Glossary
Music concepts explained
104 articles
Bubble pickingRhythmic single-note lines often heard in R&B and funk music.
Voice LeadingAn examination of how individual notes in a chord change and relate to each other throughout a chord progression
4thsAn interval of four staff positions/four notes higher in a diatonic scale
AccidentalsA symbol that indicates a note is not in the given diatonic key
Alternate tuningsAny tuning outside of the standard EADGBE guitar tuning
Altered dominant chordsA dominant 7th chord with added extensions b5, #5, b9, and/or #9
ArpeggioA sequence of notes outlining a chord
ArticulationHow you play a note
Bar ChordA chord shape that requires you to lay a single finger (often the index finger) across your fretboard
BendPushing a string up or pulling it down in order to manipulate the pitch
Blues ScaleA minor pentatonic scale with an added b5
Call & responseA musical dialogue where a phrase is played or sung in direct response to one that precedes it
CapoA device that clamps guitar strings down across a single fret, which transposes the open tuning to a different key.
Chicken pickin'
Chord Scale relationshipThe single note scale associated with a given chord. The scale contains the chord tones as well as its upper extensions.
Chord diagramA visual representation of a guitar neck that displays the strings, frets, and finger numbers required to play a given chord.
ChromaticismA sequence of half-steps derived from the chromatic scale, which consists of all 12 notes found in Western music
ClefA musical symbol that indicates the pitch of notes written on the staff.
DiatonicWithin the given key or scale
Diminished chordA chord composed entirely of minor third intervals – root, b3, b5, and bb7
Diminished ScaleA dissonant-sounding scale that alternates between half steps and whole steps (or vice versa)
Dominant 7 chordA triad with an added flat seventh above the root.
Root, 3, 5, b7
DorianThe second mode of a major scale
Double stopsPlaying two notes simultaneously on guitar
Down strokePicking or strumming the strings in a downward motion
DynamicsThe loudness of the notes you are playing
Eighth noteA note that is played for one eighth the duration of a whole note
ExtensionsNotes added above a 7th chord.
Finger numberingThe numbers assigned to fretting- and picking-hand fingers
FingerstyleA method of guitar playing that incorporates individual fingers to pluck and strum strings instead of a pick
Fingerstyle patternPattern based on the order of fingers used to play a rhythmic phrase.
FlatApplying a flat symbol (♭) to a note lowers the pitch by one half step
Flat 7 (diminished 7th, b7)The 7th degree of a scale lowered by a half (b7) or whole (bb7) step
Fret buzzThe buzzing sound a note makes when a string isn't properly fretted.
Fretting outWhen you bend a guitar string, and the fret chokes off the sound of the note / prevents it from sustaining
Fret wrapA device that wraps around your guitar neck / strings and dampens the vibration
Half diminishedA minor 7th chord with a flatted fifth.
Half noteA note that receives half the value of a whole note
Half stepA semitone or a one-fret change on the guitar.
Hammer onA guitar technique where a fretting-hand finger presses a string hard enough to cause it to emit sound without help from the picking hand.
HarmonicsHigh-pitched notes created by shortening the string's vibrating length
Harmonic Minor ScaleA natural minor scale with a raised 7th
HumbuckerA type of guitar pickup commonly found on Gibson guitars.
Hybrid pickingA picking technique that combines the use of a pick and fingers.
IntervalThe distance between two notes
InversionReordering a chord’s notes so a pitch other than the root is on the bottom
Key signatureA group of accidentals that indicate the key of the song
LegatoAn indication that notes are to be played in a smooth, flowing manner
LydianThe fourth mode of the major scale. A major scale with a #4
Major 7 chordA chord composed of a root, third, fifth, and seventh
Major 2nd intervalInterval spanning one whole step
Major 3rd intervalInterval spanning two whole steps
Major 6th intervalInterval spanning four whole steps and a half step
Major 7th intervalInterval of a major 7th (5 whole steps and a half step)
Major chordA chord composed of a root, major 3rd, and 5th
Major scaleA commonly used diatonic scale containing 7 notes
MeasureLine segments dividing a staff into equal increments to display time
Melodic Minor scaleA natural minor scale in jazz with a raised 6th and 7th
MetronomeA device used as a practice tool that provides a steady beat.
Minor chordA chord composed of a root, flatted 3rd, and 5th.
Minor 6 chordA chord made up of a root, b3, 5th and 6th
Minor 7 chordA minor triad with an added b7
Minor 2nd intervalInterval that spans one half step.
Minor 3rd intervalInterval that spans one whole step and a half step.
Minor 6th intervalAn interval spanning four half steps
Minor 7th intervalAn interval spanning five whole steps
MixolydianThe fifth mode of the major scale
Music notationA written method used to convey musical ideas
Natural Minor ScaleA scale with a flatted third and sixth, also known as the Aeolian mode.
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.
OctaveAn interval spanning 8 notes in the major scale, reaching the next occurring version of that note.
Open-position chordA guitar chord played in the lowest position on the guitar neck, utilizing a combination of open strings and fretted notes.
Open StringA string played without fretting on the neck
Palm mutingA technique where you place the palm of your picking hand against the strings while playing in order to deaden or shorten notes
Pentatonic ScaleA five-note scale common to rock and blues improvisation
Perfect 4th intervalInterval spanning two whole steps and a half step
Perfect 5th intervalInterval spanning three whole steps and a half step
PIMALetters assigned to picking-hand fingers with classical guitar fingerstyle technique
Power chordA two-note chord made up of the root and fifth
Pull offPulling your finger off a string to sound a note without picking it.
Quarter noteA note that is one quarter the value of a whole note.
Scale DegreeThe note order relative to the first scale degree of a given key.
SharpApplying a sharp symbol (#) to a note raises the pitch by one half step
Sharp 5 (#5)A raised 5th. In a chord, a #5 makes the chord augmented
Sharp 11 (#11)A raised 4th used as an upper extension in a chord
Single coilA type of guitar pickup common on Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars.
SlideA metal or glass tube worn over one of the fretting fingers, used to slide along the string
Spread triad (broken triad)A triad where the notes are not all within the same octave
StaccatoAn articulation where notes are short and broken up
StaffA five-line, four-space figure where music is notated
String namesIn standard tuning, the guitar strings are named after their open pitches
SyncopationShifting or displacing the beat by emphasizing the weak beats
TempoThe speed at which music is performed
Time signature / meterA 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.
TransposeTaking a song or musical phrase and moving it to a different key
TritoneAn interval that’s an augmented fourth or diminished fifth from the root (three whole steps.)
TriadsThree-note chords built from a root note, third, and fifth
TuningOn the guitar, tuning is the method of raising or lowering a string's pitch until it perfectly matches the desired note
TurnaroundA chord progression occuring at the end of a song that’s used to lead back to the top of the form
UpstrokePicking or strumming the strings in an upward motion
VibratoManipulating a string by slightly raising and lowering it's pitch quickly and repeatedly
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.
Whole noteA note value that receives four beats
Whole Tone ScaleA whole tone scale is a scale composed entirely of whole steps.