F: The key of F.
F Clef: A clef that indicates which
line represents F on a staff, as opposed to a C
clef, or an G clef.
False Cadence: A deceptive cadence.
Falsetto: A high, light, artificial voice used to sing notes that are above the
normal register.
Fantasy,
Fantasia, Fantaisie: A piece in free style and
form.
Feminine
Cadence: A cadence ending on a weak beat.
Fibbonacci
Series: A mathematical sequence in which the
next number in the series is the sum of the previous two numbers. Used
by many 20th century composers to determine various elements of
composition, espeically Bela Bartok.
Fifth: The interval of five diatonic degrees.
Figured
Bass: The bass part of a piece written by
giving a single bass note, with numbers beside it to indicate the inversion of the chord to be
played.
Figured
Melody: A highly ornamented melody.
Finale: The last movement of a sonata or symphony, or the last section of an opera.
Finger cymbals: Zills.
Fingerboard: On string instruments, the top surface of the neck, where the fingers
press down on the strings.
Flats: An accidental that
lowers a given pitch by one half-step. See also key signature.
Fortissimo: A directive that a passage is to be played very loudly.
Fourth: The interval of four diatonic degrees.
French
Sixth Chord: An augmented sixth chord,
which contains a second from
the tonic.
Fret: On certain string instruments, a thin, raised bar placed across the fingerboard to indicate a specific position of a note, and aid in tuning that note.
Fugue: "Flight." A contrapuntal piece, in which two or more parts are built or "layered" on a recurring subject that is intriduced
alone, and followed by an answer,
which is the subject (or
theme) at a different pitch, usually the fifth.
Function: The way in which chords, and individual tones within the chord, tend to
imply movement toward another chord.
Fundamental: Any note that sounds, producing overtones in the harmonic series. |
