ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Section 6: Terms, Ornaments and Instruments

By Michael Q. Klein

ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Section 6 — Terms, Signs and Instruments — is worth 10 marks. This guide covers all three parts of section 6: musical terms, ornaments, and instruments.

1. Terms (6.1) — Italian, French and German performance directions and what they mean 2. Ornaments (6.2) — name the written-out ornament under the bracket (trill, turn, mordent, appoggiatura, acciaccatura) 3. Instruments (6.3) — true/false about orchestral instruments, voices, clefs, transposition and techniques

Use it as your Section 6 revision map. For the full study order and when to book, see how to pass Grade 5 music theory. For every section of the paper, see What's in the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Exam?.

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Part 1 — Terms (6.1): Italian, French and German musical terms

The exam wording is almost always:

Select the correct meaning of the term:

…then one term in large bold type, then four short definitions. You need the cumulative list from Grades 1–5.

How to use the tables: one row = one term. Tap a heading to open each list. Learn by language. Small “glue” words (und, mit, non, e) look easy — they still appear inside real directions like nicht zu schnell.

Italian

Tip: if a German word looks like everyday vocabulary (und, mit, nicht), it is still fair game.

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Part 2 — Ornaments (6.2): trill, turn, mordent, appoggiatura, acciaccatura

You must name these ornaments from a written-out version (usually marked with a bracket). You are not asked to write the realisation from the symbol — only to recognise the pattern.

For each ornament below: a short description, then the symbol, then a typical written-out version on the note A.

Trill

A trill is a rapid alternation between the principal note and the note above it. In the exam it is written out as a string of 32nd notes.

Symbol

Written out

Turn

A turn is a quick figure around the principal note: note above → principal → note below → principal. An inverted turn starts the other way (note below first). In the ABRSM Grade 5 exam both are called “turn” in the answer options.

Symbol (turn)

Written out (turn)

Symbol (inverted turn)

Written out (inverted turn) — still answered as turn

Upper mordent

An upper mordent is a quick flick to the note above and straight back. Written out it is two fast notes, then the principal again (longer).

Symbol

Written out

Lower mordent

A lower mordent is the same idea, but the flick goes to the note below. The symbol has a short vertical stroke through the zigzag.

Symbol

Written out

Appoggiatura

An appoggiatura is a leaning grace note without a slash through the stem. It is played on the beat and takes time from the principal note (half the value if the principal is undotted; two-thirds if the principal is dotted).

Symbol

Written out (undotted principal shared equally)

Acciaccatura

An acciaccatura is a crushed grace note with a slash through the stem. It is very short.

General definition: the crush comes before the beat, and the principal note keeps its full written value.

In the ABRSM Grade 5 exam the written-out form can also appear on the beat (a tiny note at the start of the beat, with the principal shortened to make up the beat). Learn both looks — both are answered as acciaccatura.

All three examples below are built with the same algorithm as the Grade 5 mock: same approach notes, same crush (B) onto the same principal (A). The bracket marks the written-out ornament the way the exam does.

Exam details that trip people up

• Inverted turns are still called turn.
• Mordents are two fast notes, then the principal again — not three equal 32nds.
• Appoggiatura leans on the beat. On a dotted note it takes two-thirds.
• Acciaccatura is the crushed note (slash through the stem). Before the beat is the general definition; the exam can also write it on the beat — both count.

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Part 3 — Instruments (6.3): orchestra, clefs, transposition and techniques

True/false statements. For each instrument, know the properties in the table below: family, clef, transposing, and the notes that usually appear in questions (reed, mute, pitch, range, bowing).

Voices

High → low: soprano → alto → tenor → baritone → bass.

So the bass voice has a lower range than a baritone → TRUE.

Quick true/false patterns

• Clarinet / trumpet / horn / double bass → often about transposing
• Oboe reed → double, not single
• Flute con sord. → FALSE
• Violin + alto clef → FALSE
• Any string + arco / pizzicato → TRUE
• Triangle / bass drum definite pitch → FALSE
• Marimba / timpani definite pitch → TRUE
• Pizzicato = with the bow → FALSE (that is arco)

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How to practise Section 6

1. Drill terms until the short ABRSM glosses feel automatic. 2. Drill ornaments until you spot the pattern under the bracket in one glance. 3. Drill instrument true/false until family / clef / transpose / reed / pitch / mute are reflex.

On Play Music From Within the Grade 5 suite has trainers for each of these subsections, with unlimited generated questions and a worked explanation after each one.

When you want the real paper shape: Sign in for a full mock, or sit a timed mock.

Keep going: What's in the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory Exam? maps every section of the paper, and how to pass Grade 5 music theory is the full preparation route.