Browse the Glossary - D

Browse: A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

Browse Glossary (D) - showing records (31)

Da capo, D. C. - Return to the beginning.
Dal - 'From the,' 'by the.'
Dal segno, D. S. - Repeat from the sign . Frequently followed by al Fine.
Damper pedal - On pianos, the pedal that lifts the dampers from the strings.
Deceptive cadence - Chordal progression dominant (V) to a chord other than the expected tonic.
Decrescendo - Gradually softer. Synonymous with diminuendo.
Degree - One of the eight consecutive tones in a major or minor scale.
Delicato - Delicately.
Di - Of, with.
Diminished - The term for an interval which has been decreased from the major by two half steps and from the perfect by one half step, e.g. c-a , diminished sixth, or c-g , a diminished fifth. Also used for a triad which has a minor third and a diminished fifth, e.g. c , c-e , g .
Diminuendo, dim - Gradually softer. Synonymous with decrescendo.
Diminution - The shortening of note values; the opposite of augmentation.
Dirge - A piece that is performed at a funeral or memorial service.
Disjunct - The term used to describe intervals larger than a second; the opposite of conjunct.
Dissonance - Sounds of unrest, e.g. intervals of seconds and sevenths; the opposite of consonance.
Divisi, div - An indication of divided musical parts.
Do - The first degree of the major scale.
Dolce - Sweetly.
Dolcissimo - Very sweetly.
Doloroso - Sadly; mournfully.
Dominant - The fifth degree of the major or minor scale. Also, the term for the triad built on the fifth degree, labelled V in harmonic analysis.
Double bar - Two vertical lines placed on the staff to indicate the end of a section or a composition. Also, used with two dots to enclose repeated sections.
Double flat - A symbol for lowering pitch one step.
Double sharp - A symbol for raising pitch one step.
Double tonguing - On flute and brass instruments, the technique of rapidly articulating notes by using the front and the back of the tongue in alternation (t-k-t-k-t-k).
Down beat - The first beat; given by the conductor with a downward stroke.
Down bow - In the violin family, drawing the bow downward from its frog. The symbol is: .
Du - 'From the,' 'of the.'
Duet - A piece for two performers.
Duplet - A group of two notes performed in the time of three of the same kind.
Dynamics - Varying degrees of loud and soft.