Glossary

Bubble picking

Rhythmic single-note lines often heard in R&B and funk music.

Written by Kyle Sparkman
Updated this week

Voice Leading

An examination of how individual notes in a chord change and relate to each other throughout a chord progression

Written by Kyle Sparkman
Updated this week

4ths

An interval of four staff positions/four notes higher in a diatonic scale

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Accidentals

A symbol that indicates a note is not in the given diatonic key

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Alternate tunings

Any tuning outside of the standard EADGBE guitar tuning

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Altered dominant chords

A dominant 7th chord with added extensions b5, #5, b9, and/or #9

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Arpeggio

A sequence of notes outlining a chord

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Articulation

How you play a note

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Barre Chord

A chord shape that requires you to lay a single finger (often the index finger) across your fretboard

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Bend

Pushing a string up or pulling it down in order to manipulate the pitch

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Blues Scale

A minor pentatonic scale with an added b5

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Call & response

A musical dialogue where a phrase is played or sung in direct response to one that precedes it

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Capo

A device that clamps guitar strings down across a single fret, which transposes the open tuning to a different key.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Chicken Pickin'

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Chord Scale relationship

The single note scale associated with a given chord. The scale contains the chord tones as well as its upper extensions.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Chord diagram

A visual representation of a guitar neck that displays the strings, frets, and finger numbers required to play a given chord.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Chromaticism

A sequence of half-steps derived from the chromatic scale, which consists of all 12 notes found in Western music

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Clef

A musical symbol that indicates the pitch of notes written on the staff.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Diatonic

Within the given key or scale

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Diminished chord

A chord composed entirely of minor third intervals – root, b3, b5, and bb7

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Diminished Scale

A dissonant-sounding scale that alternates between half steps and whole steps (or vice versa)

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Dominant 7 chord

A triad with an added flat seventh above the root. Root, 3, 5, b7

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Dorian

The second mode of a major scale

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Double stops

Playing two notes simultaneously on guitar

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Down stroke

Picking or strumming the strings in a downward motion

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Dynamics

The loudness of the notes you are playing

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Eighth note

A note that is played for one eighth the duration of a whole note

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Extensions

Notes added above a 7th chord.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Finger numbering

The numbers assigned to fretting- and picking-hand fingers

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Fingerstyle

A method of guitar playing that incorporates individual fingers to pluck and strum strings instead of a pick

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Fingerstyle pattern

Pattern based on the order of fingers used to play a rhythmic phrase.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Flat

Applying a flat symbol (♭) to a note lowers the pitch by one half step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Flat 7 (diminished 7th, b7)

The 7th degree of a scale lowered by a half (b7) or whole (bb7) step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Fret buzz

Sound produced when the guitarist is not using proper technique to fret the strings

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Fretting out

When you bend a guitar string, and the fret chokes off the sound of the note / prevents it from sustaining

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Fret wrap

A device that wraps around your guitar neck / strings and dampens the vibration

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Half diminished

A minor 7th chord with a flatted fifth.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Half note

A note that receives half the value of a whole note

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Half step

A semitone or a one-fret change on the guitar.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Hammer on

A guitar technique where a fretting-hand finger presses a string hard enough to cause it to emit sound without help from the picking hand.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Harmonics

High-pitched notes created by shortening the string's vibrating length

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Harmonic Minor Scale

A natural minor scale with a raised 7th

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Humbucker

A type of guitar pickup commonly found on Gibson guitars.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Hybrid picking

A picking technique that combines the use of a pick and fingers.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Interval

The distance between two notes

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Inversion

Reordering a chord’s notes so a pitch other than the root is on the bottom

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Key signature

A group of accidentals that indicate the key of the song

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Legato

An indication that notes are to be played in a smooth, flowing manner

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Lydian

The fourth mode of the major scale. A major scale with a #4

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major 7 chord

A chord composed of a root, third, fifth, and seventh

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major 2nd interval

Interval spanning one whole step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major 3rd interval

Interval spanning two whole steps

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major 6th interval

Interval spanning four whole steps and a half step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major 7th interval

Interval of a major 7th (5 whole steps and a half step)

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major chord

A chord composed of a root, major 3rd, and 5th

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Major scale

A commonly used diatonic scale containing 7 notes

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Measure

Line segments dividing a staff into equal increments to display time

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Melodic Minor scale

A natural minor scale in jazz with a raised 6th and 7th

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Metronome

A device used as a practice tool that provides a steady beat.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor chord

A chord composed of a root, flatted 3rd, and 5th.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor 6 chord

A chord made up of a root, b3, 5th and 6th

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor 7 chord

A minor triad with an added b7

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor 2nd interval

Interval that spans one half step.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor 3rd interval

Interval that spans one whole step and a half step.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor 6th interval

An interval spanning four half steps

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Minor 7th interval

An interval spanning five whole steps

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Mixolydian

The fifth mode of the major scale

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Music notation

A written method used to convey musical ideas

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Natural Minor Scale

A scale with a flatted third and sixth, also known as the Aeolian mode.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Note names (on the staff)

Notes are assigned corresponding letters A,B,C,D,E,F,G as a way of communication. With accidentals, there are 12 notes in Western music.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Octave

An interval spanning 8 notes in the major scale, reaching the next occurring version of that note.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Open-position chord

A guitar chord played in the lowest position on the guitar neck, utilizing a combination of open strings and fretted notes.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Open String

A string played without fretting on the neck

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Palm muting

A technique where you place the palm of your picking hand against the strings while playing in order to deaden or shorten notes

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Pentatonic Scale

A five-note scale common to rock and blues improvisation

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Perfect 4th interval

Interval spanning two whole steps and a half step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Perfect 5th interval

Interval spanning three whole steps and a half step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

PIMA

Letters assigned to picking-hand fingers with classical guitar fingerstyle technique

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Power chord

A two-note chord made up of the root and fifth

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Pull off

Pulling your finger off a string to sound a note without picking it.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Quarter note

A note that is one quarter the value of a whole note.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Scale Degree

The note order relative to the first scale degree of a given key.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Sharp

Applying a sharp symbol (#) to a note raises the pitch by one half step

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Sharp 5 (#5)

A raised 5th. In a chord, a #5 makes the chord augmented

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Sharp 11 (#11)

A raised 4th used as an upper extension in a chord

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Single coil

A type of guitar pickup common on Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Slide

A metal or glass tube worn over one of the fretting fingers, used to slide along the string

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Spread triad (broken triad)

A triad where the notes are not all within the same octave

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Staccato

An articulation where notes are short and broken up

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Staff

A five-line, four-space figure where music is notated

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

String names

In standard tuning, the guitar strings are named after their open pitches

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Syncopation

Shifting or displacing the beat by emphasizing the weak beats

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

TAB

A guitar-specific notation system displaying the strings and fret location for each note

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated this week

Tempo

The speed at which music is performed

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Time signature / meter

A number value given at the beginning of a piece of music displaying how many beats are in a measure and which note value receives one beat.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Transpose

Taking a song or musical phrase and moving it to a different key

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Tritone

An interval that’s an augmented fourth or diminished fifth from the root (three whole steps.)

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Triads

Three-note chords built from a root note, third, and fifth

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Tuning

On the guitar, tuning is the method of raising or lowering a string's pitch until it perfectly matches the desired note

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Turnaround

A chord progression occuring at the end of a song that’s used to lead back to the top of the form

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Upstroke

Picking or strumming the strings in an upward motion

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Vibrato

Manipulating a string by slightly raising and lowering it's pitch quickly and repeatedly

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

What if I don’t understand the musical terms being used in the lessons?

We created a music theory glossary for all of those confusing terms.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Whole note

A note value that receives four beats

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago

Whole Tone Scale

A whole tone scale is a scale composed entirely of whole steps.

Written by Sam Blakelock
Updated over a week ago