1. Staff: A set of five horizontal lines known as the staff, where notes are placed to represent pitch.
2. Clef: A symbol placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate the pitch reference for different musical instruments or voices. Common clefs include the treble clef (G clef) and bass clef (F clef).
3. Notes: Note symbols are placed on the staff to represent different pitches. Noteheads can be filled (for whole, half, and quarter notes) or unfilled (for eighth, sixteenth, and thirty-second notes) and can be placed on or between the staff lines.
4. Stems: Lines attached to noteheads that extend above or below them, indicating the duration of the note.
5. Flags and Beams: Flags are small strokes attached to stems, reducing the number of notes in long rhythms. Beams connect the stems of consecutive notes of equal duration.
6. Barlines: Vertical lines drawn across the staff to mark time intervals and the beginning/ending of musical phrases or sections.
7. Time Signatures: Appear at the beginning of the score and indicate the note value and pulse for each measure. Common time signatures include 4/4 (four beats per measure with quarter notes as beats), 2/4 (two beats per measure with quarter notes as beats), and so on.
8. Key Signatures: Symbols placed at the beginning of the score to indicate the tonal center and any sharps or flats to be added consistently to specific notes for the entire piece.
9. Accidentals: Symbols added next to notes to modify their pitch by sharp (#), flat (b), double sharp (x), or double flat (bb) in relation to the specified key signature.
10. Dynamics: Symbols that indicate how loudly or softly a musical passage should be played. Examples include forte (f) for loud, piano (p) for soft, crescendo (cresc.) for gradually increasing volume, and diminuendo (dim.) for gradually decreasing volume.
11. Tempo and Expression: Metronome markings (e.g., ♩ = 120) specify the desired speed of a piece in beats per minute. Expressive text markings, such as dolce (sweet), vivace (lively), or con brio (with vigor), provide more detailed interpretation instructions.
12. Articulation: Articulation symbols like staccato (short, detached notes), legato (smooth, connected notes), accent (^), tenuto (sustained note), and marcato (marked, heavily accented) indicate how notes should be played.
These music signs, along with many more, form the language of music notation. By understanding and interpreting these symbols correctly, musicians can accurately perform or reproduce the musical ideas and emotions intended by the composer.