Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Different Music Symbols

                                                   
                                                   Partido State University
                                                              College of Education 
                                                               Goa , Camarines Sur

 By: Marvin Lee P. Serrano
Email Address: Marvz0000@gmail.com/Marvz5555@yahoo.com



Notes

In music, the term note has two primary meanings:
  1. A sign used in musical notation to represent the relative duration and pitch of a sound;
  2. A pitched sound itself.
Notes are the "atoms" of much Western music: discretizations of musical phenomena that facilitate performance, comprehension, and analysis.
The term note can be used in both generic and specific senses: one might say either "the piece 'Happy Birthday to You' begins with two notes having the same pitch," or "the piece begins with two repetitions of the same note." In the former case, one uses note to refer to a specific musical event; in the latter, one uses the term to refer to a class of events sharing the same pitch.

                                                     Note name

 
Names of some notes without accidentals
Two notes with fundamental frequencies in a ratio of any power of two (e.g. half, twice, or four times) are perceived as very similar. Because of that, all notes with these kinds of relations can be grouped under the same pitch class. In traditional music theory within the English-speaking world, pitch classes are typically represented by the first seven letters of the Latin alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F and G). Many countries in Europe and most in Latin America, however, use the naming convention Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Si-Do. The eighth note, or octave is given the same name as the first, but has double its frequency. The name octave is also used to indicate the span of notes having a frequency ratio of two. To differentiate two notes that have the same pitch class but fall into different octaves, the system of scientific pitch notation combines a letter name with an Arabic numeral designating a specific octave. For example, the now-standard tuning pitch for most Western music, 440 Hz, is named a′ or A4. There are two formal ways to define each note and octave, the Helmholtz system and the Scientific pitch notation.

                     Without music life would be a mistake.  ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

                                                      Accidentals


Frequency vs Position on Treble Clef. Each note shown has a frequency of the previous note multiplied by \sqrt[12]{2}
Letter names are modified by the accidentals. A sharp raises a note by a semitone or half-step, and a flat lowers it by the same amount. In modern tuning a half step has a frequency ratio of \sqrt[12]{2}, approximately 1.059. The accidentals are written after the note name: so, for example, F represents F-sharp, B is B-flat.
Additional accidentals are the double-sharp double sharp, raising the frequency by two semitones, and double-flat double flat, lowering it by that amount.
In musical notation, accidentals are placed before the note symbols. Systematic alterations to the seven lettered pitches in the scale can be indicated by placing the symbols in the key signature, which then apply implicitly to all occurrences of corresponding notes. Explicitly noted accidentals can be used to override this effect for the remainder of a bar. A special accidental, the natural symbol , is used to indicate an unmodified pitch. Effects of key signature and local accidentals do not cumulate. If the key signature indicates G-sharp, a local flat before a G makes it G-flat (not G natural), though often this type of rare accidental is expressed as a natural, followed by a flat () to make this clear. Likewise (and more commonly), a double sharp double sharp sign on a key signature with a single sharp indicates only a double sharp, not a triple sharp.
Assuming enharmonicity, many accidentals will create equivalences between pitches that are written differently. For instance, raising the note B to B is equal to the note C. Assuming all such equivalences, the complete chromatic scale adds five additional pitch classes to the original seven lettered notes for a total of 12 (the 13th note completing the octave), each separated by a half-step.
Notes that belong to the diatonic scale relevant in the context are sometimes called diatonic notes; notes that do not meet that criterion are then sometimes called chromatic notes.
Another style of notation, rarely used in English, uses the suffix "is" to indicate a sharp and "es" (only "s" after A and E) for a flat, e.g. Fis for F, Ges for G, Es for E. This system first arose in Germany and is used in almost all European countries whose main language is not English or a Romance language.
In most countries using this system, the letter H is used to represent what is B natural in English, the letter B represents the B, and Heses represents the B (not Bes, which would also have fit into the system). Belgium and the Netherlands use the same suffixes, but applied throughout to the notes A to G, so that B is Bes. Denmark also uses H, but uses bes instead of heses for B.
This is a complete chart of a chromatic scale built on the note C4, or "middle C":





Style
Type prime
second
third fourth
fifth
sixth
seventh
English name Natural C
D
E F
G
A
B
Sharp
C sharp
D sharp

F sharp
G sharp
A sharp
Flat
D flat
E flat

G flat
A flat
B flat
Symbol Sharp
C
D

F
G
A
Flat
D
E

G
A
B
Northern European name Natural C
D
E F
G
A
H
Sharp
Cis
Dis

Fis
Gis
Ais
Flat
Des
Es

Ges
As
B
Dutch name (sometimes used in Scandinavia after 1990s) Natural C
D
E F
G
A
B
Sharp
Cis
Dis

Fis
Gis
Ais
Flat
Des
Es

Ges
As
Bes
Byzantine Natural Ni
Pa
Vu Ga
Di
Ke
Zo-
Sharp
Ni diesis (or diez)
Pa diesis

Ga diesis
Di diesis
Ke diesis
Flat
Pa hyphesis
Vu hyphesis

Di hyphesis
Ke hyphesis
Zo hyphesis
Latin America, Southern & Eastern Europe Natural Do
Re
Mi Fa
Sol
La
Si
Sharp
Do diesis
Re diesis

Fa diesis
Sol diesis
La diesis
Flat
Re bemolle
Mi bemolle

Sol bemolle
La bemolle
Si bemolle
Variant names
Ut
-
- -
So
-
Ti
Japanese Natural ハ Ha
ニ Ni
ホ Ho ヘ He
トTo
イ I
ロ Ro
Sharp
嬰ハ Ei-ha
嬰ニ Ei-ni

嬰へ Ei-he
嬰ト Ei-to
嬰イ Ei-i
Flat
変ニ Hen-ni
変ホ Hen-ho

変ト Hen-to
変イ Hen-i
変ロ Hen-ro
Indian (Hindusthani style)
Sa Re Komal Re Ga Komal Ga Ma Ma Teevra/Prati Pa Dha Komal Dha Ni Komal Ni
Indian (Carnatic style)
Sa Shuddha Ri Chatusruti Ri Shatsruti Ri Antara Ga Shuddha Ma Prati Ma Pa Shuddha Dha Chatusruti Dha Kaisika Ni Kakali Ni
Approx. Frequency [Hz]
262 277 294 311 330 349 370 392 415 440 466 494
MIDI note number
60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71

 

Note designation in accordance with octave name


The table of each octave and the frequencies for every note of pitch class A is shown below. The traditional (Helmholtz) system centers on the great octave (with capital letters) and small octave (with lower case letters). Lower octaves are named "contra" (with primes before), higher ones "lined" (with primes after). Another system (scientific) suffixes a number (starting with 0, or sometimes -1). In this system A4 is nowadays standardised to 440 Hz, lying in the octave containing notes from C4 (middle C) to B4. The lowest note on most pianos is A0, the highest C8. The MIDI system for electronic musical instruments and computers uses a straight count starting with note 0 for C-1 at 8.1758 Hz up to note 127 for G9 at 12,544 Hz.
Octave naming systems frequency
of A (Hz)
traditional shorthand numbered MIDI nr
subsubcontra C͵͵͵ – B͵͵͵ C-1 – B-1 0 – 11 13.75
sub-contra C͵͵ – B͵͵ C0 – B0 12 – 23 27.5
contra C͵ – B͵ C1 – B1 24 – 35 55
great C – B C2 – B2 36 – 47 110
small c – b C3 – B3 48 – 59 220
one-lined c′ – b′ C4 – B4 60 – 71 440
two-lined c′′ – b′′ C5 – B5 72 – 83 880
three-lined c′′′ – b′′′ C6 – B6 84 – 95 1760
four-lined c′′′′ – b′′′′ C7 – B7 96 – 107 3520
five-lined c′′′′′ – b′′′′′ C8 – B8 108 – 119 7040
six-lined c′′′′′′ – b′′′′′′ C9 – B9 120 – 127
up to G9
14080

                 

                    

 

                     List of musical symbols

Modern musical symbols are the marks and symbols that are widely used in western musical scores, styles, and instruments today. This is intended to be a comprehensive guide to the various symbols encountered in modern musical notation. These symbols are used in modern pieces of Western music to describe a composition in its fundamentals – pitch, rhythm, tempo – and, to some degree, its articulation.

Lines

Music-staff.svg Staff
The staff is the fundamental latticework of music notation, upon which symbols are placed. The five stave lines and four intervening spaces correspond to pitches of the diatonic scale – which pitch is meant by a given line or space is defined by the clef.

Music-ledger.svg
Ledger or leger lines
Used to extend the staff to pitches that fall above or below it. Such ledger lines are placed behind the note heads, and extend a small distance to each side. Multiple ledger lines may be used when necessary to notate pitches even farther above or below the staff.

Music-bar.svg
Bar line
Used to separate measures (see time signatures below for an explanation of measures). Bar lines are extended to connect the upper and lower staffs of a grand staff.
Music-doublebar.svg Double bar line, Double barline
Used to separate two sections of music. Also used at changes in key signature, time signature or major changes in style or tempo.

Music-endbar.svg
Bold double bar line, Bold double barline
Used to indicate the conclusion of a movement or an entire composition.

Music-dottedbar.svg
Dotted bar line, Dotted barline
Subdivides long measures of complex meter into shorter segments for ease of reading, usually according to natural rhythmic subdivisions.

Accolade.svg
Accolade, brace
Connects two or more lines of music that are played simultaneously. Depending on the instruments playing, the brace, or accolade, will vary in designs and styles.


                               

Clefs

Clefs define the pitch range, or tessitura, of the staff on which it is placed. A clef is usually the leftmost symbol on a staff. Additional clefs may appear in the middle of a staff to indicate a change in register for instruments with a wide range. In early music, clefs could be placed on any of several lines on a staff.
Music-GClef.svg G clef (Treble clef)
The centre of the spiral defines the line or space upon which it rests as the pitch G above middle C, or approximately 392 Hz. Positioned here, it assigns G above middle C to the second line from the bottom of the staff, and is referred to as the "treble clef." This is the most commonly encountered clef in modern notation, and is used for most modern vocal music. Middle-C is the 1st ledger line below the stave here. The shape of the clef comes from a stylised upper-case-G.
Music-Cclef.svg C clef (Alto clef and Tenor clef)
This clef points to the line (or space, rarely) representing middle C, or approximately 262 Hz. Positioned here, it makes the center line on the staff middle C, and is referred to as the "alto clef." This clef is used in modern notation for the viola. While all clefs can be placed anywhere on the staff to indicate various tessitura, the C clef is most often considered a "movable" clef: it is frequently seen pointing instead to the fourth line and called a "tenor clef". This clef is used very often in music written for bassoon, cello, and trombone; it replaces the bass clef when the number of ledger lines above the bass staff hinders easy reading.

C clefs were used in vocal music of the classical era and earlier; however, their usage in vocal music has been supplanted by the universal use of the treble and bass clefs. Modern editions of music from such periods generally transpose the original C-clef parts to either treble (female voices), octave treble (tenors), or bass clef (tenors and basses).
Music-Fclef.svg F clef (Bass clef)
The line or space between the dots in this clef denotes F below middle C, or approximately 175 Hz. Positioned here, it makes the second line from the top of the staff F below middle C, and is called a "bass clef." This clef appears nearly as often as the treble clef, especially in choral music, where it represents the bass and baritone voices. Middle C is the 1st ledger line above the stave here. The shape of the clef comes from a stylised upper-case-F (which used to be written the reverse of the modern F)
Music-neutralclef.svg
Music-unpitchedclef.svg
Neutral clef
Used for pitchless instruments, such as some of those used for percussion. Each line can represent a specific percussion instrument within a set, such as in a drum set. Two different styles of neutral clefs are pictured here. It may also be drawn with a separate single-line staff for each untuned percussion instrument.
Octaveclef.svg Octave clef
Treble and bass clefs can also be modified by octave numbers. An eight or fifteen above a clef raises the intended pitch range by one or two octaves respectively. Similarly, an eight or fifteen below a clef lowers the pitch range by one or two octaves respectively. A treble clef with an eight below is the most commonly used, typically used instead of a C clef for tenor lines in choral scores. Even if the eight is not present, tenor parts in the treble clef are understood to be sung an octave lower than written.
Tablature.svg Tablature
For guitars and other plucked instruments it is possible to notate tablature in place of ordinary notes. In this case, a TAB sign is often written instead of a clef. The number of lines of the staff is not necessarily five: one line is used for each string of the instrument (so, for standard 6-stringed guitars, six lines would be used). Numbers on the lines show on which fret the string should be played. This TAB sign, like the percussion clef, is not a clef in the true sense, but rather a symbol employed instead of a clef. The interstitial spaces on a tablature are never used.

                                          Notes and Rests

Note and rest values are not absolutely defined, but are proportional in duration to all other note and rest values. The whole note is the reference value, and the other notes are named (in American usage) in comparison; i.e. a quarter note is a quarter the length of a whole note.
Note British name / American name Rest
Music-doublewholenote.svg Breve / Double whole note Music-doublewholerest.svg
Music-wholenote.svg Semibreve / Whole note Music-wholerest.svg
Music-halfnote.svg Minim / Half note Music-halfrest.svg
Music-quarternote.svg Crotchet / Quarter note Crochet2.svg
Music-eighthnote.svg Quaver / Eighth note
For notes of this length and shorter, the note has the same number of flags (or hooks) as the rest has branches.
Music-eighthrest.svg
Music-sixteenthnote.svg Semiquaver / Sixteenth note Music-sixteenthrest.svg
Music-thirtysecondnote.svg Demisemiquaver / Thirty-second note Music-thirtysecondrest.svg
Sixtyfourth-note.svg Hemidemisemiquaver / Sixty-fourth note Music-sixtyfourthrest.svg
Music-beam.svg Beamed notes
Beams connect eighth notes (quavers) and notes of shorter value, and are equivalent in value to flags. In metered music, beams reflect the rhythmic grouping of notes. They may also be used to group short phrases of notes of the same value, regardless of the meter; this is more common in ametrical passages. In older printings of vocal music, beams are often only used when several notes are to be sung on one syllable of the text – melismatic singing; modern notation encourages the use of beaming in a consistent manner with instrumental engraving, and the presence of beams or flags no longer informs the singer. Today, due to the body of music in which traditional metric states are not always assumed, beaming is at the discretion of the composer or arranger and irregular beams are often used to place emphasis on a particular rhythmic pattern.
Music-dotnote.svg Dotted note
Placing a dot to the right of a notehead lengthens the note's duration by one-half. Additional dots lengthen the previous dot instead of the original note, thus a note with one dot is one and one half its original value, a note with two dots is one and three quarters, a note with three dots is one and seven eighths, and so on. Rests can be dotted in the same manner as notes. In other words, n dots lengthen the note's or rest's original d duration to d\times(2-2^{-n}).
Music-measurerest.svg Multi-measure rest
Indicates the number of measures in a resting part without a change in meter, used to conserve space and to simplify notation. Also called "gathered rest" or "multi-bar rest".
Durations shorter than the 64th are rare but not unknown. 128th notes are used by Mozart and Beethoven; 256th notes occur in works of Vivaldi and even Beethoven. An extreme case is the Toccata Grande Cromatica by early-19th-century American composer Anthony Philip Heinrich, which uses note values as short as 2,048ths; however, the context shows clearly that these notes have one beam more than intended, so they should really be 1,024th notes.
The name of very short notes can be found with this formula: Name = 2^{(\text{number of flags on note}+2)}th note.

                                                   Breaks

Music-breath.svg Breath mark
In a score, this symbol tells the performer or singer to take a breath (or make a slight pause for non-wind instruments). This pause usually does not affect the overall tempo. For bowed instruments, it indicates to lift the bow and play the next note with a downward (or upward, if marked) bow.
Music-caesura.svg Caesura
Indicates a brief, silent pause, during which time is not counted. In ensemble playing, time resumes when conductor or leader indicates.

Common accidentals

Accidentals modify the pitch of the notes that follow them on the same staff position within a measure, unless cancelled by an additional accidental.
Music-flat.svg Flat
Lowers the pitch of a note by one semitone.
Music-sharp.svg Sharp
Raises the pitch of a note by one semitone.
Music-natural.svg Natural
Cancels a previous accidental, or modifies the pitch of a sharp or flat as defined by the prevailing key signature (such as F-sharp in the key of G major, for example).
Music-doubleflat.svg Double flat
Lowers the pitch of a note by two chromatic semitones. Usually used when the note to be modified is already flatted by the key signature.
Music-doublesharp.svg Double sharp
Raises the pitch of a note by two chromatic semitones. Usually used when the note to be modified is already sharped by the key signature.

                                                         

                                                          Key signatures

Key signatures define the prevailing key of the music that follows, thus avoiding the use of accidentals for many notes. If no key signature appears, the key is assumed to be C major/A minor, but can also signify a neutral key, employing individual accidentals as required for each note. The key signature examples shown here are described as they would appear on a treble staff.
C-flat Major key signature.png Flat key signature
Lowers by a semitone the pitch of notes on the corresponding line or space, and all octaves thereof, thus defining the prevailing major or minor key. Different keys are defined by the number of flats in the key signature, starting with the leftmost, i.e., B♭, and proceeding to the right; for example, if only the first two flats are used, the key is B♭ major/G minor, and all B's and E's are "flatted", i.e. lowered to B♭ and E♭.
C-sharp Major key signature.png Sharp key signature
Raises by a semitone the pitch of notes on the corresponding line or space, and all octaves thereof, thus defining the prevailing major or minor key. Different keys are defined by the number of sharps in the key signature, also proceeding from left to right; for example, if only the first four sharps are used, the key is E major/C♯ minor, and the corresponding pitches are raised.

Quarter tones

Quarter-tone notation in Western music is not standardized. A common notation involves writing the fraction 1/4 next to an arrow pointing up or down. Below are examples of an alternative notation:
Music-demiflat.png Demiflat
Lowers the pitch of a note by one quarter tone. (Another notation for the demiflat is a flat with a diagonal slash through its stem. In systems where pitches are divided into intervals smaller than a quarter tone, the slashed flat represents a lower note than the reversed flat.)
Music-sesquiflat.png Flat-and-a-half (sesquiflat)
Lowers the pitch of a note by three quarter tones.
Music-demisharp.png Demisharp
Raises the pitch of a note by one quarter tone.
Music-sesquisharp.png Sharp-and-a-half
Raises the pitch of a note by three quarter tones. Occasionally represented with two vertical and three diagonal bars instead.
Time signatures define the meter of the music. Music is "marked off" in uniform sections called bars or measures, and time signatures establish the number of beats in each. This is not necessarily intended to indicate which beats are emphasized, however. A time signature that conveys information about the way the piece actually sounds is thus chosen. Time signatures tend to suggest, but only suggest, prevailing groupings of beats or pulses.
Music-timesig.png Specific time - simple time signatures
The bottom number represents the note value of the basic pulse of the music (in this case the 4 represents the crotchet or quarter-note). The top number indicates how many of these note values appear in each measure. This example announces that each measure is the equivalent length of three crotchets (quarter-notes). You would pronounce this as "Three Four Time", and was referred to as a "perfect" time.
Compound duple drum pattern.png Specific time - compound time signatures
The bottom number represents the note value of the subdivisions of the basic pulse of the music (in this case the 8 represents the quaver or eighth-note). The top number indicates how many of these subdivisions appear in each measure. To derive the unit of the basic pulse in compound meters, double this value and add a dot, and divide the top number by 3 to determine how many of these pulses there are each measure. This example announces that each measure is the equivalent length of two dotted crotchets (dotted quarter-notes). You would pronounce this as "Six Eight Time."
Music-commontime.png Common time
This symbol is a throwback to fourteenth century rhythmic notation, when it represented 2/4, or "imperfect time". Today it represents 4/4.
Music-cuttime.png Alla breve or Cut time
This symbol represents 2/2 time, indicating two minim (or half-note) beats per measure. Here, a crotchet (or quarter note) would get half a beat.
Music-metronome.svg Metronome mark
Written at the start of a score, and at any significant change of tempo, this symbol precisely defines the tempo of the music by assigning absolute durations to all note values within the score. In this particular example, the performer is told that 120 crotchets, or quarter notes, fit into one minute of time. Many publishers precede the marking with letters "M.M.", referring to Maelzel's Metronome.

Note Relationships

Music-tie.png Tie
Indicates that the two (or more) notes joined together are to be played as one note with the time values added together. To be a tie, the notes must be identical; that is, they must be on the same line or the same space; otherwise, it is a slur (see below).
Music-slur.png
Music-legato.png
Slur
Indicates that two or more notes are to be played in one physical stroke, one uninterrupted breath, or (on instruments with neither breath nor bow) connected into a phrase as if played in a single breath. In certain contexts, a slur may only indicate that the notes are to be played legato; in this case, rearticulation is permitted. Slurs and ties are similar in appearance. A tie is distinguishable because it always joins exactly two immediately adjacent notes of the same pitch, whereas a slur may join any number of notes of varying pitches.
A phrase mark (or less commonly, ligature) is a mark that is visually identical to a slur, but connects a passage of music over several measures. A phrase mark indicates a musical phrase and may not necessarily require that the music be slurred. In vocal music, a phrase mark usually shows how each syllable in the lyrics is to be sung.
Music-glissando.png Glissando or Portamento
A continuous, unbroken glide from one note to the next that includes the pitches between. Some instruments, such as the trombone, timpani, non-fretted string instruments, electronic instruments, and the human voice can make this glide continuously (portamento), while other instruments such as the piano or mallet instruments will blur the discrete pitches between the start and end notes to mimic a continuous slide (glissando).
Music-triplet.png Tuplet
A number of notes of irregular duration are performed within the duration of a given number of notes of regular time value; e.g., five notes played in the normal duration of four notes; seven notes played in the normal duration of two; three notes played in the normal duration of four. Tuplets are named according to the number of irregular notes; e.g., duplets, triplets, quadruplets, etc.
Music-triad.png Chord
Several notes sounded simultaneously ("solid" or "block"), or in succession ("broken"). Two-note chords are called dyad; three-note chords are called triads. A chord may contain any number of notes.
Music-arpeggio.svg Arpeggiated chord
A chord with notes played in rapid succession, usually ascending, each note being sustained as the others are played. Also called a "broken chord".

Dynamics

Dynamics are indicators of the relative intensity or volume of a musical line.
Music dynamic pianississimo.svg Pianississimo
Extremely soft. Very infrequently does one see softer dynamics than this, which are specified with additional ps.
Music dynamic pianissimo.svg Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a piece of music, though softer dynamics are often specified with additional ps.
Music dynamic piano.svg Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication.
Music dynamic mezzo piano.svg Mezzo piano
Literally, half as soft as piano.
Music dynamic mezzo forte.svg Mezzo forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. If no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed to be the prevailing dynamic level.
Music dynamic forte.svg Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate contrast.
Music dynamic fortissimo.svg Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a piece, though louder dynamics are often specified with additional fs (such as fortississimo – seen below).
Music dynamic fortississimo.svg Fortississimo
Extremely loud. Very infrequently does one see louder dynamics than this, which are specified with additional fs.
Music expression sforzando sfz.svg Sforzando
Literally "forced", denotes an abrupt, fierce accent on a single sound or chord. When written out in full, it applies to the sequence of sounds or chords under or over which it is placed.
Music-crescendo.svg Crescendo
A gradual increase in volume.
Can be extended under many notes to indicate that the volume steadily increases during the passage.
Music-diminuendo.svg Diminuendo
Also decrescendo
A gradual decrease in volume. Can be extended in the same manner as crescendo.
Other commonly used dynamics build upon these values. For example "pianississimo" (represented as 'ppp' meaning so softly as to be almost inaudible, and fortississimo, ('fff') meaning extremely loud. In some European countries, use of this dynamic has been virtually outlawed as endangering the hearing of the performers. A small "s" in front of the dynamic notations means "subito", and means that the dynamic is to be changed to the new notation rapidly. Subito is commonly used with sforzandos, but all other notations, most commonly as "sff" (subitofortissimo) or "spp" (subitopianissimo).
Music-forte-piano.png Forte-piano
A section of music in which the music should initially be played loudly (forte), then immediately softly (piano).
Another value that rarely appears is niente, which means 'nothing'. This may be used at the end of a diminuendo to indicate 'fade out to nothing'.

Articulation marks

Articulations (or accents) specify how individual notes are to be performed within a phrase or passage. They can be fine-tuned by combining more than one such symbol over or under a note. They may also appear in conjunction with phrasing marks listed above.
Music-staccato.png Staccato
This indicates that the note is to be played shorter than notated, usually half the value, the rest of the metric value is then silent. Staccato marks may appear on notes of any value, shortening their performed duration without speeding the music itself.
Music-staccatissimo.png Staccatissimo or Spiccato
Indicates a longer silence after the note (as described above), making the note very short. Usually applied to quarter notes or shorter. (In the past, this marking’s meaning was more ambiguous: it sometimes was used interchangeably with staccato, and sometimes indicated an accent and not staccato. These usages are now almost defunct, but still appear in some scores.) In string instruments this indicates a bowing technique in which the bow bounces lightly upon the string.
Music-marcato.png Accent
The note is played louder or with a harder attack than surrounding unaccented notes. May appear on notes of any duration.
Music-tenuto.png Tenuto
This symbol has several meanings: It may indicate that a note be played for its full value, or slightly longer; it may indicate a slight dynamic emphasis; or it may indicate a separate attack on a note. It may be combined with a staccato dot to indicate a slight detachment ("portato" or "mezzo staccato").
Music-strong-marcato.png Marcato
The note is played somewhat louder or more forcefully than a note with a regular accent mark (open horizontal wedge).
Music-pizzicato.png Left-hand pizzicato or Stopped note
A note on a stringed instrument where the string is plucked with the left hand (the hand that usually stops the strings) rather than bowed. On the horn, this accent indicates a "stopped note" (a note played with the stopping hand shoved further into the bell of the horn). In percussion notation this denotes, among many other specific uses, that the hi-hat is to be closed by pressing the pedal or that an instrument is to be "choked" (silenced by causing vibrations to cease).
Music-snappizzicato.png Snap pizzicato
On a stringed instrument, a note played by stretching a string away from the frame of the instrument and letting it go, making it "snap" against the frame. Also known as a Bartók pizzicato.
Music-harmonic.png Natural harmonic or Open note
On a stringed instrument, denotes that a natural harmonic (also called flageolet) is to be played. On a valved brass instrument, denotes that the note is to be played "open" (without lowering any valve, or without mute). In organ music, this denotes that a pedal note is to be played with the heel. In percussion notation this denotes, among many other specific uses, that the hi-hat is to be opened by release of the pedal or that an instrument is to be allowed to ring.
Music-fermata.png Fermata (Pause)
An indefinitely-sustained note, chord, or rest. Usually appears over all parts at the same metrical location in a piece, to show a halt in tempo. It can be placed above or below the note.

Up bow or Sull'arco
On a bowed string instrument, the note is played while drawing the bow upward. On a plucked string instrument played with a plectrum or pick (such as a guitar played pickstyle or a mandolin), the note is played with an upstroke. In organ notation, this marking indicates to play the pedal note with the toe.

References


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_notation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musical_symbols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Note

www.ehow.com

www. Google.com


http://www.quotegarden.com/music.html




A painter paints pictures on canvas.  But musicians paint their pictures on silence.  ~Leopold Stokowski