Music Theory Basics

What is a musical scale?

An ordered sequence of notes spanning an octave, following a specific pattern of intervals (e.g., major scale, minor scale)

How many semitones are in an octave?

12 semitones (half steps)

What is a chord?

Three or more notes played simultaneously; the most basic form is a triad (root, third, fifth)

What is the difference between a major and minor chord?

A major chord has a major third (4 semitones) from root to third; a minor chord has a minor third (3 semitones)

What is tempo?

The speed of a piece of music, measured in beats per minute (BPM)

What is a time signature?

A notation indicating the number of beats per measure and which note value gets one beat (e.g., 4/4 means four quarter-note beats per measure)

What is a key signature?

A set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a staff indicating the key of the music

What does 'forte' mean in music?

Loud; indicated by the symbol f

What does 'piano' mean in music dynamics?

Soft or quiet; indicated by the symbol p

What is a rest in music?

A symbol indicating silence for a specific duration