A Fun and Friendly Guide to Music Theory Symbols

Jul 14 / Dechant Music Academy

Learning to read music symbols is a big step toward understanding and playing piano music. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most important music symbols in a simple and enjoyable way. From basic notes and rests to expressive markings like dynamics and articulation, you’ll get to know the signs that make music come alive!

What You’ll Learn:
  • Clefs
  • Pitch Symbols
  • Rhythm and Rests
  • Dynamics and Articulation
  • Form Symbols

CLEFS

Bass Clef

Also called the F-clef, this symbol wraps around the fourth line of the staff, which marks the note F below middle C. You’ll find it in music for low-pitched instruments like bass guitar, cello, tuba, and the left hand in piano music.


Treble Clef


Also called the G-clef, this curly symbol circles the second line of the staff—where G above middle C sits. It’s used for higher instruments like the violin, flute, trumpet, and the right hand in piano.

Pitch Symbols

8va

Tells you to play notes one octave higher than written. It appears above the staff and affects the notes until a dashed line ends.

Flat (♭)

Lowers a note by a half step. For example, B♭ is one step lower than B.


Double Flat (𝄫)


Lowers a note by two half steps. B𝄫 sounds the same as A.

Natural (♮)

Cancels a previous sharp or flat, returning the note to its natural pitch.

Sharp (♯)

Raises a note by a half step. C♯ is one step higher than C.


Double Sharp (𝄪)


Raises a note by two half steps. F𝄪 sounds the same as G.

Rhythm and Rests

Common Time (4/4)

Looks like a “C.” It means there are 4 beats in each measure, and each beat is a quarter note.

Cut Time (2/2)

A “C” with a line through it. It means 2 beats per measure, with half notes as beats.


Eighth Rest


A short rest lasting the length of an eighth note. It looks like a small “7.”

Quarter Rest

A rest equal to one quarter note. It looks like a squiggly vertical line or curled “Z.”
Half Rest
A rest equal to a half note. It sits on top of the middle line of the staff.

Whole Rest

A silence that lasts a whole note, or even an entire measure in any time signature.

Sixteenth Rest

A rest for a sixteenth note. Looks like an eighth rest but with two flags.

Thirty-Second Rest

A rest equal to a thirty-second note, with three flags.

Tie

Connects two notes of the same pitch. You hold the sound for both combined durations.

Dynamics and Articulation

Accent

Play the note with extra energy.

Crescendo (cresc.)

Get gradually louder.

Decrescendo (decresc.)

Get gradually softer.

Fermata

A half-circle with a dot. Hold the note longer than written.

Glissando

A quick slide from one note to another.

Grace Note

A small note played quickly before the main note.

Mordents
A quick flip between notes. An upper mordent uses the note above; a lower uses the one below.

Slur

A curved line connecting different pitches. Play smoothly (legato).


Staccato


A dot above or below a note. Play it short and snappy.

Tenuto

Play the note for its full value—or slightly longer.

Tremolo

Play the note rapidly. The more diagonal slashes on the note stem, the more intense the tremolo.

Trill (tr)

Rapidly alternate between the main note and the one just above it.


Turn

A curly S-shape. Quickly play the note above, the note itself, the note below, and back.

Form Symbols

Coda

Marks the final section of a piece. Used with phrases like “D.S. al Coda” or “D.C. al Coda” to guide navigation.

Repeat Sign

Two dots before or after a double bar line. Go back and play a section again.
Segno (𝄋)
A fancy symbol that shows where to return in the music. Used with “D.S.” instructions.