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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.

(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

​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