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Music theory basics flash cards

Twenty-two beginner music theory flash cards on notes, rhythm, scales, intervals, chords, dynamics and tempo markings, for music students and new players.

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The cards, front and back

  1. 1
    Front

    Staff (stave)

    Back

    The set of five horizontal lines and four spaces on which music is written. Notes higher on the staff sound higher.

  2. 2
    Front

    Treble and bass clefs

    Back

    The treble clef is used for higher notes and fixes G above middle C. The bass clef is used for lower notes and fixes F below middle C.

  3. 3
    Front

    Musical alphabet

    Back

    Notes are named with seven letters: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. After G the sequence starts again at A, an octave higher.

  4. 4
    Front

    Note values

    Back

    In common time:

    • Semibreve (whole note): 4 beats
    • Minim (half note): 2 beats
    • Crotchet (quarter note): 1 beat
    • Quaver (eighth note): half a beat
  5. 5
    Front

    Rest

    Back

    A symbol showing silence for a set length of time. Each note value has a matching rest.

  6. 6
    Front

    Dotted note

    Back

    A dot after a note adds half of its value. A dotted minim lasts three crotchet beats.

  7. 7
    Front

    Time signature

    Back

    Two numbers at the start of the music. The top number gives the number of beats in a bar; the bottom number gives the type of beat. 4/4 means four crotchet beats in each bar.

  8. 8
    Front

    Bar (measure)

    Back

    A section of music between two bar lines, containing the number of beats set by the time signature.

  9. 9
    Front

    Sharp, flat and natural

    Back

    A sharp raises a note by a semitone, a flat lowers it by a semitone, and a natural cancels a sharp or flat.

  10. 10
    Front

    Semitone and tone

    Back

    A semitone (half step) is the smallest step in Western music, for example from E to F. A tone (whole step) equals two semitones, for example from C to D.

  11. 11
    Front

    Major scale pattern

    Back

    Tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone. C major uses only the white notes on a piano: C D E F G A B C.

  12. 12
    Front

    Natural minor scale pattern

    Back

    Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone. A natural minor uses the same notes as C major, starting on A.

  13. 13
    Front

    Key signature

    Back

    The sharps or flats written at the start of each line of music, showing which key the piece is in.

  14. 14
    Front

    Octave

    Back

    The interval between one note and the next note with the same name, higher or lower. The higher note vibrates at twice the frequency.

  15. 15
    Front

    Interval

    Back

    The distance between two notes, counted by letter names including both ends. C to E is a third; C to G is a fifth.

  16. 16
    Front

    Chord

    Back

    Three or more notes played together.

  17. 17
    Front

    Triad

    Back

    A three-note chord built from a root, a third and a fifth. C major triad: C, E, G.

  18. 18
    Front

    Major vs minor triad

    Back

    A major triad has a major third then a minor third above the root, often sounding bright. A minor triad has a minor third then a major third, often sounding darker.

  19. 19
    Front

    Dynamics

    Back

    How loud or soft to play:

    • pp pianissimo: very soft
    • p piano: soft
    • mf mezzo forte: moderately loud
    • f forte: loud
    • ff fortissimo: very loud
  20. 20
    Front

    Crescendo and diminuendo

    Back

    Crescendo means gradually getting louder. Diminuendo (or decrescendo) means gradually getting softer.

  21. 21
    Front

    Tempo markings

    Back

    Italian words for speed:

    • Largo: very slow
    • Adagio: slow
    • Andante: at a walking pace
    • Allegro: fast and lively
    • Presto: very fast
  22. 22
    Front

    Staccato and legato

    Back

    Staccato notes are short and detached. Legato notes are smooth and connected.

How to use this template

This deck covers the music theory every beginner meets: reading the staff, note values, time signatures, scales, intervals, chords and the Italian terms for dynamics and tempo. It suits school music students, people preparing for early graded theory exams and adult learners picking up an instrument. Both British names (crotchet, minim) and American names (quarter note, half note) are given. Start in Learn mode and clap or play each idea if you can. Then use Test mode so spaced repetition can revisit the terms you forget. Printed double-sided cards make a handy practice-room reference.

Tips

  • Say and clap rhythms as you learn note values. Feeling the beat makes the numbers stick.
  • Play the scale patterns on a keyboard app to hear the difference between tones and semitones.
  • Learn the dynamics in order from softest to loudest, and the tempo terms from slowest to fastest.
  • Write out a C major and A minor scale by hand after each session.
  • Spot the terms in real sheet music. Circle each marking and say what it means.

Make it fit

  • Add cards on the circle of fifths and key signatures with more sharps and flats for intermediate study.
  • Add symbols specific to your instrument, such as bowing marks for strings or pedal marks for piano.
  • For guitar or ukulele learners, add common chord shapes alongside the triad cards.
  • Use only the British or only the American note names, to match your teacher or exam board.

Updated October 28, 2026

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