.