Grade by Grade
A. Dance / C. Music · Music and Dance

Music: The Chromatic Scale and Italian Terms for Tempo and Dynamics

C1.5 C1.4 C1.2About 45 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can write, sing or play the chromatic scale, using sharps going up and flats going down.
  • I can read and perform Italian tempo terms, from grave to prestissimo, and tempo changes such as rallentando, a tempo and rubato.
  • I can read and perform Italian dynamic terms, including fp, subito, poco a poco and morendo.
  • I can choose tempo and dynamic markings for a specific effect in my own music.

Words to know

chromatic scale
A scale that moves only by half steps, using all 12 different pitches before reaching the octave.
half step
The smallest distance between two notes on a keyboard, from one key to the very next key, black or white.
grave
Very slow and serious (say GRAH-vay).
prestissimo
As fast as possible.
rallentando (rall.)
Gradually slowing down; it means almost the same as ritardando.
a tempo
Return to the original speed.
rubato
A flexible tempo: the performer stretches some notes and hurries others for expression.
subito
Suddenly, as in subito p: suddenly soft.
fortepiano (fp)
Play loudly, then immediately soft.
morendo
Dying away: getting softer (and often slower) until the sound disappears.

Remember from earlier grades

In Grade 6 you read tempo marks from largo to presto, dynamics from pp to ff, and ritardando and accelerando. In Grade 7 you added vivace, maestoso and articulation marks, and you counted half steps to build triads.

In Grade 8 the curriculum asks you to understand the chromatic scale and Italian dynamic and tempo terms in the music you perform and compose.

The chromatic scale

A chromatic scale moves only by half steps. On a keyboard, it uses every key, black and white, in order. From C to the next C there are 12 half steps and 13 notes (the 12 different pitches plus the octave).

Spelling rule: write sharps going up and flats going down. That way each note looks like it's leaning in the direction you're moving.

Watch for the two places where there is no black key between white keys: E to F and B to C. These are already half steps, so nothing goes in between.

Top view of a piano keyboard showing white keys and black keys in alternating groups of two and three.
A chromatic scale uses every key, black and white, in order. From one C to the next there are 12 half steps. AI-generated image
CC♯DD♯EFF♯GG♯AA♯BCGoing up: 13 notes, 12 half steps. Use sharps.CBB♭AA♭GG♭FEE♭DD♭CGoing down: use flats.
The chromatic scale from middle C to the C above. Going up, the in-between notes are written as sharps (C♯, D♯...). Going down, they are written as flats (B♭, A♭...). E–F and B–C are half steps with nothing in between.
Tempo termMeaning
gravevery slow and serious
largovery slow and broad
lentoslow
adagioslow, at ease
andanteat a walking pace
moderatomoderate speed
allegrettofairly fast (a little slower than allegro)
allegrofast and lively
vivacelively and fast
prestovery fast
prestissimoas fast as possible
Tempo terms from slowest to fastest. New in Grade 8: grave, lento, allegretto and prestissimo.
Tempo changeMeaning
accelerando (accel.)gradually faster
ritardando (rit.) / rallentando (rall.)gradually slower
a tempoback to the original speed
più mosso / meno mossomore motion (faster) / less motion (slower)
rubatoflexible tempo for expression
Words that change the tempo during a piece.

Italian dynamic terms

You know pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, crescendo and decrescendo. Some pieces go even further, to ppp and fff. Grade 8 adds terms that describe how the volume changes:

  • sforzando (sfz): a sudden strong accent on one note
  • fortepiano (fp): loud, then immediately soft
  • subito: suddenly, as in subito p (suddenly soft) or subito f
  • poco a poco: little by little, as in cresc. poco a poco
  • diminuendo (dim.): gradually softer (the same as decrescendo)
  • morendo: dying away to nothing

These terms help you plan effects: a sudden subito p after a loud passage surprises the listener; morendo at the end can feel like a candle going out.

loudnessbar 1bar 2bar 3bar 4bar 5bar 6bar 7bar 8ppcresc.sfzfsubito pfpdim. poco a poco
An 8-bar dynamics map. Read it like a graph: the line is the loudness. Notice the spike at sfz, the sudden drop at subito p, the jump-then-drop of fp, and the long, slow slope of dim. poco a poco.
Worked example

Example: Let's write a chromatic scale starting on G

Write the ascending chromatic scale from G4 to G5, then the descending one.

  1. Going up, use sharps. Count half steps from G: G, G♯, A, A♯, B, C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G.
  2. Check the natural half steps: B to C and E to F have nothing in between.
  3. Count: 13 notes, 12 half steps. ✔
  4. Going down, use flats: G, G♭, F, E, E♭, D, D♭, C, B, B♭, A, A♭, G.
  5. Check again: F to E and C to B are natural half steps. 13 notes. ✔

Up: G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G. Down: G G♭ F E E♭ D D♭ C B B♭ A A♭ G.

Worked example

Example: Let's interpret the markings in a passage

A choir piece has these markings: Andante, mp at the start; cresc. poco a poco over bars 3–6; f in bar 7; subito p in bar 9; rall. in bar 11; a tempo in bar 12; morendo in the last two bars. Let's plan the performance.

  1. Start: a walking pace (andante), medium soft (mp).
  2. Bars 3–6: grow louder little by little. Save energy: don't get loud too early.
  3. Bar 7: arrive at f. Bar 9: drop suddenly to p, with no fade. The surprise is the effect.
  4. Bar 11: slow down gradually (rall.). Bar 12: snap back to the original andante speed.
  5. Last two bars: die away (morendo), getting softer until the sound disappears. Keep breath support so the soft notes stay in tune.

A performance plan for every marking, with the effect of each one in mind.

Just for fun

Why was the chromatic scale so tired after practice?

It had to take every single step! 🚶 (Twelve of them, to be exact.)

Hands-on activity

Chromatic stairs and dynamics map

You need: a keyboard or a free keyboard app (or a printed keyboard picture), paper, a pencil, and any song you can sing or play.

  1. Play or point to the chromatic scale from C to C, saying each note name. Then go down using flat names.
  2. Start the chromatic scale on a different note (try F or D). Write it out going up and down.
  3. Choose a short song you know. Draw a dynamics map like the one in this lesson for it, using at least four terms (for example mp, cresc. poco a poco, subito p, morendo).
  4. Perform the song following your map. Then perform it again with rubato in one place, stretching a note for expression.
  5. Ask a listener to point to where they heard each change. Did they hear all of them?

Your turn

1

How many half steps and how many notes are in a chromatic scale from C to the next C?

2

Write the ascending chromatic scale from C to C.

3

Which two pairs of white keys are already a half step apart?

4

Put these in order from slowest to fastest: allegretto, grave, andante, prestissimo.

5

What does a tempo mean?

6

What is the difference between subito p and diminuendo?

7

What does fp ask you to do?

More practice: warm-up

1

What does poco a poco mean?

2

What does morendo mean?

3

Is lento slow or fast?

4

When writing a chromatic scale going down, do you usually use sharps or flats?

5

What is a half step?

More practice: on your own

1

Write the descending chromatic scale from C5 to C4.

2

Write the ascending chromatic scale from D to D.

3

A composer wants the end of a lullaby to feel like a child falling asleep. Which two markings could they use? Explain.

4

What is rubato, and why would a performer use it?

5

Describe what the dynamics map picture shows in bars 2 and 3.

Challenge

1

Write the ascending chromatic scale starting on F. Check that it has 13 notes and contains each of E–F and B–C correctly.

2

Compose markings for an 8-bar "storm" piece that starts calm, builds to a storm, has a sudden lightning strike, then calms. Use at least five terms from this lesson and explain the effect.

3

A conductor shows a dynamic marking with gestures. How might the conductor show subito p, and how would that differ from showing a diminuendo?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

A chromatic scale moves by ___.

2.

From C to the next C, a chromatic scale has ___ half steps.

3.

Which tempo term is the slowest?

4.

A tempo means ___.

5.

Subito p means ___.

6.

Going down, the note between A and G in a chromatic scale is usually written ___.

7.

Morendo means ___.

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Students demonstrate an understanding of standard musical notation (C1.5), including the chromatic scale and Italian dynamic and tempo terms, use musicianship to perform them (C1.4), and apply them for a specific effect (C1.2).

How to help at home:

  • A free keyboard app makes the chromatic scale easy to see: every key in a row.
  • Make flashcards of Italian terms; quiz each other on the way to school.
  • Listen to a piece of music together and draw a quick dynamics map: where does it get louder, softer, suddenly quiet?

Common difficulties:

  • Putting a note between E–F or B–C. Remind your child there is no black key there.
  • Mixing up subito and gradual changes. Subito = suddenly; poco a poco = little by little.
  • Forgetting a tempo after a rit. or rall. Circle it in pencil.