Here is a a short glossary of guitar terms. These definitions cover a broad range of musical and technical terms related to guitar playing, music theory, and equipment.
- 12-string guitar:
- A guitar with six pairs of strings, each pair tuned to the same pitch. The additional strings create a rich and full sound, commonly used in folk and rock music.
- Accidental:
- A symbol in musical notation indicating a pitch alteration that is not in the key signature.
- Acoustic guitar:
- A guitar that uses only an acoustic soundboard to help transmit the strings energy into the air to produce its sound.
- Acoustic-electric guitar:
- A type of guitar that has both acoustic and electric capabilities. It can be played acoustically or connected to an amplifier for louder performances.
- Acoustic soundboard: An “acoustic soundboard” refers to the top surface of an acoustic guitar or other acoustic instrument that vibrates in response to the instrument’s strings being played. The soundboard, often made of wood, is a crucial component in producing the instrument’s sound. When the strings are plucked or strummed, they transfer energy to the soundboard, causing it to vibrate. This vibration generates sound waves that resonate within the body of the instrument, amplifying and shaping the acoustic tone produced. The choice of wood and the construction of the soundboard significantly influence the instrument’s overall sound characteristics, including tone, resonance, and sustain.
- Action:
- The height of the strings above the fretboard, affecting playability and sound. See our guide to guitar action.
- Alternate picking:
- A guitar playing technique where a player alternates between using a downstroke and an upstroke.
- Alternate tuning:
- A tuning of the guitar strings that deviates from the standard tuning (EADGBE). Common alternate tunings include drop D, open tunings, and more, providing unique tonal possibilities.
- Alternating bass:
- A technique where the bass notes alternate between two or more different notes.
- Ametric:
- Music that lacks a discernible metric pulse or regular beat.
- Amplifier:
- Electronic device that increases the amplitude of a signal, often used to amplify the sound of an electric guitar.
- Anhemitonic:
- A scale or melody that does not contain half steps.
- Arpeggio:
- An arpeggio is a musical technique where the notes of a chord are played in a sequence rather than simultaneously. In an arpeggio, each note of the chord is individually sounded in a distinct and ordered fashion. This technique allows for the clear and expressive presentation of the individual pitches that make up a chord. Arpeggios are commonly used in various genres of music, including classical, jazz, rock, and pop, and they can be played on a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, and strings. The term “arpeggio” is derived from the Italian word “arpeggiare,” which means “to play on a harp.”. Also see tips for best arpeggio technique.
- Atonal:
- Music that lacks a tonal center or key.
- Attack:
- The initial part of the sound of a note, including the sharpness or percussiveness.
- Augmentation:
- Lengthening the duration of a note or interval.
- Augmented chord:
- A chord made up of two major thirds, creating an augmented fifth.
- Authentic cadence:
- A chord progression from dominant to tonic (V-I), providing a strong sense of resolution.
- Automatic double tracking:
- A technique where a delay is added to a recorded track to simulate the effect of double-tracking.
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- Bar:
- A segment of time defined by a given number of beats.
- Barre chord:
- A chord played by pressing down on multiple strings with one finger.
- Bass:
- The lower-range tones in a musical composition.
- Bass clef:
- A symbol indicating the pitch range of written notes, often used for lower-pitched instruments.
- Bass-strum style:
- A technique where the thumb plays bass notes while the fingers strum the higher strings.
- Beam:
- Horizontal lines connecting grouped eighth, sixteenth, or thirty-second notes.
- Beat:
- The basic unit of time in music, often grouped into measures.
- Bending:
- Changing the pitch of a note by pushing or pulling the string across the fretboard.
- Blues guitar:
- A style of guitar playing characterized by expressive and emotive techniques. Blues guitar often features bent notes, slides, and a distinctive use of the pentatonic scale.
- Blues scale:
- A six-note scale with intervals that create a bluesy sound. It typically includes the root, minor third, fourth, diminished fifth, fifth, and minor seventh.
- Body:
- The main resonating chamber of a guitar.
- Bolt-on neck:
- A type of neck attachment where the neck is bolted onto the body of the guitar.
- Borrowed chord:
- A chord borrowed from another key.
- Bracing:
- Internal wooden structures inside a guitar that reinforce the top and back.
- Bridge:
- The wooden component on the body of the guitar that supports the strings.
- Bridge (of a song):
- The section of a song that connects two main parts.
- Bridge pins:
- Small pegs used to secure the strings to the bridge of an acoustic guitar. They hold the ball end of the strings in place.
- Bypass:
- Routing a signal around an effect or processor.
- Cadence:
- A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase or piece of music.
- Classical guitar:
- A type of guitar designed for playing classical music. It typically has nylon strings, a wide neck, and a smaller body compared to steel-string guitars.
- Classical music:
- A genre of music that includes compositions from the Western classical tradition. It often involves intricate and formal structures.
- Classical posture:
- The proper sitting position and hand placement used by classical guitarists. It emphasizes stability and precision for intricate fingerpicking.
- Capo:
- A device used on the neck of a guitar to shorten the playable length of the strings, changing the pitch.
- Chord:
- Three or more notes played simultaneously.
- Chord chart:
- A visual representation of chord progressions using chord symbols.
- Chord progression:
- A series of chords played in a sequence.
- Chord voicing:
- The specific way in which a chord is played, determining the arrangement of its notes.
- Chorus (effect):
- An audio effect that simulates the sound of multiple instruments playing the same thing.
- Chorus (of a song):
- A repeated section of a song.
- Chromatic:
- Relating to or using the chromatic scale, which includes all twelve pitches in an octave.
- Chromatic chord:
- A chord consisting entirely of chromatic tones.
- Chromatic scale:
- A scale consisting of all twelve pitches in an octave, each a half step apart.
- Chromatic semitone:
- The smallest interval in Western music, equivalent to one fret on a guitar.
- Circle of fifths:
- A diagram showing the relationships between the twelve tones of the chromatic scale.
- Coda:
- A section at the end of a piece of music that provides a conclusion.
- Common time:
- A time signature of 4/4, indicating four beats per measure.
- Compressor:
- An audio device that reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal.
- Consonance:
- A stable, harmonious sound.
- Count in:
- A specified number of beats counted before a section of music begins.
- Counterpoint:
- The combination of different melodic lines in a musical composition.
- Cutaway:
- A design feature on a guitar where a portion of the body is cut away to allow easier access to higher frets.
- Dead strums:
- Strumming the strings without allowing them to ring out.
- Degree:
- A position or rank in a scale.
- Delay:
- An audio effect that records and repeats an input signal after a certain amount of time.
- Dexterity:
- The skill and coordination of hand movements, particularly important for guitarists in executing complex fingerings and techniques.
- Diatonic:
- Music based on the seven-note diatonic scale.
- Diminished chord:
- A chord built by stacking minor thirds, resulting in a diminished fifth.
- Diminution:
- Reducing the rhythmic duration of notes in a melody.
- Dissonance:
- A sound that is considered unstable or tense.
- Distortion:
- An effect that intentionally distorts the sound of an instrument, often associated with electric guitars.
- Dominant:
- The fifth scale degree in a diatonic scale, often used to create tension leading to the tonic.
- Dotted note:
- A note with a dot to the right of its notehead, indicating that its duration is increased by half.
- Double flat:
- A symbol (𝄫) indicating the lowering of a note by two half steps.
- Double sharp:
- A symbol (𝄪) indicating the raising of a note by two half steps.
- Double-stop:
- Playing two notes simultaneously on a stringed instrument, often used to create harmonies or embellishments.
- Double-time:
- A tempo that is twice as fast as the original tempo.
- Downstroke:
- Strumming or picking the strings in a downward motion.
- Dreadnought body:
- A large, deep body style for acoustic guitars, popularized by the Martin Dreadnought.
- Drop D tuning:
- Tuning the lowest string of a guitar down a whole step to D.
- Duple:
- A rhythmic grouping with two beats per measure.
- Dynamics:
- The loudness or softness of a musical performance.
- Economy picking:
- A picking technique that minimizes motion and conserves energy.
- Effects pedal:
- A device that alters or enhances the sound of an instrument.
- Eighth note:
- A note that represents one-eighth of the duration of a whole note.
- Electric guitar:
- A guitar that uses pickups to convert string vibrations into an electric signal.
- Electro-acoustic guitar:
- An acoustic guitar with built-in electronics to amplify the sound.
- Enhancers:
- Devices or effects used to enhance certain aspects of a sound.
- Enharmonic:
- Two different names for the same pitch.
- Expander:
- An audio device that increases the dynamic range of an audio signal.
- F hole:
- A stylized “f”-shaped opening in the body of some stringed instruments, such as violins and guitars.
- Fanned frets:
- A design where the frets are angled, providing longer scale lengths for lower strings and shorter scale lengths for higher strings. It aims to optimize intonation and tension.
- Finger calluses:
- Thickened and toughened areas of skin on the fingertips developed by guitarists through regular playing. Calluses provide protection against discomfort.
- Finger picks:
- Metal or plastic picks worn on the fingers for playing stringed instruments.
- Finger stretches:
- Exercises or techniques used to improve the flexibility and reach of the fingers, essential for playing challenging chords and scales.
- Fingerboard:
- The flat surface on the front of the guitar neck where the frets are positioned. Also known as the fretboard.
- Fingerboard radius:
- The curvature of the fingerboard, affecting the feel and playability of the guitar. A flatter radius allows for lower action, while a more rounded radius may suit certain playing styles.
- Fingerboard wood:
- The material used for the fingerboard, influencing the guitar’s tonal characteristics and feel. Common woods include rosewood, ebony, and maple.
- Fingerpicking:
- A guitar-playing technique where individual fingers are used to pluck the strings, producing intricate and melodic patterns.
- Fingerstyle:
- A technique of playing a stringed instrument using the fingers.
- Flag:
- The stem on a notehead in sheet music.
- Flanger:
- An audio effect that creates a swirling or “jet plane” sound by delaying a signal and then mixing it back with the original signal. Check a list of the 10 Best Flanger Guitar Pedals.
- Flat:
- A symbol (♭) indicating the lowering of a note by one half step.
- Flatpicking:
- A guitar-playing technique where a flat pick is used to strike the strings, often associated with folk, bluegrass, and country music.
- Forte (notation):
- A dynamic marking indicating to play loudly.
- Free stroke:
- A guitar fingerpicking technique where the finger comes to rest on the next string after plucking.
- Fret:
- A metal strip on the fingerboard of a guitar, used to shorten the vibrating length of the strings.
- Fretboard:
- The front surface of the neck of a stringed instrument, usually containing the frets.
- Fretting:
- The act of pressing a string against a fret to change its pitch.
- Fretting hand muting:
- A technique where the fretting hand lightly touches the strings to mute unwanted noise.
- Fundamental:
- The lowest frequency in a harmonic series.
- G clef:
- A symbol indicating the pitch range of written notes, often used for higher-pitched instruments.
- Ghost note:
- A note that is played more softly than the surrounding notes, creating a subtle percussive effect.
- Ghost strum:
- Strumming the strings without making contact with them, creating a percussive sound.
- Gig:
- A musical performance, often in a casual or live setting.
- Grace note:
- A musical ornament played as a quick, grace-like note before the main note.
- Graphic EQ:
- An equalizer with sliders representing different frequency bands.
- Grover tuners:
- High-quality tuning machine heads commonly used on guitars. Grover tuners provide smooth and stable tuning adjustments.
- Guitar cable:
- A cable used to connect an electric guitar to an amplifier.
- Half note:
- A note that represents half the duration of a whole note.
- Half step:
- The smallest interval in Western music, equivalent to one fret on a guitar.
- Half time:
- A tempo that is half as fast as the original tempo.
- Hammer-on: – A guitar technique where a note is sounded by picking or strumming the string and then a second note is produced on the same string by “hammering on” with a finger.
- Harmonic minor scale:
- A scale with a raised seventh degree, creating a distinct sound often used in classical and jazz music.
- Harmonics:
- Pure, bell-like tones produced by lightly touching a string at specific points while it is vibrating. Harmonics are used for various effects.
- Harmonic progression: – The movement of harmonies in a piece of music.
- Harmonize: – Creating or adding harmony to a melody.
- Harmony: – The simultaneous combination of different musical notes to produce a chord.
- Headless guitar:
- A guitar design without a traditional headstock. Tuning is typically done at the bridge or body of the guitar.
- Headstock: – The top section of a guitar neck that holds the tuning pegs.
- Hemiola: – A rhythmic pattern in which two groups of three beats are played as if they were three groups of two beats.
- Hollow body: – A type of guitar construction with a hollow body, often associated with jazz guitars.
- Hybrid picking:
- A guitar-playing technique that combines fingerpicking and the use of a pick. It allows for a versatile and dynamic playing style.
- Inlay: – Decorative elements added to the surface of a guitar, often on the fretboard or headstock.
- Interval: – The distance between two pitches.
- Interval (compound): – An interval larger than an octave.
- Intonation:
- The accuracy of the pitches produced by a guitar along the entire length of the fretboard. Proper intonation ensures that notes are in tune across the entire range.
- Inversion (chord): – A chord voicing where a note other than the root is the lowest note.
- Inversion (intervals): – The rearrangement of the notes in an interval.
- Inversion (melodic): – A change in the order of notes in a melodic line.
- Jam: – An informal and often improvisational musical gathering.
- Jamstik: a popular type of MIDI guitar.
- Jazz chords:
- Complex and extended chord voicings commonly used in jazz music, often incorporating seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth chords.
- Jazz guitar:
- A style of guitar playing characterized by sophisticated harmonies, improvisation, and rhythmic complexity, commonly associated with jazz music.
- Key: – The central note and scale of a piece of music.
- Key signature: – A set of sharp or flat symbols at the beginning of a musical staff indicating the key of the piece.
- Lead guitar:
- The role in a band or ensemble where the guitarist plays melodies, solos, and improvisations, often contrasting with rhythm guitar.
- Lead sheet: – A simplified musical score showing only the melody and chord symbols.
- Ledger line: – A short line used to extend the range of the musical staff.
- Legato: – A smooth and connected style of playing.
- Lick: – A short, distinctive musical phrase.
- Looping:
- A technique where a guitarist records and plays back a repeating section of music. Looping allows for solo performances or layering multiple parts.
- Luthier:
- A skilled craftsman who builds, repairs, and maintains stringed instruments, including guitars.
- Machine heads: – The tuning pegs or gears located on the headstock of a guitar.
- Major: – A diatonic scale with a specific pattern of intervals.
- Measure: – A segment of musical time defined by a specific number of beats.
- Mediant: – The third degree of a diatonic scale.
- Melody: – A sequence of single pitches that is musically satisfying.
- Meter: – The organization of beats into regular groups.
- MIDI: – Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a protocol for communicating musical information between computers and electronic instruments.
- Minor: – A diatonic scale with a specific pattern of intervals different from the major scale.
- Modality: – The quality of a musical mode.
- Modes (authentic): – A system of scales used in Western classical music.
- Modes (plagal):
- Plagal modes are modes in music that are associated with the Plagal Cadence, which involves a chord progression from the subdominant (IV) to the tonic (I).
- Modulate:
- To change from one key or tonal center to another within a piece of music.
- Motif:
- A short musical idea or theme that is repeated or developed throughout a composition.
- Musical notes:
- Symbols representing the pitch and duration of a sound in music.
- Natural:
- A symbol in sheet music that cancels a previous sharp or flat, returning the note to its natural state.
- Natural harmonics:
- Tones produced on a musical instrument by lightly touching specific points along the string, creating a harmonic overtone.
- Neck:
- The elongated part of a guitar, connecting the body to the headstock, where the fretboard is located.
- Neck radius:
- The curvature of the fretboard on the neck of a guitar.
- Neck through body:
- A construction method where the neck of the guitar extends through the body, providing stability and sustain.
- Neck width:
- The width of the guitar neck, impacting the spacing between strings.
- Non-harmonic tone:
- A note that does not belong to the harmony of a chord at a specific moment.
- Notation (standard):
- The traditional system of writing and reading music using staff notation.
- Notation (tablature):
- A system of musical notation indicating the placement of fingers on the instrument’s frets rather than the pitches.
- Note:
- A symbol representing a specific pitch and duration in music.
- Note value:
- The duration or length of a musical note, expressed in terms of beats or fractions of a beat.
- Nut:
- A small piece, often made of bone or synthetic material, located at the top end of the guitar neck where the strings pass through.
- Octave:
- An interval spanning eight diatonic scale degrees.
- Octave pedal:
- A guitar pedal that shifts the pitch of the input signal down or up by an octave.
- Open:
- Refers to strings played without any frets pressed down.
- Open chord:
- A chord played using open strings along with fretted notes.
- Output jack:
- The socket on a guitar where the cable connects to send the signal to an amplifier or other audio equipment.
- Overtone:
- Harmonics or frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental frequency, contributing to the timbre of a sound.
- Palm muting:
- A playing technique where the palm of the picking hand is rested lightly on the strings near the bridge to dampen their sound.
- Panning:
- Adjusting the stereo position of a sound source between the left and right channels.
- Parallel fifths:
- Successive musical intervals of perfect fifths between two voices or chords.
- Parallel harmony:
- Harmony where the intervals between voices remain the same while changing chords.
- Parallel keys:
- Major and minor keys with the same tonic.
- Parallel motion:
- Movement of two or more voices in the same direction by the same interval.
- Parallel octaves:
- Successive musical intervals of octaves between two voices or chords.
- Passing tone:
- A non-chord tone that connects two chord tones by stepwise motion.
- Pedalboard:
- A board or platform used to organize and connect multiple guitar effects pedals. It allows for easy control and manipulation of various tones.
- Pentatonic:
- A five-note scale commonly used in various musical traditions.
- Phaser:
- An audio effect that modulates the phase of a signal to create a swirling or sweeping sound.
- Piano (notation):
- Indication to play softly in sheet music.
- Pick:
- A small, flat tool used to strike or pluck the strings of a guitar. Picks come in various materials and thicknesses, influencing tone and playability.
- Pick guard:
- A protective plate on the body of a guitar, where the player’s pick hand may make contact.
- Pick scrape:
- A guitar technique involving scraping the pick against the strings for a distinctive sound.
- Pickup:
- A transducer that captures the vibrations of guitar strings and converts them into an electrical signal.
- Pickup (humbucker):
- A type of guitar pickup that cancels hum and noise by using two coils.
- Pickup (piezoelectric):
- A pickup that captures vibrations through pressure, commonly used in acoustic-electric guitars.
- Pickup (single coil):
- A type of guitar pickup that uses a single coil to capture string vibrations.
- Pinch harmonics:
- A guitar technique where the player uses the thumb or fingers to produce harmonics while picking.
- Pitch:
- The perceived frequency of a sound, determining its highness or lowness.
- Plectrum:
- A small tool, often made of plastic or metal, used to pluck or strum strings on a guitar.
- Polishing:
- The process of cleaning and buffing the guitar’s finish to maintain its appearance. Polishing can also be applied to metal hardware for a shiny finish.
- Polychord:
- A chord that combines two or more different chords.
- Polymeter:
- The use of multiple meters simultaneously in music.
- Polymodality:
- The use of multiple modes or scales in a musical composition.
- Pots:
- Potentiometers, used in guitars to control volume and tone.
- Power chord:
- A chord consisting of the root note and its fifth, often played with distortion for a powerful sound.
- Power slide:
- Sliding between chords or notes using a power chord shape.
- Pull-off:
- A guitar technique where a fretted note is played, and the following lower note is produced by releasing the finger.
- Quarter note:
- A note lasting one-quarter of a whole note in duration.
- Quarter tones:
- Intervals smaller than a half step, dividing the octave into 24 equal parts.
- Quick release capo:
- A capo designed for quick and easy attachment and removal, allowing for efficient key changes during performances.
- Relative keys:
- Major and minor keys sharing the same key signature.
- Relative minor:
- The minor key with the same key signature as a major key.
- Repeat sign:
- A symbol indicating a section of music should be repeated.
- Resonator:
- A guitar with a metal resonator cone instead of a wooden soundboard.
- Rest:
- A symbol indicating a period of silence in music notation.
- Rest stroke:
- A guitar technique where the finger plucks a string and comes to rest on the adjacent string.
- Retrograde:
- A musical idea presented backward.
- Reverb:
- An effect that simulates the natural reverberation of sound in different spaces.
- Rhythm:
- The pattern of beats and durations in music.
- Rhythm guitar:
- The role in a band or ensemble where the guitarist plays chords and provides the rhythmic foundation. It complements the lead guitar.
- Riff:
- A short, repeated musical phrase often forming the basis of a song.
- Root:
- The foundational note of a chord or scale.
- Rosette:
- A decorative design around the soundhole of an acoustic guitar. Rosettes add aesthetic appeal and can be made from various materials.
- Saddle:
- A small piece, often made of bone or synthetic material, located on the bridge where the strings make contact.
- Scale:
- A series of notes ordered by pitch.
- Scale length:
- The distance between the nut and the saddle on a guitar.
- Scalloped fretboard:
- A fretboard with the wood between the frets carved away, allowing for easier bending of notes.
- Semi-hollow body:
- A guitar body with a partially hollow design.
- Set neck:
- A construction method where the guitar neck is glued into a fitted pocket in the body.
- Sharp:
- A symbol in sheet music indicating that a note is to be raised by a half step.
- Sheet music:
- A written or printed representation of music.
- Shuffle:
- A rhythmic feel where the second of two eighth notes is played with a triplet feel.
- Simple division:
- Dividing a musical beat into two equal parts.
- Sixteenth note:
- A note lasting one-sixteenth of a whole note in duration.
- Slide:
- A guitar technique where the player slides their finger along the string to change pitch.
- Slide (technique):
- Sliding a movable chord shape along the fretboard.
- Solo:
- A musical passage or section where a guitarist plays a melody or improvisation without accompaniment. Solos often showcase the guitarist’s individual style.
- Solid body:
- A guitar with a solid, non-hollow body.
- Songwriting:
- The process of creating music, including composing melodies, harmonies, and lyrics. Songwriting is a fundamental skill for musicians.
- Sound hole:
- An opening on the body of a guitar that allows sound to resonate.
- Staccato:
- A playing style characterized by short, detached notes.
- Staff:
- The set of horizontal lines and spaces on which musical notation is written.
- Steel-string guitar:
- A type of acoustic or acoustic-electric guitar with steel strings. It is commonly used in folk, country, and rock music.
- Stompbox:
- A small, foot-operated device used to alter a guitar’s sound, such as effects pedals.
- Stopbar:
- A bar mounted on the body of a guitar where the strings are anchored.
- Strap:
- A band or belt used to support a guitar while standing.
- String bending:
- A technique where a guitarist changes the pitch of a note by bending the string upward or downward. String bending is a common expressive technique.
- Strings:
- The metal or nylon wires stretched across the guitar’s body that produce sound when plucked or strummed.
- Strumming:
- Playing multiple strings simultaneously with a sweeping motion.
- Subdivision:
- Dividing a musical beat into smaller rhythmic units.
- Subdominant:
- The fourth scale degree of a diatonic scale.
- Submediant:
- The sixth scale degree of a diatonic scale.
- Subtonic:
- The seventh scale degree of a diatonic scale.
- Supertonic:
- The second scale degree of a diatonic scale.
- Suspended chord:
- A chord where the third is replaced by the fourth or second.
- Suspension:
- A non-harmonic tone that resolves down by step to a consonant tone.
- Sustain:
- The length of time a note continues to sound after it is played. Sustain is influenced by factors such as guitar construction and playing technique. Check a list of Best Sustain Pedals.
- Sweep picking:
- A guitar playing technique where a guitarist uses a sweeping motion of the pick across multiple strings with a continuous, fluid motion, often employed in arpeggios.
- Switch (pickup selection):
- A guitar control that allows the player to choose between different pickups or combinations of pickups, altering the guitar’s tonal characteristics.
- Swung note:
- A note played with a rhythm that deviates from strict, even timing, creating a “swing” or shuffle feel.
- Syncopation:
- Accentuating or emphasizing beats or offbeats that are not typically emphasized in a regular musical rhythm.
- Tablature:
- A form of musical notation that represents fingering positions on the instrument rather than traditional musical notes, commonly used for guitars and other fretted instruments.
- Tailpiece:
- A component on stringed instruments, often found on the opposite end of the strings from the headstock, that anchors the strings and may have an impact on the instrument’s sustain and tone.
- Tape-echo:
- A type of delay effect created using tape loops in vintage analog recording equipment.
- Tapping:
- A guitar playing technique where the player uses both hands to sound notes on the fretboard, often involving tapping the strings with the fretting hand.
- Tempo:
- The speed at which a piece of music is played, typically measured in beats per minute (BPM).
- Tertian harmony:
- Harmony built on intervals of thirds, commonly found in traditional Western music.
- Theme:
- A melodic or harmonic idea that serves as a foundation for a musical composition.
- Thumb pick:
- A pick that wraps around the thumb, allowing the guitarist to simultaneously use fingers for picking. Thumb picks are common in fingerstyle playing.
- Tie:
- A curved line connecting two or more notes of the same pitch, indicating that they are to be played as a single, sustained note.
- Time signature:
- A musical notation indicating the number of beats per measure and the type of note that receives one beat.
- Time signature (asymmetrical):
- A time signature where the total number of beats in a measure is an odd number, creating an asymmetrical rhythmic feel.
- Time signature (compound):
- A time signature where each beat is subdivided into three smaller units, often associated with compound meters.
- Time signature (simple):
- A time signature where each beat is subdivided into two smaller units, commonly found in simple meters.
- Tone:
- The quality or character of a sound, often influenced by factors such as timbre, pitch, and dynamics.
- Tonic:
- The first scale degree in a diatonic scale; the tonal center or home pitch of a piece of music.
- Trade fours:
- A jazz practice where musicians take turns playing four-bar improvisational phrases.
- Transpose:
- To change the key of a piece of music, shifting all pitches up or down by a consistent interval.
- Transposition:
- The act of changing the key of a piece of music.
- Treble:
- The higher range of musical frequencies, or a control on an amplifier or audio device that adjusts higher frequencies.
- Treble clef:
- A symbol used in musical notation to indicate the pitch range of notated notes, commonly used for higher-pitched instruments and voices.
- Tremolo (effect):
- A modulation effect that rapidly varies the volume of a note or chord.
- Tremolo bar:
- A lever on a guitar that, when manipulated, changes the pitch of the strings, commonly known as a “whammy bar.”
- Triad:
- A three-note chord consisting of a root, third, and fifth.
- Triplet:
- A group of three notes played in the space of two of the same type.
- Tuning:
- Adjusting the pitch of the guitar strings to achieve the desired notes. Standard tuning is EADGBE, but alternate tunings can be used for specific effects.
- Truss rod:
- A component inside the neck of a guitar that can be adjusted to control the curvature or relief of the neck.
- Two-hand tapping:
- A guitar playing technique where both hands are used to tap the strings on the fretboard, often associated with virtuosic playing.
- Upstroke:
- A guitar picking technique where the pick is moved upward across the strings.
- Verse (of a song):
- A section of a song that typically features recurring lyrics and melody, often conveying the narrative or main idea.
- Vibrato (effect):
- A modulation effect that varies the pitch of a note, creating a wavering or vibrating sound.
- Vibrato (hand):
- A technique where a guitarist varies the pitch of a note by oscillating the pitch with the fretting hand.
- Vibrato bar:
- Another term for a tremolo bar, a lever on a guitar used to manipulate the pitch of the strings.
- Volume knob:
- A control on the guitar that adjusts the output volume. It allows the guitarist to dynamically control the loudness of their playing.
- Volume pedal:
- A foot-controlled pedal used to adjust the volume of an instrument.
- Wah pedal:
- A foot-controlled pedal that alters the tone of an instrument by selectively emphasizing certain frequencies.
- Waist:
- The narrowed middle section of the body on many acoustic and electric guitars.
- Whammy bar:
- A slang term for a tremolo bar, a lever on a guitar used to manipulate the pitch of the strings.
- Whole note:
- A note with a duration equal to four beats in common time.
- Whole step:
- An interval consisting of two half steps or semitones.
- Wrist action:
- The movement of the wrist while playing the guitar. Proper wrist action is essential for efficient and comfortable playing.
- X-bracing:
- A bracing pattern inside the body of an acoustic guitar, featuring crossed braces that provide structural support and influence the instrument’s tonal characteristics.