Glossary of Musical Terms

a capella

solo or group singing without accompaniment

accelerando

An increase in tempo

accent: Stress on a beat, to make it stand out from others in the measure or phrase accompaniment: Music that is played along with the main theme or voice adagio: Slowly allegro: Lively alto: Normally the lowest female voice, also sometimes sung by high tenors or young boys andante: Moderately slow arpeggio: The notes of a chord played in succession, rather than together atonal: Having no specific key