H

The German B. Use the heel in organ playing.

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Half Cadence

The progression of tonic (I) to dominant (V) at the close of a phrase. More about cadences.

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Half Diminished seventh chord

The chord comprised of a minor third, diminished fifth and minor seventh. More about chords.

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Half Note, half rest

The second largest unit in modern music notation. The half note and half rest recieves half the value of a whole note

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Half step

The interval from one pitch to the immediately adjacent pitch, ascending or descending, e.g. c-c; e-e; b-c. The smallest interval on the keyboard.

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Hand Positions

Beginning students are sometimes taught to play by placing their hands in certain places and not moving them out of those postitions.
Some common ones for beginners are C, Middle C and G.

C Position

letter names	C	D	E	F	G
Right hand finger numbers	1	2	3	4	5
letter names	C	D	E	F	G
Left hand finger numbers	5	4	3	2	1

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Middle C Position

letter names	C	D	E	F	G
Right hand finger numbers	1	2	3	4	5
letter names	F	G	A	B	C
Left hand finger numbers	5	4	3	2	1

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G Position

letter names	G	A	B	C	D
Right hand finger numbers	1	2	3	4	5
letter names	G	A	B	C	D
Left hand finger numbers	5	4	3	2	1

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Harmonic (acoustics)

Pertaining to music theory and harmony. One of the "partial tones" generated by the prime tone of fundamental.

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Harmony

The sounding of two or more tones simultaneously; the vertical aspect of music.

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Hemiola

The term applied to time values in the ration of 3:2, e.g. three half notes in place of two dotted half notes.

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Homophony, Homophonic

Musical texture which is characterized by chordal support of a melodic line.