The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

division
Fractional parts of a beat.
dominant
The fifth degree of a scale, a perfect fifth above the tonic; also
refers to the chord built on this fifth scale degree.
dominant seventh chord
A major chord with a minor seventh added 
(1-3-5-
7); typically found on the fifth degree of the scale, and noted as V7.
doppio movimento
Play twice as fast.
Dorian mode
A mode starting on the second degree of the correspond-
ing major scale. 
See mode.
double bar
Two vertical lines placed on the staff to indicate the end of a
section or a composition.

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Appendix A
268
downbeat
The major beats in a measure; in 4/4 time, the downbeats are 
1, 2, 3, and 4. (Some theoreticians hold that there is only one downbeat per
measure—the very first beat.)
dynamics
Varying degrees of loud and soft. For example, 
forte
signifies a loud
dynamic, while 
piano 
signifies a soft dynamic.
eleventh chord
A triad with three notes added, a seventh, ninth, and
eleventh above the root of the chord.
enharmonic
Different notations of the same sound; for example, F# and G
are enharmonic notes.
extended chords
Chords with additional notes (typically in thirds) added
above the basic triad. (Some theoreticians consider seventh chords extended
chords; others don’t.)
fermata
Symbol used to indicate that a note should be held indefinitely;
sometimes called a “bird’s eye.”
flam
A grace note (and subsequent main note) played on a drum.
flat
The lowering of any pitch by a half step; signified by the 
sign.
forte
Loud. (Abbreviated as 
f.
)