Terminology
I've listed some key terms below. There is no need to memorize them (there are no tests), but you may want to refer to the list if I use a term you don't know. (I may not use them all in these online lessons, but they do all get used for in-person lessons.)
The list is first presented alphabetically, then repeated grouped by concept.
The list is first presented alphabetically, then repeated grouped by concept.
(PDF version of the terms listed below.)
Terminology (alphabetical):
I, IV, V – root, fourth, fifth (e.g. E-A-B or A-D-E or D-G-A)
Arpeggio – playing the individual notes of a chord rather than “simultaneously”
Barre – laying a finger (usually the index finger) across several strings
Barre chord – a chord played using a barre to change a string’s length
Bend – changing the pitch of a fretted note by pushing or pulling the string
Chord – a group of three or more harmonically related noted played “simultaneously”
Circle of Fifths – a geometrical representation of the relationship among scale tones
Downstroke – strumming from the lowest to highest strings (i.e. toward the floor)
Hammer (on) – causing a string to vibrate at a higher pitch by striking a finger
Interval – the distance between notes
Inversion - a chord beginning with a note other than the root
Key – the group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a music composition
Major chord – a chord consisting of the root, major 3rd, & perfect 5th
Minor chord - a chord consisting of the root, minor 3rd (1 note lower than major 3rd) & 5th
Mute – preventing/stopping strings from vibrating
Octave – a set of whole tones beginning and ending with a root note
Open chord – a chord that includes open strings
Palm mute – resting the heel of the hand on strings to prevent/stop their vibration
Power chord (aka 5th) – the root, perfect 5th, & root notes played on the lowest strings
Pull (off) – causing a string to vibrate at a lower pitch by removing a finger
Root – the note upon which a chord is built (can be referred to as the I)
Root position – a chord played with the root as the lowest (bass) note of the chord
Scale – a set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch
Seventh (7th) chord – a chord containing the 7th note counted from the root
Standard tuning – the regular pitches of open strings (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Turnaround – a musical figure played over the I & V chords in the last two bars
Upstroke - strumming from the highest to lowest strings (i.e. away from the floor)
Vibrato – moving a fretted string back & forth or up & down slightly to add feel & interest
Voicing – where a chord is played on the neck & the order of the notes
I, IV, V – root, fourth, fifth (e.g. E-A-B or A-D-E or D-G-A)
Arpeggio – playing the individual notes of a chord rather than “simultaneously”
Barre – laying a finger (usually the index finger) across several strings
Barre chord – a chord played using a barre to change a string’s length
Bend – changing the pitch of a fretted note by pushing or pulling the string
Chord – a group of three or more harmonically related noted played “simultaneously”
Circle of Fifths – a geometrical representation of the relationship among scale tones
Downstroke – strumming from the lowest to highest strings (i.e. toward the floor)
Hammer (on) – causing a string to vibrate at a higher pitch by striking a finger
Interval – the distance between notes
Inversion - a chord beginning with a note other than the root
Key – the group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a music composition
Major chord – a chord consisting of the root, major 3rd, & perfect 5th
Minor chord - a chord consisting of the root, minor 3rd (1 note lower than major 3rd) & 5th
Mute – preventing/stopping strings from vibrating
Octave – a set of whole tones beginning and ending with a root note
Open chord – a chord that includes open strings
Palm mute – resting the heel of the hand on strings to prevent/stop their vibration
Power chord (aka 5th) – the root, perfect 5th, & root notes played on the lowest strings
Pull (off) – causing a string to vibrate at a lower pitch by removing a finger
Root – the note upon which a chord is built (can be referred to as the I)
Root position – a chord played with the root as the lowest (bass) note of the chord
Scale – a set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch
Seventh (7th) chord – a chord containing the 7th note counted from the root
Standard tuning – the regular pitches of open strings (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Turnaround – a musical figure played over the I & V chords in the last two bars
Upstroke - strumming from the highest to lowest strings (i.e. away from the floor)
Vibrato – moving a fretted string back & forth or up & down slightly to add feel & interest
Voicing – where a chord is played on the neck & the order of the notes
Terminology (conceptual):
Chords:
Chord – a group of three or more harmonically related noted played “simultaneously”
Open chord – a chord that includes open strings
Root – the note upon which a chord is built (can be referred to as the I)
Major chord – a chord consisting of the root, major 3rd, & perfect 5th
Minor chord - a chord consisting of the root, minor 3rd (1 note lower than major 3rd) & 5th
Root position – a chord played with the root as the lowest (bass) note of the chord
Inversion - a chord beginning with a note other than the root
Voicing – where a chord is played on the neck & the order of the notes
Seventh (7th) chord – a chord containing the 7th note counted from the root
Barre chord – a chord played using a barre to change a string’s length
Power chord (aka 5th) – the root, perfect 5th, & root notes played on the lowest strings
Arpeggio – playing the individual notes of a chord rather than “simultaneously”
Technique:
Downstroke – strumming from the lowest to highest strings (i.e. toward the floor)
Upstroke - strumming from the highest to lowest strings (i.e. away from the floor)
Mute – preventing/stopping strings from vibrating
Palm mute – resting the heel of the hand on strings to prevent/stop their vibration
Barre – laying a finger (usually the index finger) across several strings
Hammer (on) – causing a string to vibrate at a higher pitch by striking a finger
Pull (off) – causing a string to vibrate at a lower pitch by removing a finger
Bend – changing the pitch of a fretted note by pushing or pulling the string
Vibrato – moving a fretted string back & forth or up & down slightly to add feel & interest
Theory:
Scale – a set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch
Key – the group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a music composition
Turnaround – a musical figure played over the I & V chords in the last two bars
Standard tuning – the regular pitches of open strings (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Octave – a set of whole tones beginning and ending with a root note
Interval – the distance between notes
I, IV, V – root, fourth, fifth (e.g. E-A-B or A-D-E or D-G-A)
Circle of Fifths – a geometrical representation of the relationship among scale tones
Chords:
Chord – a group of three or more harmonically related noted played “simultaneously”
Open chord – a chord that includes open strings
Root – the note upon which a chord is built (can be referred to as the I)
Major chord – a chord consisting of the root, major 3rd, & perfect 5th
Minor chord - a chord consisting of the root, minor 3rd (1 note lower than major 3rd) & 5th
Root position – a chord played with the root as the lowest (bass) note of the chord
Inversion - a chord beginning with a note other than the root
Voicing – where a chord is played on the neck & the order of the notes
Seventh (7th) chord – a chord containing the 7th note counted from the root
Barre chord – a chord played using a barre to change a string’s length
Power chord (aka 5th) – the root, perfect 5th, & root notes played on the lowest strings
Arpeggio – playing the individual notes of a chord rather than “simultaneously”
Technique:
Downstroke – strumming from the lowest to highest strings (i.e. toward the floor)
Upstroke - strumming from the highest to lowest strings (i.e. away from the floor)
Mute – preventing/stopping strings from vibrating
Palm mute – resting the heel of the hand on strings to prevent/stop their vibration
Barre – laying a finger (usually the index finger) across several strings
Hammer (on) – causing a string to vibrate at a higher pitch by striking a finger
Pull (off) – causing a string to vibrate at a lower pitch by removing a finger
Bend – changing the pitch of a fretted note by pushing or pulling the string
Vibrato – moving a fretted string back & forth or up & down slightly to add feel & interest
Theory:
Scale – a set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch
Key – the group of pitches, or scale, that forms the basis of a music composition
Turnaround – a musical figure played over the I & V chords in the last two bars
Standard tuning – the regular pitches of open strings (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Octave – a set of whole tones beginning and ending with a root note
Interval – the distance between notes
I, IV, V – root, fourth, fifth (e.g. E-A-B or A-D-E or D-G-A)
Circle of Fifths – a geometrical representation of the relationship among scale tones